‘DRAGNET’ PRODUCER ROLLS TO NEXT PROJECT

A few weeks ago, film producer David Permut went to the Department of Motor Vehicles, paid his $10 fee and had a clerk run a computer check on a vanity license plate that read “DRAGNET.”

Permut thought it would be nice to have that plate on his own car, a new Rolls-Royce, since his upcoming movie of that title figured to pay for it. When the DMV told him “DRAGNET” was riding the back bumper of a Corvette in the San Fernando Valley, Permut got in touch with the owner and tried to talk him out of it.

Vanity plates and their owners are not easily parted.

“He wasn’t interested,” Permut said, laughing. “He was a big fan of the (TV) show. So, I sent him a couple of ‘Dragnet’ hats and said ‘Thanks anyway.’ He’ll get a lot more attention now.”

Next year, Permut may be asking the DMV to run computer checks on “10-4” or “HWYPAT.” Of the several films he has in development around town, the one most likely to be made next is “Highway Patrol,” another big-screen spoof based on a small- screen series.

“With the success of ‘The Untouchables,’ ‘Dragnet,’ ‘Star Trek’ and some of the others, everyone is looking toward the vault saying, ‘What do we have here that we can put a new spin on?,’ ” Permut said. “There’s a lot of material.”

Permut, who originated the “Maps to the Stars’ Homes” industry in Bel Air when he was still in high school, rattled off the names of “Mission: Impossible,” “I Spy,” “The Flintstones” and “The Jetsons” as projects he knows to be in development for features somewhere in Hollywood. And “Dragnet’s” $10.5-million opening can only encourage more.

“I have had calls about doing ‘Sky King,’ ‘My Friend Flicka.’ Someone called me the other day and suggested ‘Flipper.’ How’s that, ‘Flipper, the Movie’ ”?

At the same time, television continues to recycle itself with revivals, reunions and rehashes. Perry Mason has returned. Gilligan’s Island has been revisited. So has Andy Griffith’s old stomping grounds, Mayberry. There are current plans to reprise “Sea Hunt,” “Eight Is Enough,” “Family” and “77 Sunset Strip.” And Ben Cartright, with his kids finally grown and out of the house, will be back for an episode of “Bonanza.”

Figure Hollywood. Permut had been trying to get a film on the life of Janis Joplin into production for nearly 10 years when the inspiration to bring “Dragnet” to the screen struck him. Two years later, Janis is still in development and “Dragnet” is a done deal.

“I wanted to do a buddy comedy and I wanted very much to work with Dan Aykroyd,” Permut said. “I was trudging through a lot of material but couldn’t find the right script. One night, I was watching an episode of “Dragnet” on USA Cable and I was starting to laugh. It was funny. A light went off. Dan Aykroyd as Joe Friday.”

The next morning, Permut put his attorney to work researching the rights to the TV series that aired from 1952 to 1959 and again from 1967 to 1970. Universal, it turned out, controlled most of those rights.

“From there, it moved very quickly,” Permut said. “I reached Dan (through his agent) and he got very excited about the project. He said, ‘Yeah, I want to do that.’ Then we went to Universal and got the same reaction.”

There are unofficial records kept in Hollywood for shortest successful film pitches. Super pitcher Bob Kosberg claimed to have gotten development money for the one-word fastball, “Monopoly.”

“I can beat that,” Permut said. “I sold ‘Dragnet’ with no words.”

“How’s that?”

“Dum-de-dum-dum.”

Permut said it wasn’t quite that easy. He followed the four-beat “Dragnet” theme with the three syllables “Dan Ayk-royd.” Within two years of that meeting, “Dragnet” opened in 1,337 theaters and became the No. 1 movie in the land.

It’s not a bad year Permut is having. “Blind Date,” which he executive produced, has grossed nearly $40 million since its release 13 weeks ago.

Permut’s other projects include Disney’s “Palm Beached,” a story based on the headline-grabbing Venezuelan freighter that ran ashore in ultra-rich West Palm Beach, and Orion’s “Joey on the 31st Floor. “Joey” is also based on real events, Permut said. It’s about a kid who left school and home at age 17 and quickly became a millionaire in real estate. It was written by his older brother, who is now 24.

But “Highway Patrol,” being adapted from the 1950s series starring Broderick Crawford as Chief Dan Matthews ,is closest to being made. Permut said the screenwriter is cruising with CHP officers in Indio right now gathering flavor and expects United Artists, which owns that show’s rights, to begin shooting this winter.

Permut said it would be nice to have his license plate say “10-4”--the police code that was the signature of “Highway Patrol”--but the chances of finding it, or any reasonable variation, are slim.

Oh well, a Rolls by any other name. . . .