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List Price: $14.99 | | Label: VCI Entertainment
Salesrank: 82306
Released: June 24, 2008 |
| Our Price: $7.44 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
The comic-strip crimefighter Dick Tracy, created by Chester Gould, was part of the Saturday matinee serials, starring Ralph Byrd. In 1945, RKO revived the Tracy series, and Morgan Conway was chosen to portray Tracy in a pair of feature films: Dick Tracy and Dick Tracy vs. Cueball. RKO's earliest publicity photos posed Conway in profile, hoping to imitate Gould's square-jawed caricatures. Although Conway s screen Tracy didn't resemble the print Tracy in the flesh, Conway's dramatic interpretation was faithful; he gave the role a humble, businesslike quality while keeping with police procedure. Morgan Conway is considered by many to be the best on screen Dick Tracy. Although Conway's Tracy was praised by critics as the closest to Gould's original concept, the public seemed to prefer Byrd, who returned in the role for the final two RKO features. To them, Ralph Byrd was Dick Tracy. RKO accepted this and hired Byrd to finish the series. Dick Tracy's Dilemma and Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome. Boris Karloff spices up the final RKO feature as the fearsome bad guy known as Gruesome. All four movies had many of the visual features associated with film noir: dramatic, shadowy photographic compositions, with many exterior scenes filmed at night. In addition, RKO stocked the films with familiar faces, creating a true rogues' gallery of characters. Max Allan Collins -- who took over the writing of the TRACY strip from Chester Gould, and went on to create ROAD TO PERDITION -- provides informative on-screen introductions to each film, exclusive to this VCI release. Bonus Features Scene Selection, Chapter 1 of Dick Tracy Returns serial, Chapter 1 of Dick Tracy's G-Men serial, Photo Gallery - RKO Lobby Cards, Intros by Max Allan Collins, Trailers, Adlets Product Specs 2-DVD9s; Dolby Digital; 250 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA NR; Year 1945, 1946 & 1947; SRP - $14.99.
Dick Tracy RKO Classic Collection: Dick Tracy Detective; Dick Tracy vs. Cueball, Dick Tracy's Dilemma & Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome Reviews:
Great Set! 
2008-07-27 - This is a fantastic set for anyone who is a fan of Dick Tracy. The first film hits all the right notes, great noir vibe, and the best translations of Dick Tracy comic strip characters for that time. RKO Pictures did a great job, as they did with most of the pictures they made in those days. The other films are not to bad either, lots of fun in the final flick with Boris Karloff as the character Gruesome. Each movie has a little intro by Max Allan Collins (who wrote the strip from late 70s to the early 90s), which is a swank little bonus provided by VCI. Fans of comic strips and comic books should pick it up! The right price for great movies.
Where are the commentaries? 
2008-07-08 - I haven't seen these VCI DVDs yet. The single star is based on the product description. Max Allan Collins provides an on-screen introduction to each of these films. That is nice, but 10 years ago Roan released a 2 DVD set of these films: Two of the films had full-length audio commentaries by the same Max Allan Collins. Plus two radio shows and an interview with Chester Gould by Max Allan Collins. Much more good stuff than VCI provides.
"Chester Gould's Dick Tracy ... RKO Radio Pictures ... VCI Ent. (2008)" 
2008-06-22 - VCI Entertainment and RKO Radio Pictures presents Chester Gould's comic strip creation "DICK TRACY RKO CLASSIC COLLECTION" (1945-1947) (250 mins/B&W) (Dolby digitally remastered) --- Dick Tracy is a long-running comic strip featuring a popular and familiar character in American pop culture --- Dick Tracy is a hard-hitting, fast-shooting, and supremely intelligent police detective who has matched wits with a variety of often grotesquely ugly villains --- Created by cartoonist Chester Gould in 1931, the strip made its debut appearance on October 4, 1931, distributed by the Chicago Tribune Syndicate --- Gould wrote and drew the strip until 1977 --- Chester Gould retired from comics in 1977; his last Dick Tracy strip appeared in print on Sunday, December 25 of that year --- The following Monday, Dick Tracy was taken over by Max Allan Collins and longtime Gould assistant Rick Fletcher --- Gould's name remained in the byline for a few years after his retirement as a story consultant -- (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
The first film - "DICK TRACY, DETECTIVE" (1 December 1945) (61 mins/B&W)
Under the production staff of:
William A. Berke - Director
Herman Schlom - Producer
Eric Taylor - Screenwriter
Frank Redman - Cinematographer
Constantin Bakaleinikoff - Musical Direction/Supervision
Roy Webb - Composer (Music Score)
Ernie Leadlay - Editor
Ralph Berger - Art Director
Albert S. D'Agostino - Art Director
Sid Rogell - Executive Producer
Darrell Silvera - Set Designer
Terry Kellum - Sound/Sound Designer
Jean L. Speak - Sound/Sound Designer
Clem Beauchamp - First Assistant Director
The story line and plot, Dick Tracy (Morgan Conway), a supremely intelligent police detective, must solve a series of brutal murders in which the victims, all from different social and economic backgrounds, are viciously slashed to pieces by the one known as Splitface (Mike Mazurki) --- Suspects flourish but Tracy must find the common link of extortion and revenge before more are killed.
