Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947)

Dick Tracy goes up against a villain who robs banks using a nerve gas.

Director:

John Rawlins

Writers:

Robertson White (screenplay), Eric Taylor (screenplay)

Stars:

Boris Karloff, Ralph Byrd, Anne Gwynne

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Boris Karloff	...	Gruesome
Ralph Byrd	...	Dick Tracy
Anne Gwynne	...	Tess Trueheart
Edward Ashley	...	Dr. L. E. Thal
June Clayworth	...	Dr. Irma M. Learned
Lyle Latell	...	Pat Patton
Tony Barrett	...	Melody
Skelton Knaggs	...	X-Ray
James Nolan	...	Dan Sterne (as Jim Nolan)
Joseph Crehan	...	Chief Brandon
Milton Parsons	...	Dr. A. Tomic

Storyline

A gang of criminals, which includes a piano player and an imposing former convict known as 'Gruesome', has found out about a scientist's secret formula for a gas that temporarily paralyzes anyone who breathes it. When Gruesome accidentally inhales some of the gas and passes out, the police think he is dead and take him to the morgue, where he later revives and escapes. This puzzling incident attracts the interest of Dick Tracy, and when the criminals later use the gas to rob a bank, Tracy realizes that he must devote his entire attention to stopping them.

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Plot Keywords:

dick tracy | based on comic | sequel | fourth part | psychotronic film | 

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Taglines:

KARLOFF PETRIFIES THEM! (original print ad-all caps)

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dick Tracy vs. The Gruesome Gang

Filming Locations:

RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Several of the character initials combined with the last name are a play on words: Dr. L.E. Thal (Dr. Lethal), Professor I.M. Learned (Prof. I'm Learned), and Dr. A. Tomic (Dr. Atomic).

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Quotes

X Ray: What is your friend's name?
"Melody" Fisk: Gruesome.
X Ray: Isn't he.

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Connections

Featured in The World Famous Kid Detective (2014)

User Reviews

Fun, fast-paced B-movie with a fun cast

While none of the four Dick Tracy films made by RKO in the 1940's are particularly extraordinary they're fun, the actors are charming, and the atmosphere of the films is nice and seedy. Plus, they often mixed in a little sci-fi and some comic strip style humor (such as characters named Dr. A. Tomic and I. M. Learned) in with the bargain basement film noir that manages to set the films somewhat apart from other crime-themed B-films of the time.

The final film in the series, Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome, is probably the best of the four, mostly due to the absolutely wonderful cast. Boris Karloff is dependably creepy and charismatic as the main villain. Minor 1940's B-movie icon, Ann Gwynne is the sexiest Tess Trueheart of the early films. The incomparably menacing, ghostly Skelton Knaggs plays X-Ray and, like he always did, steals every scene he's in. Everyone is great.

The story, concerning Karloff using a gas that puts people into temporary suspended animation to rob a bank, moves at a gallop and is delivered with humor and style. There's not a dull moment in the film and it's more than worth the vintage B-movie enthusiast's time.