Dick Tracy's G-Men (1939)

Directors:

John English
William Witney

Writers:

Barry Shipman (original screenplay) and
Franklin Adreon (original screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2 September 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Mystery | Crime

Plot:

A mad doctor named Zanoff uses a drug to bring himself back from the dead after his execution in prison. Dick Tracy sets out to capture Zanoff before he can put his criminal gang back together again. |

Plot Keywords:

Dick Tracy | Based On Comic Strip | TV Series Pilot | Serial | Based On Comic

Cast

Ralph Byrd	...	Dick Tracy
Irving Pichel	...	Nicolas Zarnoff
Ted Pearson	...	Agent Steve Lockwood
Jennifer Jones	...	Gwen Andrews (as Phyllis Isley)
Walter Miller	...	Henchman Robal
George Douglas	...	Henchman Sandoval
Kenneth Harlan	...	FBI Chief Clive Anderson [Chs. 13-15]
Robert Carson	...	Agent Scott
Julian Madison	...	Agent Foster
Ted Mapes	...	Agent Dan Murchison
William Stahl	...	Agent Bruce
Robert Wayne	...	Agent Wilbur
Joe McGuinn	...	Henchman Tom
Ken Terrell	...	Henchman Ed
Harry Humphrey	...	Warden Stover [Chs. 1, 13]
Harrison Greene	...	Baron [Ch. 14]
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Broderick O'Farrell	...	Russell (furrier) (scenes deleted)
George Allen	...	Barge Crewman [Ch. 4] (uncredited)
Reginald Barlow	...	Dr. Alfred Guttenbach [Ch. 12] (uncredited)
Ed Brady	...	Henchman-Miner Jonas [Ch. 6] (uncredited)
Robert Brister	...	Dr. Kranz [Chs. 1, 13] (uncredited)
Earle D. Bunn	...	Al, Lighthouse thug leader [Ch. 3] (uncredited)
George Burton	...	(uncredited)
Budd Buster	...	Cappy, Lighthouse keeper [Ch. 3] (uncredited)
Louis Caits	...	Jerry, the 'Human Fly' [Chs. 12-13] (uncredited)
Ed Cassidy	...	Yacht captain [Chs. 3-4] (uncredited)
James Cassidy	...	Mr. Collins, Aircraft manufacturer [Ch. 8] (uncredited)
Allan Cavan	...	Second Warden [Ch. 13] (uncredited)
Eddie Cherkose	...	Thug in ghost town [Ch. 11-12] (uncredited)
George Cleveland	...	Gramps Williams [Ch. 11] (uncredited)
Edmund Cobb	...	Lt. Reynolds [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Tristram Coffin	...	Emissary Zobar [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Russell Collier	...	Police Dispatcher [Ch. 15] (uncredited)
Ken Cooper	...	Gus, Ghost town thug [Ch. 11] (uncredited)
Alan Davis	...	Capt. Link [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
George DeNormand	...	Jack (uncredited)
Charles Dorety	...	Barge Thug [Chs. 3-4] (uncredited)
Curley Dresden	...	Thug on boat [Chs. 3-4] (uncredited)
James Fawcett	...	Thug in house [Ch. 14] (uncredited)
Joseph Forte	...	Stanton [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Jerry Frank	...	Jake, 2nd Truck driver [Ch. 10] (uncredited)
Charles K. French	...	Doctor [Chs. 1, 13] (uncredited)
Milton Frome	...	Officer (uncredited)
Bud Geary	...	Ben, Lumber truck driver [Ch. 7] (uncredited)
Ray Harper	...	Martin, Stevens' crooked clerk [Ch. 8] (uncredited)
Robert Hartford	...	Gus, Phony mill foreman [Ch. 7] (uncredited)
Barry Hays	...	Johnson (uncredited)
Edward Hearn	...	The Forest Ranger [Ch. 7] (uncredited)
Reed Howes	...	Slim, the gang pilot [Ch. 5] (uncredited)
Charles Hutchison	...	Brandon, Salvage yard owner [Ch.4] (uncredited)
