From the look of these lobby cards (and half sheet) from the first Dick Tracy feature, you'd think the star of the film was Mike Mazurki. Maybe he was. I invite you to see for yourself. Technically, though, top billing went to Morgan Conway in the title role. Conway played Tracy once more, in Dick Tracy vs. Cueball, before surrendering to Ralph Byrd, who had portrayed him in four earlier serials. (I posted some posters from the first serial - also titled Dick Tracy - HERE.)
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Conway's films are okay but he's no Tracy. Ralph Byrd is to Tracy what Rathbone is to Holmes and Connery to Bond!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention that Eric Taylor, who wrote the screenplay, was also a pulp writer - and a close friend of Frederick Nebel.
ReplyDeleteAnother, however small, sigh for Jane Greer.
ReplyDeleteI always thought Conway was adequate, but, evidently, somebody decided he couldn't replace Byrd.
ReplyDeleteSince I didn't like the Tracy comic strip, I never had any desire to see a Tracy movie. Thanks for giving me the chance, but I probably won't take it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big Tracy fan either, but Taylor's script for this makes it an above average B-Mystery.
ReplyDeleteThe four feature films of Conway/Byrd are fun to watch, as long as you manage your expectations. Dick Tracy vs Cueball in particular is pretty interesting.
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