Customer Reviews

Dick Tracy Returns

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I am a fan of the four Dick Tracy serials and bought each of them on VHS when they where first released, the final three serials by VCI. I was very happy to see they finally got around to releasing this one, so why the but. I had bought the first serial again when it was brought out on DVD, I chose to buy the version released by Marengo Films and was glad I did. They used a superior print and gave us a near flawless copy. Unfortunately VCI did not do the same here. It could well be they used the best print available to them, but there must be other copies out there they could have used to fix the main flaw which is several scenes being washed out to a white screen. Perhaps this was the best they could do as I did not notice any of the broken film frames that I recall where present in the VHS release. I encourage you to buy this if you enjoy the old movie serials and especially the old Dick Tracy's. Good sales will encourage them to release the many serials they still have in their vaults. All of these have long since past into the public domain, so if they won't hopefully some other studio will.

VCI Entertainment and Republic Pictures presents Chester Gould's comic strip creation "DICK TRACY RETURNS" (20 August 1938) (254 mins/B&W) (Dolby digitally remastered) --- A 15-episode serial in which this sequel to the 1937 serial is much better --- Tracy is on the trail of Pa Stark ( Charles Middleton gives a great performance ) and his five sons --- After killing a rookie G-Man, Tracy goes after the youngest son named the Kid and through out the serial he battles the enemy agents and saboteurs Stark is mixed up with to bring the master criminal to justice --- Very action packed, with excellent direction from two of the best William Witney and John English.

Under the production staff of:
Jon English Director
William Witney Director
Franklin Adreon Screenwriter
Ronald Davidson Screenwriter
William Nobles Cinematographer
Barry Shipman Screenwriter
Sol Shore Screenwriter
Rex Taylor Screenwriter
Edward Todd Editor
Helene Turner Editor
Al Wilson Production Manager

The story line and plot, 15 Chapters of vintage serial episodes loaded with action sequences --- our story opens with the Stark Family on the most wanted list led by the father Pa Stark (Middleton) --- the family has joined saboteurs and a gang of spies all for the sake of the green stuff --- can Dick Tracy (Byrd) pick up the trail of Stark and his five sons who will stop at nothing to do him in while making life miserable for the entire Republic crew --- will justice prevail as Tracy and his agents mix it up with long time master criminal Stark --- is this the best performance Middleton has given to date, can we honestly say he's a scene stealer --- well "serial buffs" don't leave the theater until the final chapter is over and done with --- return next week to this local theater for another episode of action and adventure that will keep you thrilled until the next chapter.

the cast includes:
Ralph Byrd ... Dick Tracy
Lynne Roberts ... Gwen Andrews (as Lynn Roberts)
Charles Middleton ... Pa Stark
Jerry Tucker ... Junior
David Sharpe ... Agent Ron Merton
Lee Ford ... Mike McGurk
Michael Kent ... Agent Steve Lockwood
John Merton ... Champ Stark
Ray Bennett ... Trigger Stark (as Raphael Bennett)
Jack Roberts ... Dude Stark
Ned Glass ... Kid Stark [Chs. 1, 13]
Eddie Foster ... Joe Hanner, Taxi Driver [Chs. 1, 13] (as Edward Foster)
Alan Gregg ... Jimmy 'Snub' Madison, thug
Reed Howes ... Agent Rance
Bob Terry ... Agent Reynolds (as Robert Terry)
Tom Seidel ... Agent Hunt
Jack Ingram ... Slasher Stark

CHAPTER TITLES:
1. The Sky Wreckers
2. The Runaway Of Death
3. Handcuffed To Doom
4. Four Seconds To Live
5. Death In The Air
6. Stolen Secrets
7. Tower Of Death
8. Cargo Of Destruction
9. The Clock Of Doom
10.High Voltage
11. The Kidnapped Witness
12.The Runaway Torpedo
13.Passengers To Doom
14.In The Hands Of The Enemy
15.G-Men's Dragnet

SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Special Video Introduction by Max Allan Collins (author of Dick Tracy comic strip 1977-93)

TRAILERS:
1. JUNIOR G-MEN OF THE AIR - 4 May 1942 - 12 Chapter Serial (220 mins)
2. THE MASTER KEY - 25 April 1945 - 13 Chapter Serial (226 mins)
3. DICK TRACY'S G-MEN - 2 September 1939 - 15 Chapter Serial (302 mins)

BIOS:
1. Ralph Byrd (as Dick Tracy)
Birth Date: 4/22/1909 - Dayton, Ohio
Died: 8/18/1952 - Tarzana, CA

