Dick Tracy, Detective (1945)
Movie Info
Dick Tracy, Detective (originally just Dick Tracy) was the first of four RKO Radio B-pictures based on Chester Gould's classic comic strip. Though Ralph Byrd is most closely associated with the role of Tracy, the title character is played herein by Morgan Conway (Byrd would be seen as Tracy in the last two series entries). The jut-jawed detective takes on a vicious criminal named Splitface (Mike Mazurki), who upon escaping from jail vows to murder the jurors who found him guilty and their alternates. He manages to knock off three before the police force figures out what's happening. Galvanized into action, Dick Tracy and his partner Pat Patton (Lyle Latell) track Splitface to a deserted riverboat (a leftover set from the 1945 RKO feature Man Alive) where the villain is holding Tracy's girlfriend Tess Truehart (Anne Jeffreys) and adopted son Junior (Mickey Kuhn) captive. When asked about Dick Tracy Detective in 1990, Anne Jeffreys flatly denied she'd ever played Tess Trueheart until she caught up with the film on videotape. She'd completely forgotten the whole experience.
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Cast
Morgan Conway
as Dick Tracy
as Dick Tracy
Mike Mazurki
as Alexis "Splitface" Banning
as Alexis "Splitface" Banning
Anne Jeffreys
as Tess Trueheart
as Tess Trueheart
Jane Greer
as Jane Owens
as Jane Owens
Lyle Latell
as Pat Patton
as Pat Patton
Joseph Crehan
as Chief Brandon
as Chief Brandon
Mickey Kuhn
as Junior
as Junior
Trevor Bardette
as Prof. Linwood J.
as Prof. Linwood J.
Milton Parsons
as Deathridge the Undertaker
as Deathridge the Undertaker
Morgan Wallace
as Steve Owens
as Steve Owens
William Halligan
as Mayor
as Mayor
Edythe Elliott
as Mrs. Caraway
as Mrs. Caraway
Mary Currier
as Dorothy Stafford
as Dorothy Stafford
Ralph Dunn
as Manning
as Manning
Edmund Glover
as Radio Announcer
as Radio Announcer
Bruce Edwards
as Sergeant
as Sergeant
Tanis Chandler
as Miss Stanley
as Miss Stanley
Carl Hanson
as Pedestrian
as Pedestrian
Jack Gargan
as Police Officer
as Police Officer
Franklin Farnum
as Bystander at Murder
as Bystander at Murder
Sam Ash
as Police Officer
as Police Officer
Carl Faulkner
as Police Officer
as Police Officer
Frank Meredith
as Police Officer
as Police Officer
Bob Reeves
as Cop
as Cop
Tommy Noonan
as Johnny Moko
as Johnny Moko
Harry Strang
as Detective
as Detective
George Magrill
as Detective
as Detective
Alphonse Martell
as Jules the Waiter
as Jules the Waiter
Jason Robards Sr.
as Motorist
as Motorist
Gertrude Astor
as Woman
as Woman
Jack Chefe
as Headwaiter
as Headwaiter
Florence Pepper
as Girl
as Girl
Jim Jordan
as Pedestrian
as Pedestrian
Wilbur Mack
as Motorist
as Motorist
Jason Robards Sr.
as Motorist
as Motorist
Robert Douglas
as Bus Boy
as Bus Boy
Critic Reviews for Dick Tracy, Detective
All Critics (3) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (0) | Rotten (3)
The best thing about the film is the way Berke manages to shape genuinely suspenseful film-noir elements around an otherwise simple yarn.
July 25, 2001 | Rating: 65/100
Forgettable crime drama.
November 13, 2007 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Dick Tracy, Detective
A classic Dick Tracy detective story, it's cool, better than that movie with Warren Beatty. Check it out.
Aj V
Super Reviewer
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