Lloyd Ingraham	...	Judge Stoddard [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Perry Ivins	...	Emissary Telef [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Bob Jamison	...	Thug at truck [Ch. 1, 13] (uncredited)
Ray Johnson	...	Phony gas station attendant [Ch. 6] (uncredited)
Jack Kenny	...	Ward, First truck driver [Ch. 10] (uncredited)
Ethan Laidlaw	...	Pete, Diving chamber thug [Chs. 6-7] (uncredited)
William Lally	...	Thug in ghost town [Chs. 11-12] (uncredited)
Harry Lang	...	Barossa, the Jeweler [Chs. 8-9] (uncredited)
Raymond Largay	...	Russell, the furrier [Chs. 8-9] (uncredited)
Bert LeBaron	...	Thug at lighthouse [Ch. 3] (uncredited)
John Locke	...	Newscaster (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	...	Trooper on foot [Ch. 15] (uncredited)
Merrill McCormick	...	Green's assistant [Chs. 9-10] (uncredited)
Millard McGowan	...	Thug at hangar [Ch. 5] (uncredited)
Sammy McKim	...	Sammy Williams [Chs. 11-12] (uncredited)
Frank Meredith	...	Pol. Officer Duffy [Ch. 2] (uncredited)
Walter Merrill	...	Junior officer (uncredited)
Bruce Mitchell	...	Prison Guard [Chs. 1,13] (uncredited)
John Moloney	...	Tim, Reporter [Chs. 1,13] (uncredited)
Monte Montague	...	Bayside Dock Thug [Chs. 7-8] (uncredited)
Charles Murphy	...	Stopes, Heavy with three fingers [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Bill Nestell	...	Thug in truck [Ch. 1, 13] (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor	...	Army Captain [Ch. 2] (uncredited)
Eddie Parker	...	Bayside Dock thug [Chs. 7-8] (uncredited)
Edward Peil Sr.	...	Price, Printer [Chs. 1,13] (uncredited)
Charles Phillips	...	Thug on barge [Chs. 3-4] (uncredited)
Allen Pomeroy	...	Bayside Dock thug [Chs. 7-8] (uncredited)
Stanley Price	...	Dr. Shang [Chs. 1, 13] (uncredited)
Jack Raymond	...	Gus Fleming [Ch. 10] (uncredited)
Charles Regan	...	Thug at dam [Chs. 6-7] (uncredited)
Jack Roberts	...	Lenny Slade [Ch. 2] (uncredited)
Dick Rush	...	Police Sergeant [Ch. 15] (uncredited)
Bigelow Sayre	...	Davis, Autogyro pilot [Chs. 12-13] (uncredited)
Fred Schaefer	...	Bayside Dock thug [Chs. 7-8] (uncredited)
Gilman Shelton	...	Joe, Ghost town thug [Ch. 11] (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock	...	Car 14 Trooper [Ch. 15] (uncredited)
Lee Shumway	...	Burke, Fish & Game Commissioner [Ch. 2] (uncredited)
Cy Slocum	...	Thug in house [Ch. 14] (uncredited)
Tom Steele	...	Lighthouse / House Thug [Chs. 3 / 14] (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	...	Brody, Henchman-Cab driver [Chs. 13-14] (uncredited)
Bernard Suss	...	Emissary Lassen [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Josef Swickard	...	Presidente Huenemo Mendoza [Ch. 3] (uncredited)
Al Taylor	...	Launch Henchman [Chs. 1, 13] (uncredited)
Forrest Taylor	...	Mr. Stevens, Airplane designer [Ch. 8] (uncredited)
Bob Terry	...	Benton (uncredited)
Sid Troy	...	(uncredited)
Sailor Vincent	...	Intern (uncredited)
Peter von Ziegler	...	Green, Newsreel Cameraman-thug [Chs. 9-10] (uncredited)
Herman E. Webber	...	James Robinson [Chs. 9-10] (uncredited)
Wally West	...	Henchman in Office [Ch. 2] (uncredited)
Bill Wilkus	...	Thug at hangar [Ch. 5] (uncredited)
Bud Wolfe	...	Bill, Fur store chemist [Chs. 8-9] / 3rd Ghost town thug [Ch. 11] (uncredited)
Bill Yrigoyen	...	Howard, Draftsman[Chs. 8-9] (uncredited)
Joe Yrigoyen	...	Barge Crewman [Ch. 4] (uncredited)