the cast includes:
Morgan Conway ... Dick Tracy
Anne Jeffreys ... Tess Trueheart
Mike Mazurki ... 'Splitface'
Jane Greer ... Judith Owens
Lyle Latell ... Pat Patton
Joseph Crehan ... Chief Brandon
Mickey Kuhn ... Junior
Trevor Bardette ... Prof. Linwood J. Starling
Morgan Wallace ... Steve Owens
Milton Parsons ... Deathridge the Undertaker
William Halligan ... Mayor
Franklyn Farnum ... Bystander at Murder
George Magrill ... Detective at Starling's Interrogation
Tommy Noonan ... Johnny Moko
Jason Robards Sr. ... Motorist
Don Wilson ... Radio Announcer (voice)
The second film - "DICK TRACY VS CUEBALL" (18 December 1946) (62 mins/B&W)
Under the production staff of:
Gordon M. Douglas - Director
Herman Schlom - Producer
Robert Kent - Screenwriter
Dane Lussier - Screenwriter
George E. Diskant - Cinematographer
Constantin Bakaleinikoff - Composer (Music Score)
Phil Ohman - Composer (Music Score)
Philip Martin - Editor
Lucius O. Croxton - Art Director
Albert S. D'Agostino - Art Director
Sid Rogell - Executive Producer
Darrell Silvera - Set Designer
Shelby Willis - Set Designer
Russell A. Cully - Special Effects
Luci Ward - Short Story Author
The story line and plot, Luxurious diamonds are stolen but before the thief can safely hide them he is strangled by ex-conman Cueball (Dick Wessel) --- Cueball takes the diamonds and continues on murdering people that he believes are trying to double-cross him. Dick Tracy (Morgan Conway) allows his girlfriend Tess to act as a buyer for the diamonds but what happens when Cueball vows to eliminate Dick Tracy? --- It is considered by many Dick Tracy fans to be the best of RKO's Dick Tracy films.
the cast includes:
Morgan Conway ... Dick Tracy
Anne Jeffreys ... Tess Trueheart aka Blythe Belmonte
Lyle Latell ... Pat Patton
Rita Corday ... Mona Clyde, Sparkle's Secretary
Ian Keith ... Vitamin Flintheart
Dick Wessel ... Harry 'Cueball' Lake
Douglas Walton ... Percival Priceless, Antique Store Owner
Esther Howard ... Filthy Flora, Dripping Dagger Proprietor
Joseph Crehan ... Chief Brandon
Byron Foulger ... Simon Little, Sparkle's Diamond Cutter
Jimmy Crane ... Junior Tracy
Milton Parsons ... Higby, Clerk at Priceless'
Skelton Knaggs ... Rudolph, Little's Assoicate
Jason Robards Sr. ... Captain Mason, S.S. 'Palomar'
The third film - "DICK TRACY'S DILEMMA" (20 May 1947) (60 mins/B&W)
Under the production staff of:
John Rawlins - Director
Herman Schlom - Producer
Robert Stephen Brode - Screenwriter
Frank Redman - Cinematographer
Paul Sawtell - Composer (Music Score)
Marvin Coll - Editor
Lucius O. Croxton - Art Director
Albert S. D'Agostino - Art Director
Russell A. Cully - Special Effects
The story line and plot, Also called "Mark of the Claw" in the United Kingdom, Dick Tracy's Dilemma is about police detective Dick Tracy investigating fur thefts --- He soon finds out that the thief has a hook for a hand and calls himself The Claw! --- Stolen furs, a dead night watchman, insurance scams, and a killer with a hook for a hand named The Claw. It's up to Dick Tracy to unravel the mystery --- Ralph Byrd returns to the character he had originated ten years earlier in the serial Dick Tracy.
