The villainous Cueball (he has a bald head) kills a man on a ship and steals the diamonds from him but his efforts to sell the diamonds leads to frustration and murder. Homicide detective Dick Tracy gets on the case with sidekick Pat Patton. I prefer Ralph Byrd playing Tracy in the movie serials and subsequent films but Morgan Conway is adequate. Dick Wessel is suitably menacing as Cueball. There are also splendid character players in support to give flavour to the movie; hesitant Milton Parsons, blowsy Esther Howard, meek Byron Foulger and creepy Skelton Knaggs. Always good to see them. There is a good mix in the film of humour and tension that make an entertaining 62 minutes.
Some of the names of the characters make one chuckle like Jules Sparkle the gem dealer and Percival Priceless who owns the antique shop. Not to mention the dive called 'The Dripping Dagger'. Very droll.
Some of the names of the characters make one chuckle like Jules Sparkle the gem dealer and Percival Priceless who owns the antique shop. Not to mention the dive called 'The Dripping Dagger'. Very droll.