Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (Dick Tracy Meets Karloff)(Dick Tracy's Amazing Adventure) (1947)

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(72 ratings)

Befitting his status as a genre star, Boris Karloff earns top billing over leading man Ralph Byrd in RKO's final Dick Tracy caper. The former Frankenstein monster plays an escaped convict masterminding a daring bank robbery. To get in and out of the bank without being noticed, the gang uses an… More Befitting his status as a genre star, Boris Karloff earns top billing over leading man Ralph Byrd in RKO's final Dick Tracy caper. The former Frankenstein monster plays an escaped convict masterminding a daring bank robbery. To get in and out of the bank without being noticed, the gang uses an asphyxiating gas that leaves anyone inside momentarily frozen in place. Everyone, that is, except for bank customer Tess Truehart (Anne Gwynne), who is able to contact Dick Tracy (Byrd) from a phone booth in the bank. With little or no clues, Tracy and his man Friday, Pat Patton (Lyle Latell), question the bank customers but none can shed any light on the mysterious goings-on. The disappearance of Dr. A. Tomic (Milton Parsons) and the odd behavior of his associate, Dr. I.M. Learned (June Clayworth), crack the case wide open, however, and Tracy is eventually able to track down both Gruesome and the surprising identity of his boss, L.E. Thal (Edward Ashley). According to some reports, RKO wanted to release Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome as "Dick Tracy Meets Karloff" but that title was vetoed by Karloff himself. The legendary horror star apparently later accepted his own box-office value and a 1949 Universal comedy was released as Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 6 min.
Directed By: John Rawlins
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Sep 26, 1947 Wide
On DVD: Jul 30, 2002
Studio: American Pop Classics

Critic Reviews

Phil Hall, Film Threat
Entertaining B-level programmer.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The reason this lively B-film reaches greatness is the thoroughly delicious performance by Boris Karloff as the vicious thug Gruesome.

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Cast

            Ralph Byrd as Dick Tracy

            Boris Karloff as Gruesome

            Anne Gwynne as Tess Trueheart

            Lyle Latell as Pat Patton

            June Clayworth as Dr. I.M. Learned

            Skelton Knaggs as X-Ray

            Tony Barrett as "Melody" Fiske

            Joseph Crehan as Brandon

            Jim Nolan as Dan Sterne

            Robert Clarke as Fred police analyst

            Milton Parsons as Dr. A. Tomic

            Harry Harvey Jr. as Humphrey a guard

            William Gould as "Pop" hospital desk sgt.

            Ernie S. Adams as Bartender at Hangman's Knot

            Phil Arnold as Sneezing customer

            Lex Barker as City hospital driver

            Sean McClory as Officer Carney

            Lee Phelps as Detective in car

            Bert Roach as Crandall a customer

            Jason Robards Sr. as Mr. Fax bank vice pres.

            Harry Strang as Officer Tim

            Edward Ashley as Dr. Lee Thal

            Morgan Conway
            
            Anne Jeffreys
            
            Bela Lugosi
            
See full cast

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