Dick Tracy's G-Men (1939)

A mad doctor named Zanoff uses a drug to bring himself back from the dead after his execution in prison. Dick Tracy sets out to capture Zanoff before he can put his criminal gang back together again.

Directors:

John English, William Witney

Writers:

Barry Shipman (original screenplay), Franklin Adreon (original screenplay),

Stars:

Ralph Byrd, Irving Pichel, Ted Pearson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ralph Byrd	...	Dick Tracy
Irving Pichel	...	Nicolas Zarnoff
Ted Pearson	...	Agent Steve Lockwood
Jennifer Jones	...	Gwen Andrews (as Phyllis Isley)
Walter Miller	...	Henchman Robal
George Douglas	...	Henchman Sandoval
Kenneth Harlan	...	FBI Chief Clive Anderson [Chs. 13-15]
Robert Carson	...	Agent Scott
Julian Madison	...	Agent Foster
Ted Mapes	...	Agent Dan Murchison
William Stahl	...	Agent Bruce
Robert Wayne	...	Agent Wilbur
Joe McGuinn	...	Henchman Tom
Ken Terrell	...	Henchman Ed (as Kenneth Terrell)
Harry Humphrey	...	Warden Stover [Chs. 1, 13]

Storyline

A mad doctor named Zanoff uses a drug to bring himself back from the dead after his execution in prison. Dick Tracy sets out to capture Zanoff before he can put his criminal gang back together again.

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Plot Keywords:

detective | tv series pilot | serial | based on comic | based on comic strip | 

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Genres:

Action | Mystery | Crime

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 September 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dick Tracy and His G-Men

Filming Locations:

Republic Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$163,530 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

302 min 302 min (15 chapters)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chapter Titles: 1. The Master Spy 2. Captured 3. The False Signal 4. The Enemy Strikes 5. Crack-Up! 6. Sunken Peril 7. Tracking the Enemy 8. Chamber of Doom 9. Flames of Jeopardy 10.Crackling Fury 11.Caverns of Peril 12.Fight in the Sky 13.The Fatal Ride 14.Getaway 15. The Last Stand

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Connections

Follows Dick Tracy Returns (1938)

User Reviews

JENNIFER JONES' REPUBLIC DAYS

This video, from a film series made in 1939, is a classic example of a hangover from the silent era for action films, when heros & heroines stood in mortal peril at the end of the film, only to magically escape when the punters returned from their suspense the following week to see what happened in the next serial.This is a classic marketing ploy seen several times in this combined film.

The previous reviewer adequately summarised the plot.I bought it to obtain a copy of the second feature film ever made by Jennifer Jones when she was still Phyllis Isley (her given name).Made at the low budget minded Republic Films, this was her second attempt at Hollywood stardom at Republic, her first & easier to obtain, was "Frontier Horizon" with John Wayne.However, the low status and lack of character depth of roles (not to say money) offered, left her somewhat disillusioned and after this film she returned to New York with her then new husband of that year, Robert Walker, for a second crack at stage stardom on the "Great White Way".

In this film she plays Gwen Andrews, Dick Tracey's girl Friday, a role like Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond saga, you will note was played by another actress from the 1937 series.An interesting example of the serial film genre from the 1930's.