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DICK TRACY-1937-This is the first film adaptation of Chester Gould’s famous comic strip detective. It’s actually a 15-chapter serial that was later condensed and re-released as a feature in the early ‘40’s. Ralph Byrd isn’t bad as the square jawed detective, trying to find out who’s behind “The Spider Murders” but most of the “classic” supporting characters from the strip are left out. He’s assisted by Fred Hamilton as Steve Lockwood, Smiley Burnette as Mike McGurk, Kay Hughes as Gwen Andrews and Lee Van Atta as Junior. The villainous Spider (who’s identity is kept secret till the final chapter) keeps Dick busy trying kill him, blow up bridges and even turning Tracy’s own brother against him and into a hypnotized slave! Like most serials it’s very far fetched and some of the acting is very bad. Former silent matinee idol Francis X Bushman appears as Chief Anderson. John Picorri is the hunchbacked mad scientist Moloch and Byron Foulger, Ray Bancroft and William Hopper also have roles.
Two more serials followed: DICK TRACY RETURNS and DICK TRACY’S G-MEN (both with Byrd, a busy character actor in other films until is untimely death in 1951 after filming a Dick Tracy TV series).
DICK TRACY-DETECTIVE-1945–Not to be confused with DICK TRACY from 1937 that was a feature condensation of the serial starring Ralph Byrd, this one has the inadequate Morgan Conway playing the comic strip detective. Lyle Lytell (as Pat Patton) and Anne Jefferys (as Tess) are there. Junior too. This time Tracy is on the trail of Splitface (Mike Mazurki), a vicious murderer with a nice facial scar. It’s all right but Conway just isn’t “squared jawed” enough for the role. Director William Berke directed and/or produced nearly 100 pictures from the early ‘30’s till the late 1950’s (he was also an actor in silent films) including many Westerns and the “Jungle Jim” series. He died in 1958 at the age of 55.
DICK TRACY VS. CUEBALL-1946-Another installment of Chester Gould’s comic strip character, this time with the badly miscast Morgan Conway in the title role. Tracy and partner Pat Patton (Lyle Lattell) are after a jewel thief and murderer Cueball (Dick Wessel with no hair). Not much happens in the mundane storyline but Ian Keith as Vitamin Flintheart is always good for a few laughs. Anne Jeffreys is Tess, Dick’s girlfriend who has a little more to do than usual. Esther Howard is Filthy Flora, a floozy bar owner and Douglas Walton is Percival Priceless, an antiques dealer. Also with the great Byron Foulger and the creepy Skelton Knaggs. Director Gordon Douglas later on made the giant ants epic THEM!, Bob Hope comedies, blaxpoltation and many other films. Screenwriter Robert Kent later wrote and/or produced many Edward Cahn movies.
DICK TRACY’S DILEMNA-1947-Second to last in the series (star Ralph Byrd died suddenly of a heart attack in 1951), it features Tracy & partner Pat Patton (Lyle Latell) on the trail of “The Claw” (Jack Lambert), a hook handed murderer and fur thief. Ian Keith as ham actor Vitamin Flintheart is a highlight. Kay Christopher doesn’t have much to do as Tess. Not much happens but The Claw’s death is fairly memorable. Sean McClory and Jason Robards Sr. have small roles. Journeyman director John Rawlins also made THE GREEN HORNET STRIKES AGAIN!, SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE VOICE OF TERROR and the last in the Tracy series, DICK TRACY MEETS GRUESOME (with Boris Karloff as the title villain).
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Posted by CavedogRob on 2007-11-26 19:22:41 | Rating: | Views: 77
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hi CD-R!
oh! this is a good one!
my old dad turned me on to D.T. when i was a boy - maybe 10 years old. around that time u could get pocket books that compiled the old comic strips - i loved the decisiveness of the drawing in particular...
warren beaty sure looked funny in that yellow overcoat and fedora...:o)
hey! remember i was 'twilight zone'ing you? remember vic morrow...? he was the actor that died under the helicopter crash in the T.Z. movie... is he interesting in films?
cheers!
:o)
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Posted by badlydrawnstickman
on 2007-11-26 19:59:46
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I love the Dick Tracy picture on top. And a great title for your entry.
I've never read any of the comic strips or seen any of the movies. If they ever stock some of the Dick Tracy movies in the library I might pick one up and watch it.
I know he must've been really popular back then.
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Posted by SubTomato
on 2007-11-27 07:35:48
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