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Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

Play trailer Poster for Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome 1947 1h 5m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 39% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
On-the-lam prisoner Gruesome (Boris Karloff) uses toxic gas to pull off a bank heist. Eyewitness to the crime is Tess Truehart (Anne Gwynne), who calls on police Detective Dick Tracy (Ralph Byrd) to investigate. With few leads from the bank's incapacitated customers, and press coverage threatening to create chaos, the crime fighter is in a tough spot. When Tracy learns about the mysterious disappearance of a doctor, however, it may provide the crucial break he needs to solve the crime.

Critics Reviews

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Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 09/14/2024
2.5/4
Ralph Byrd had to settle for second billing, a logical course of action when your villain is played by Boris Karloff. Go to Full Review
Pat Padua Spectrum Culture 10/10/2019
An inventive plot goes a long way to making this case stick. Go to Full Review
Phil Hall Film Threat 07/24/2009
3/5
Entertaining B-level programmer. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 03/14/2007
A-
The reason this lively B-film reaches greatness is the thoroughly delicious performance by Boris Karloff as the vicious thug Gruesome. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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isla s 09/03/2022 This is an entertaining black and white film. The supposed special effects or visual effects to make the audience believe that people in the banks were suddenly paused during the robberies are a little laughable but then this film does date from 1947. I found it amusing some of the poses the characters found themselves apparently freeze framed in. There were other aspects of the plot that made me laugh but I wouldn't say I laughed in terms of making fun of it - I was (or so I'd like to think in any case) laughing/smirking along with it, rather than at it. I suppose the plot pace is a bit slow but perhaps thats to be expected of an older film and in any case I found it quite watchable and entertaining. I enjoyed seeing the (now vintage) cars depicted as well. See more 12/29/2019 This is a surprisingly good, well-acted bit of pulp fiction. The story is good enough to keep one's interest, and one gets the feeling that the performers had a rollicking good time during filming. I've seen other Dick Tracy films. None were as good as this. See more 07/18/2016 Low budget serial that was soon to move to TV, featuring Ralph Byrd as the fabled detective. Here, he comes face-to-face with Boris Karloff as Gruesome, a nasty thug who gets his hands on a scientist's new chemical that has the power to freeze people in their tracks, virtually unconscious (but actually freeze-framed). This enables a major bank robbery but fortunately Dick's girlfriend Tess is in the phone booth at the bank, impervious to the gas and able to call the cops. The comic book action is writ large and fairly silly but not so much as Batman the 1960's TV series (for example). So, things might be a bit dull if the proceedings weren't lifted by Karloff's special touch. Somehow I thought Tracy would be a bit sterner but he seems a fun-loving joe here. No gadgets anywhere in sight. See more 04/04/2014 Maybe the best of the Dick Tracy series this movie has humor, science, and the very appealing Lex Barker and June Clayworth. See more 02/27/2014 Karloff Excels in a Solid Dick Tracy Feature--Dick Tracy vs Boris Karloff!! See more 04/15/2013 I own this on DVD in a two movie pack along with: * Dick Tracy Vs Cueball (1946) See more Read all reviews
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

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Movie Info

Synopsis On-the-lam prisoner Gruesome (Boris Karloff) uses toxic gas to pull off a bank heist. Eyewitness to the crime is Tess Truehart (Anne Gwynne), who calls on police Detective Dick Tracy (Ralph Byrd) to investigate. With few leads from the bank's incapacitated customers, and press coverage threatening to create chaos, the crime fighter is in a tough spot. When Tracy learns about the mysterious disappearance of a doctor, however, it may provide the crucial break he needs to solve the crime.
Director
John Rawlins
Producer
Herman Schlom
Screenwriter
Robertson White, Eric Taylor
Distributor
RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co
RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 26, 1947, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 1, 2016
Runtime
1h 5m