Directed by
John English
William Witney

Writing credits
Barry Shipman		(original screenplay) and
Franklin Adreon		(original screenplay) (as Franklyn Adreon) and
Rex Taylor		(original screenplay) and
Ronald Davidson		(original screenplay) and
Sol Shor		(original screenplay)
Chester Gould		character

Produced by
Robert M. Beche	....	associate producer

Original Music by
William Lava		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
William Nobles		(photography)

Film Editing by
Bernard Loftus
William P. Thompson		(as William Thompson)
Edward Todd

Art Direction by
John Victor Mackay		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Morris Braun		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Bob Mark	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Mack D'Agostino	....	unit manager
Al Wilson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Louis Germonprez	....	assistant director
Theodore Joos	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Martin Hershey	....	props (uncredited)
Ted Pearson	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Daniel J. Bloomberg	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)
Earl Crain Sr.	....	sound (uncredited)
Charles L. Lootens	....	sound (uncredited)
Fred Stahl	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Howard Lydecker	....	special effects (uncredited)
Theodore Lydecker	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
George DeNormand	....	stunt double: Ralph Byrd (uncredited)
Bud Geary	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ted Mapes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Parker	....	stunts (uncredited)
Allen Pomeroy	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Steele	....	stunt double: Irving Pichel (uncredited)
Ken Terrell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wally West	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bud Wolfe	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Yrigoyen	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Yrigoyen	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Charles Hangar	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Edgar Lyons	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Nels Mathias	....	grip (uncredited)
Monte Steadman	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Sid Swaney	....	assistant gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Carson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Adele Palmer	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)
Robert Ramsey	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Murray Seldeen	....	supervising editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Cy Feuer	....	musical director

Other crew
Bob Clark	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
R.G. Springsteen	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Sid Troy	....	stand-in: John Ward (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Republic Pictures

Distributors

• Republic Pictures (1939) (USA) (theatrical)
• Empire Films Ltd. (1939) (Canada) (theatrical)
• British Lion Film Corporation (1939) (UK) (theatrical)
• British Empire Films Australia (1939) (Australia) (theatrical)
• British Empire Films (N.Z.) (1939) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Filmes Luís Machado (1939) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Cine Colombia (1939) (Colombia) (theatrical)
• Republic Pictures Do Brazil (1939) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Tropical Films de Cuba (1939) (Cuba) (theatrical)
• Kemal Film (1939) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Republic Pictures of Puerto Rico (1939) (Puerto Rico) (theatrical)
• Films de Koster (1939) (France) (theatrical)
• Monopole Films (1939) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Television Service (1959) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Republic Pictures (1955) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Image Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Startime Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• United Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• VCI Home Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Dick Tracy and His G-Men (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:302 min (15 chapters)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Lake Elsinore, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

Trivia:

Chapter Titles: 1. The Master Spy 2. Captured 3. The False Signal 4. The Enemy Strikes 5. Crack-Up! 6. Sunken Peril 7. Tracking the Enemy 8. Chamber of Doom 9. Flames of Jeopardy 10.Crackling Fury 11.Caverns of Peril 12.Fight in the Sky 13.The Fatal Ride 14.Getaway 15. The Last Stand

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Biography: Jennifer Jones: Portrait of a Lady" (2001)

JENNIFER JONES'REPUBLIC DAYS

This video, from a film series made in 1939, is a classic example of a hangover from the silent era for action films, when heros & heroines stood in mortal peril at the end of the film, only to magically escape when the punters returned from their suspense the following week to see what happened in the next serial.This is a classic marketing ploy seen several times in this combined film.

The previous reviewer adequately summarised the plot.I bought it to obtain a copy of the second feature film ever made by Jennifer Jones when she was still Phyllis Isley (her given name).Made at the low budget minded Republic Films, this was her second attempt at Hollywood stardom at Republic, her first & easier to obtain, was "Frontier Horizon" with John Wayne.However, the low status and lack of character depth of roles (not to say money) offered, left her somewhat disillusioned and after this film she returned to New York with her then new husband of that year, Robert Walker, for a second crack at stage stardom on the "Great White Way".

In this film she plays Gwen Andrews, Dick Tracey's girl Friday, a role like Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond saga, you will note was played by another actress from the 1937 series.An interesting example of the serial film genre from the 1930's.