2. Charles Middleton
Birth Date:10/03/1874 - Elizabethtown, Ky
Died: 4/22/1949 - Los Angeles, CA

3. Chester Gould (creator of Dick Tracy)
Birth Date:11/20/1900 - Pawnee, Oklahoma
Died: 5/11/1985 - Woodstock, Illinois

4. William Witney (Director)
Birth Date: 5/15/1910
Died: 3/17/2002 - Pioneer, CA

5. John English (Director)
Birth Date: 6/25/1903 - Cumberland, England, UK
Died: 10/11/1969 - Los Angeles, CA

Hats off and thanks to Robert Blair and his staff at VCI Entertainment --- VCI was named in Variety and Hollywood Reporter as the first company to produce and release motion pictures directly to the home marketplace --- order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch releases --- VCI are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector -- looking forward to more Nostalgic Collections.

Total Time: 254 mins on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment 8503 ~ (6/24/2008)

So glad to get a fine print of this Republic serial. Max Collins introduces the film and since he wrote the Dick Tracy comic strip what a fitting tribute. Ironically Dave Sharpe only acts in the film and I saw little evidence of his incomperable stunt work. Of course Ralph Byrd does look more at ease with the character and Charles Middleton does another admirable job. VCI is to be commended on searching and finding good prints of old films thought lost in the caverns of public domain. I am anxiously awaiting the completion of the Republic cannon of Dick Tracy movies.

I did miss there not being more quirky characters as those in the first serial. However, Charles Middleton can't be surpassed as a villain and the final confrontation in the last chapter is classic. I also especially enjoyed, in the next to last chapter, Gwen's enjoyment of having spotted something suspicious about the blond floozy which even Tracy missed...and the laughingly unexpected scene afterwards with Tracy and the blond walking down the street.There's loads of typical L.A. area scenery in this with the look at the area as it was in the late 30's. And of course lots of action. Serial afficianados will love this one, although I don't think it quite came up to the original which had both quirky characters and gimmicks like the flying wing.

The first of this series is perhaps more original in its characters, but actually is a kind of cold soup serving of the sets and contraptions the Flying Wing/ 1937 Stealth Bomber. its secret hanger/ the various boats and boat chases/ other ultra modern air craft) which originated in Republic's pioneering serial FIGHTING DEVIL DOGS all used in all four Dick Tracy Serials I personally like the second in the series because of its heavies.. criminal Pa Stark and his five sons, all familiar regulars like Jack Ingram, Pa himself being Charles Middleton, alias 39013 of Daredevils of the Red Circle.Lynn Roberts is the perfect secretary and one of the lovliest screen heroines of the period.The big brass and brains at Republic were sadly mistaken if they thought 5th and 6th graders would never think about relationships. I personally wondered how Dick Tracy could keep his hands off her. Lynn Roberts personal life is quite interesting. Ask the Web.These serials are a fun trip for car lovers, featuring the assembly line Fords and Dodges and along with the "bootlegger specials" of the late 30s.The Rod Cameron serials feature rare scenes of early 40s DeSotos and convertible Mercurys. But RETURN contains more variety in its episodes and is better acted.than the others. My DVD is from the Serial Bowl people and is excellent in sound and clarity, In the Dick Tracy srials, Devildogs, and SOSCoast Guard, you will see uses of the same places and sceney, a 30s glimpse of SF and LA areas. I learned to appreciate my own West Virginia part of the great Ohio Valley which is much more beautiful.

Dick Tracy Returns

Republic Pictures was undoubtedly KING OF THE "B" movies in it's heyday, and this DICK TRACY RETURNS is one of 4 TRACY serials that little studio produced. The first TRACY serial was such a hit, sequels had to come. Tracy's 2 - 4 were each better than their previous cliffhangers. Something of a feat considering how sequels run. But this one is terrific fun, and it was directed, as the last 2 are, by Republic's action aces William Witney and John English. Plots are tightly woven together, and the action is non-stop and furious. Ralph Byrd actually became DICK TRACY to American's everywhere. He was later on to repeat the role in an early TV series adaptaton and in 2 other non-Republic movie productions. Don't miss any of these TRACY serials. Great fun.

Unlike the other versions of this video, this one is a condensed feature-length 100 rather than 260 minutes; it was carefully edited from the original 15 serial episodes with the integrity preserved as well as most of the "non-stop action" these serials and others by Witney and English were famous for. It starred Lynn Roberts, Charles Middleton, Jerry Tucker, David Sharpe and Ned Glass, was directed by William Witney and John English, and was photographed by William Nobles.

This serial is pretty good, not as good as the first. It is chocked full of action but it does drag in places. It is also kinda silly in spots, enough to make one giggle. That aside, I do enjoy the Dick Tracy serials and movies and this is a good addition to any fan's collection.

Note: The restoration on this item is not the best [...]