Dick Tracy’s Dilemma (1947)

On May 20, 1947, Ralph Byrd returned to the Dick Tracy franchise in Dick Tracy’s Dilemma (1947). It was welcome news for fans of the franchise although Chester Gould was a notable exception. Gould created the Tracy character for the comic page of the Detroit Mirror. After the Chicago Tribune picked up the comic for syndication, it’s popularity exploded.

Gould preferred Morgan Conway, who played Dick Tracy in the first two films for RKO Pictures. Dick Tracy (1945) and Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946) were not unprofitable but fans of the franchise wanted Ralph Byrd back in the role. Byrd played Dick Tracy in four 15 chapter serials for Republic Pictures between 1937 and 1941.

In Dick Tracy’s Dilemma (affiliate link), Inspector Tracy is pursuing a group of fur thieves led by “The Claw”. Besides trying to find “The Claw” and protect the one witness to the crime, Dick Tracy must also find the crime lord that is using “The Claw” as his henchman.

Ralph Byrd would play Dick Tracy in the last film in the series, Dick Tracy vs. Gruesome (1947), which starred Boris Karloff as Gruesome. Dick Tracy moved to television in 1950 with Ralph Byrd playing Inspector Tracy for 48 episodes between 1950 and 1952. The series ended with Ralph Byrd’s untimely death from a heart attack on August 18, 1952. Byrd was only 43 years old.

The films and serials are all in the public domain today. The film runs approximately 60 minutes long. All of the films are entertaining and worth watching.

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