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Dick Tracy

  • 19371937
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 4h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
615
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ralph Byrd in Dick Tracy (1937)
  • Action
  • Comedy
  • Crime
A master criminal called The Spider puts the famous detective's brother under a hypnotic spell and turns him against Dick.A master criminal called The Spider puts the famous detective's brother under a hypnotic spell and turns him against Dick.A master criminal called The Spider puts the famous detective's brother under a hypnotic spell and turns him against Dick.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
615
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Alan James
    • Ray Taylor
  • Writers
    • Chester Gould(based on cartoon strip by)
    • Barry Shipman(screenplay)
    • Winston Miller(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ralph Byrd
    • Kay Hughes
    • Smiley Burnette
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Alan James
    • Ray Taylor
  • Writers
    • Chester Gould(based on cartoon strip by)
    • Barry Shipman(screenplay)
    • Winston Miller(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ralph Byrd
    • Kay Hughes
    • Smiley Burnette
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Photos30

    Ralph Byrd in Dick Tracy (1937)
    Ralph Byrd and Lee Van Atta in Dick Tracy (1937)
    Ralph Byrd, John Picorri, and Lee Van Atta in Dick Tracy (1937)
    Ralph Byrd, John Picorri, and Lee Van Atta in Dick Tracy (1937)
    Ralph Byrd and Lee Van Atta in Dick Tracy (1937)
    Smiley Burnette, Ralph Byrd, Kay Hughes, and Lee Van Atta in Dick Tracy (1937)
    Ralph Byrd and Lee Van Atta in Dick Tracy (1937)
    Ralph Byrd, John Picorri, Lorin Raker, Buddy Roosevelt, Edwin Stanley, and Carleton Young in Dick Tracy (1937)
    John Picorri and Edwin Stanley in Dick Tracy (1937)
    Ralph Byrd and Lee Van Atta in Dick Tracy (1937)
    Ralph Byrd, André Cheron, and Bruce Mitchell in Dick Tracy (1937)
    Brooks Benedict and Ralph Byrd in Dick Tracy (1937)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ralph Byrd
    Ralph Byrd
    • Dick Tracyas Dick Tracy
    Kay Hughes
    Kay Hughes
    • Gwen Andrewsas Gwen Andrews
    Smiley Burnette
    Smiley Burnette
    • Mike McGurkas Mike McGurk
    Lee Van Atta
    • Junioras Junior
    John Picorri
    John Picorri
    • Molochas Moloch
    • (as John Piccori)
    Carleton Young
    Carleton Young
    • Gordon Tracy, Afteras Gordon Tracy, After
    Fred Hamilton
    • Steve Lockwoodas Steve Lockwood
    Francis X. Bushman
    Francis X. Bushman
    • Chief Clive Andersonas Chief Clive Anderson
    John Dilson
    John Dilson
    • Ellery Brewster [Chs. 1, 12]as Ellery Brewster [Chs. 1, 12]
    Richard Beach
    • Gordon Tracy, Before [Chs. 1, 12]as Gordon Tracy, Before [Chs. 1, 12]
    Wedgwood Nowell
    Wedgwood Nowell
    • H.T. Clayton [Chs. 8-9]as H.T. Clayton [Chs. 8-9]
    Theodore Lorch
    Theodore Lorch
    • Patorno [Chs. 1, 12]as Patorno [Chs. 1, 12]
    Edwin Stanley
    Edwin Stanley
    • Walter Odetteas Walter Odette
    Harrison Greene
    • Cloggersteinas Cloggerstein…
    Herbert Weber
    • Tony Martino [Ch. 1]as Tony Martino [Ch. 1]
    Buddy Roosevelt
    Buddy Roosevelt
    • Whitney Burkeas Whitney Burke
    George DeNormand
    George DeNormand
    • Henchman Flynn [Chs. 2-3, 5]as Henchman Flynn [Chs. 2-3, 5]
    • (as George De Normand)
    • …
    Byron Foulger
    Byron Foulger
    • Korvitch [Chs. 1, 12]as Korvitch [Chs. 1, 12]
    • (as Byron K. Foulger)
    • Directors
      • Alan James
      • Ray Taylor
    • Writers
      • Chester Gould(based on cartoon strip by)
      • Barry Shipman(screenplay)
      • Winston Miller(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A master criminal called The Spider puts the famous detective's brother under a hypnotic spell and turns him against Dick.
    • brother vs. brother
    • damsel in distress
    • cigarette smoking
    • deception
    • double cross
    • 112 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • "You've put me on the spot - you've killed my friends...now I'm striking for revenge! EXCITEMENT in 15-trigger-fast chapters! (original poster)
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Family
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The background comic art (panels) shown on most of the original posters for this serial came from the Sunday "Dick Tracy" comic page of December 6, 1936.
    • Goofs
      In the first chapter Junior knocks on the window to get Tracy's attention crying "Mr. Tracy, Mr. Tracy!", but after he tackles one of the fleeing villains he says " Aren't you Dick Tracy?".
    • Quotes

      [the Spider's henchmen have kidnapped Gordon, Dick Tracy's brother, and Moloch prepares to begin a mind-altering medical procedure]

      The Spider: Hmm, his condition seems critical.

      Moloch: What if should die?

      The Spider: Then we will eliminate a very dangerous enemy.

      Moloch: He won't die, but by means of this operation - a simple altering of certain glands - he will be unable to distinguish between right and wrong.

      The Spider: In that event, he will be very useful to us, Moloch, very useful.

    • Crazy credits
      "Oscar & Elmer" are given final cast credits in the opening sequence.
    • Connections
      Edited into Dick Tracy (1990)

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    4/10
    He Fights the Lame One in this Lame One
    Dick Tracy is on the hunt of a mysterious criminal known as the Lame One ( he has a bum foot, but I think the title describes the villian's general appearance ), leader of the mysterious Spider Gang. The Lame One along with his hunchbacked assistant kidnap Tracy's brother, alters his appearance, and goes out fighting him endlessly throughout this boredom. This serial moves incredibly slow ( mainly this isn't a Whitney/English chapterplay ), the acting outside of Ralph Byrd is dead wood, especially Smiley Burnette. Even when the master criminal is unmasked, the audience is forced to say, Who was this guy. Add a really dumb, sentimental ending, and well you get the pic. Don't judge the next three serials based on this one. In terms of serials, 4 out of 10.
    helpful•2
    12
    • Mike-764
    • Jan 15, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 20, 1937 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Adventures of Dick Tracy
    • Filming locations
      • Republic Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Republic Pictures (I)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      4 hours 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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