Dick Tracy's Dilemma (1947)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

John Rawlins

Writers:

Chester Gould (comic strip characters)
Robert Stephen Brode (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 May 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Dick Tracy battles the fiendish "Claw" in one of his most difficult cases.

Plot:

Dick Tracy investigates the theft of a fortune of fur coats, a possible insurance swindle and several murders, all linked to a huge thug who wears a hook in place of his right hand. |

Plot Keywords:

Fur Coat | Dick Tracy | Murder | Apostrophe In Title | Third Part

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 18

2:30 PM

TCM

Cast

Ralph Byrd	...	Dick Tracy
Lyle Latell	...	Pat Patton
Kay Christopher	...	Tess Trueheart
Jack Lambert	...	Steve 'The Claw' Michel
Ian Keith	...	Vitamin Flintheart
Bernadene Hayes	...	Longshot Lillie the Fence
Jimmy Conlin	...	Sightless the 'Blind' Begger
William B. Davidson	...	Peter Premium, V.P. Honesty Insurance
Tony Barrett	...	Sam, a henchman
Tom Keene	...	Fred - a henchman (as Richard Powers)

Also Known As:

Mark of the Claw (UK)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: As Tracy chases The Claw to a junk yard, the sound of a chain link fence being climbed can be heard as Tracy is climbing a wood fence.

Quotes:

Police dispatcher: Calling Car 15. Calling Car 15. Car 15!
Pat Patton: Car 15, Patton speaking.
Police dispatcher: Contact Dick Tracy at once. Have him go over to the Flawless Furs warehouse. Dillon reports some shenanigans - a busted fuse box at the garage.
Pat Patton: Then tell him to call-tell him to call an electrician, not Dick Tracy
Police dispatcher: Now come on, Pat! The night watchman has disappeared. It might be homicide.
Pat Patton: Oh, that's different. I'll tell Dick Tracy right away!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Nude Bomb (1980)

"I'll protect you from the Hooded Claw."

Rather like the comic strip upon which this series of films were based, the villains are usually the most interesting. Crippled when a robbery went horribly wrong, the Claw is now as twisted in body as he is in mind. "You're a killer, Claw!" screams one of his fellow henchmen at him and he's got it spot on.

When the Claw isn't on screen, the film drops a notch as the good guys aren't that interesting and Tracy is just dull. Still, he gets the job done and the case is solved and the evil Claw meets a fitting end after a thrilling chase through a scrap yard.

Low budget and in black & white these films may be but with their short running time, they never outstay their welcome and are fast and entertaining. Something today's overblown two hour plus films could learn a thing or two from. Less is often more at certain times.

In case anyone is wondering, the above Summary quote is from the song, 'The Power of Love,' by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.