the cast includes:
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)
Al Bridge ... Mr. Cudd, Honesty Insurance Investigator
William Gould ... Collins - Police Lab Technician
Tom London ... Cop in Squad Car
Frank Mills ... Sailor outside Blinking Skull
Jack Perrin ... Cop in Squad Car
Jason Robards Sr. ... Hawks, Collins Furs Night Watchman
The fourth film - "DICK TRACY MEETS GRUESOME" (26 September 1947) (65 mins/B&W)
Under the production staff of:
John Rawlins - Director
Herman Schlom - Producer
William H. Graffis - Screen Story
Robert Kent - Screen Story
Eric Taylor - Screenwriter
Robertson White - Screenwriter
Frank Redman - Cinematographer
Constantin Bakaleinikoff - Musical Direction/Supervision / Conductor
Paul Sawtell - Composer (Music Score)
Elmo Williams - Editor
Albert S. D'Agostino - Art Director / Production Designer
Walter E. Keller - Art Director / Production Designer
James Altwies - Set Designer
Darrell Silvera - Set Designer
Gordon Bau - Makeup
Russell A. Cully - Special Effects
James Lane - First Assistant Director
The story line and plot, Concerning Gruesome (Boris 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 --- Boris Karloff was a fine actor, we are hard-pressed to offer examples - unless we mean his memorable gallery of monsters, mummies, mad scientists and assorted grotesques --- In this unlikely film can be found one of the best performances of his career: that of a criminal, to be sure, but an ominous character who projects menace rather than horror --- Karloff underplays the ruthless, single-minded social misfit whose manner is close enough to the norm to enable him to move among commonplace types without attracting undue attention, but is at the same time sufficiently glowering to intimidate even his henchmen --- Favorite scene is when Karloff is putting his victims in a huge furnace for safekeeping --- Boris Karloff earns top billing over leading man Ralph Byrd in RKO's final Dick Tracy caper --- Saw Skelton Knaggs listed in the credits--he is a hoot to watch as X-Ray!! Something about this late actor is funny to watch, I don't know if it is his voice or his looks or what, but he is something else in this film.
the cast includes:
Boris Karloff ... Gruesome
Ralph Byrd ... Dick Tracy
Anne Gwynne ... Tess Truehart
Edward Ashley ... Dr. Lee Thal
June Clayworth ... Dr. I.M. Learned (Irma), Prof. Tomic's Assistant
Lyle Latell ... Pat Patton, Plainclothesman
Tony Barrett ... 'Melody' Fiske
Skelton Knaggs ... X-Ray
Jim Nolan ... Dan Sterne, Newspaper Reporter
Joseph Crehan ... Chief Brandon
Milton Parsons ... Dr. A. Tomic, State U. Physicist
Ernie Adams ... Bartender at Hangman's Knot
Phil Arnold ... Sneezing Bank Customer
Lex Barker ... City Hospital Driver
Tom Keene ... Dr. Frankey
George Lloyd ... Manager of the 'Hangmans Knot'
Jason Robards Sr. ... Mr. Fax, 1st National Bank V.P.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Scene Selection
2. Chapter 1 of Dick Tracy Returns serial
3. Chapter 1 of Dick Tracy's G-Men serial
4. Photo Gallery - RKO Lobby Cards
5. Intros by Max Allan Collins -- who took over the writing of the TRACY strip from Chester Gould, and went on to create ROAD TO PERDITION -- provides informative on-screen introductions to each film, exclusive to this VCI release.
BIOS:
1. Ralph Byrd (as Dick Tracy)
Date of Birth: 22 April 1909 - Dayton, Ohio
Date of Death: 18 August 1952 - Tarzana, California
2. Morgan Conway
Date of Birth: 16 March 1903 - Newark, New Jersey
Date of Death: 16 November 1981 - Livingston, New Jersey
3. Boris Karloff (aka: William Henry Pratt)
Date of Birth: 23 November 1887 - Camberwell, London, England, UK
Date of Death: 2 February 1969 - Midhurst, Sussex, England, UK
4. Chester Gould (creator of Dick Tracy)
Birth Date:11/20/1900 - Pawnee, Oklahoma
Died: 5/11/1985 - Woodstock, Illinois
Hats off and thanks to Robert Blair and his staff at VCI Entertainment --- VCI was named in Variety and Hollywood Reporter as the first company to produce and release motion pictures directly to the home marketplace --- order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch releases --- VCI are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector -- looking forward to more Nostalgic Collections.
Total Time: 250 mins on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment 8528 ~ (6/24/2008)
