Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947)

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947) is one of the final entries (affiliate link) in “B” film series. RKO Pictures took the series over from Republic Pictures, who released the original Dick Tracy serials in the late 1930s and early 1940s. RKO Pictures released the film to theaters on September 26, 1947. RKO brought Boris Karloff in to play Gruesome, one of Dick Tracy’s arch nemesis.

Ralph Byrd reprises his role of Dick Tracy. Byrd played Tracy in Dick Tracy’s Dilemma (1947) and the four Republic Pictures serials. While I preferred Morgan Conway as Dick Tracy, Byrd also does a good job in the role. A little more brawny than Morgan Conway, he can credibly play Detective Tracy as a tough guy.

Boris Karloff steals the show as Gruesome, a recently paroled criminal, who partners with a chemist to commit bank robberies. Karloff is his menacing best as the cunning and cruel Gruesome. Pat Patton is no match for the recent parolee.

Like most of the Dick Tracy films, this one runs about an hour, moves at a good pace and is good fun.

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