Dick Tracy meets Gruesome (1947)

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Dick Tracy meets Gruesome (1947)
Topic Started: Oct 17 2007, 10:23 PM (415 Views)
Laughing Gravy	Oct 17 2007, 10:23 PM Post #1
Revered in the UK Posts: 11,070 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	Karloff’s post-Arsenic and Old Lace return to Universal lasted for only two pictures; by 1946, the studio was done (again) with horror films for awhile. He was (body)snatched up by RKO Radio and handed over to producer Val Lewton, who had been generating nice little profits and critical acclaim with a series of B-movie horror/suspense films. For whatever reason (probably Universal was correct, the post-war audience didn’t want horror movies) diminishing returns on The Bodysnatcher, Isle of the Dead, and Bedlam ended the series, but RKO kept Boris around for a memorable turn in the Danny Kaye vehicle fashioned from James Thurber’s classic story The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and then Karloff finished his RKO contract with the fourth and final installment of the studio’s series based on Chester Gould’s popular Dick Tracy comic strip. This film was a surprise and delight on all counts. The four RKO Tracy films don’t have much of a critical reputation, but they have the spirit and fun of the comic strip in its heyday, and if the grownups had the Lone Wolf, the Falcon, Boston Blackie and the Thin Man, well, why not give the kids in the Saturday matinee crowd a detective hero to cheer on? Ralph Byrd, veteran of four Republic Tracy serials, is truer to the character here, and a great asset to the film, as is of course Karloff. Dr. L.E. Thal has stolen a secret formula for a paralyzing nerve gas from Professor A. Tomic, and with the help of a trigger-happy sociopath named (and looking) Gruesome, uses it to rob a bank. Dick Tracy and his pals Pat Patton and Tess Truehart investigate. Boris is in his best “American gangster” mode here; you know he’s going to be fun when early on in the picture, he growls “Git movin’” as he chews on a toothpick. The best line in the movie, though, is when – after recovering from his own nerve gas and springing back to life in the morgue – Karloff escapes, leading Patton to tell Tracy, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear we were doin’ business with Boris Karloff!” From the opening credits – Chester Gould drawings – through the final shootout (well staged by veteran serial director John Rawlins), the fun never flags with this one. Look for the unforgettable Skelton Knaggs as one of the henchmen and Lex Barker in a cameo as an ambulance driver. This film is a pip.



The Batman	Oct 18 2007, 05:02 PM Post #2
Charter Member Posts: 5,570 Group: Members Member #17 Joined: September 4, 2005	I agree, LG, a fun movie, as is the entire series.



Stony Brooke da Mesquiteer	Nov 1 2007, 06:04 PM Post #3
Balconeer Creeper Posts: 14,178 Group: Members Member #244 Joined: July 6, 2007	Laughing Gravy Oct 17 2007, 10:23 PM Dr. L.E. Thal has stolen a secret formula for a paralyzing nerve gas from Professor A. Tomic, Don't forget the Professor's assistant, I.M. Learned!!!
	"She's got style, she's got grace She's got long, long legs, she's got... Savoir Faire"


shelbyvinje	Jul 28 2008, 10:25 PM Post #4
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 420 Group: Members Member #470 Joined: June 3, 2008	Best film of the four. I believe both production values and the scripts improved with each film, and had they continued, the series overall would have become even better. I love the opening title screen blending into the real action with Dick Tracy vs. Cueball. But Gruesome is the fun entry of the series.



Black Tiger	Jul 29 2008, 09:16 AM Post #5
Charter Member Posts: 1,814 Group: Members Member #50 Joined: September 15, 2005	The movies were okay, but I still enjoy the Dick Tracy serials best. Their action and pacing made them much more memorable.



AndyFish	Jul 29 2008, 04:20 PM Post #6
Movie Watcha Foist Class Posts: 203 Group: Members Member #224 Joined: June 11, 2007	I'm in the minority but I thought Morgan Conway was much better than Ralph Byrd. The first Tracy film has some real film noir elements to it and it's got some pretty scary parts. It's my favorite but I like all of them. I've never warmed to the Tracy Serials but am planning on giving them another chance.
	www.hebsandfish.com


Chandu	Sep 27 2008, 10:36 AM Post #7
Knowledge Seeker and rascal at large Posts: 10,276 Group: Members Member #297 Joined: October 19, 2007	AndyFish Jul 29 2008, 05:20 PM I'm in the minority but I thought Morgan Conway was much better than Ralph Byrd. The first Tracy film has some real film noir elements to it and it's got some pretty scary parts. It's my favorite but I like all of them. I've never warmed to the Tracy Serials but am planning on giving them another chance. I agree with you, Andy, I just finished watching 3 of the 4 and although I enjoyed Ralph Byrd's portrayal in the serials, I liked Morgan Conway better in the features. Dick Tracy, Detective is my favorite so far, but I haven't seen "Dilemma" yet.
	Not plane, nor bird, nor even frog. It's just little ol' me...


Don Diego	Sep 27 2008, 12:38 PM Post #8
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 12,046 Group: Members Member #18 Joined: September 4, 2005	Conway looked a lot more like Dick Tracy in the comic strips than Byrd did but seeing Ralph Byrd as Tracy first made him seem to fit the part better.


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