Dick Tracy, Detective (Splitface) (1945)

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(259 ratings)

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… More 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. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 2 min.
Directed By: William A. Berke, William Berke
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Dec 1, 1945 Wide
Studio: American Pop Classics

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Forgettable crime drama.
Ed Gonzalez, Apollo Guide
The best thing about the film is the way Berke manages to shape genuinely suspenseful film-noir elements around an otherwise simple yarn.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A classic Dick Tracy detective story, it's cool, better than that movie with Warren Beatty. Check it out.

Cast

            Morgan Conway as Dick Tracy

            Anne Jeffreys as Tess Trueheart

            Mike Mazurki as Splitface

            Jane Greer as Judith Owens

            Lyle Latell as Pat Patton

            Mickey Kuhn as Junior

            Joseph Crehan as Chief Brandon

            Trevor Bardette as Prof. Linwood J. Starling

            Morgan Wallace as Steven Owens

            Milton Parsons as Deathridge

            William Halligan as Mayor

            Edythe Elliott as Mrs. Caraway

            Mary Currier as Dorothy Stafford

            Ralph Dunn as Manning

            Edmund Glover as Radio Announcer

            Bruce Edwards as Sergeant

            Sam Ash as Police Officer

            Gertrude Astor as Woman

            Tanis Chandler as Miss Stanley

            Jack Chefe as Headwaiter

            Robert Douglas as Bus Boy

            Franklin Farnum as Bystander at Murder

            Carl Faulkner as Police Officer

            Jack Gargan as Police Officer

            Wilbur Mack as Motorist

            George Magrill as Detective

            Alphonse Martell as Jules the Waiter

            Jason Robards Sr. as Motorist

            Harry Strang as Detective

            Tommy Noonan as Johnny Moko

            Frank Meredith as Police Officer

            Bob Reeves as Cop

            Carl Hanson as Pedestrian

            Jim Jordan as Pedestrian

            Florence Pepper as Girl
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