RKO Radio Pictures released 4 films based on the Dick Tracy newspaper strip over the course of a one year period (1946-7). "Dick Tracy, Detective" starts the series, with Morgan Conway in the title role.
Tracy goes after a serial killer named "Splitface", who had vowed to avenge himself on the jurors who put him in prison, a plot device that would be used again and again in other films in later years.
Mike Mazurki (Splitface), originally from Austria, emigrated to the US with his family at the age of 6, and spent most of his formative years in my home district. Mazurki would continue to appear in movies and TV, even appearing in a music video with Rod Stewart in the 80's ("Infatuation").
This was easily the best of the series, as the later installments were dumbed down for some reason, as future police Chief Pat Patten was made more of a comedy relief sidekick in the later films.
Rating: A.
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