Title: Dick Tracy (also known as Dick Tracy, Detective or Dick Tracy vs. The Spider) Serial Title: Dick Tracy (1937) Chapter Title: The Spider Strikes (Chapter 1 of 15) Year: 1937 Directed by: Alan James & Ray Taylor Produced by: Henry MacRae Screenplay by: Morgan Cox, George H. Plympton, Barry Shipman, Winston Miller (based on the comic strip by Chester Gould) Studio: Republic Pictures Runtime (Chapter 1): Approx. 20 minutes Full Serial Runtime: Approx. 4 hours, 49 minutes (15 chapters) Format: Black and White, Mono Sound Language: English Country: United States Genre: Crime, Action, Detective, Serial, Mystery --- Synopsis (Chapter 1 – The Spider Strikes): The opening chapter introduces renowned G-Man Dick Tracy as he embarks on a relentless mission to bring down the nefarious crime lord known only as "The Spider." After a series of plane crashes and technological sabotage grip the city in fear, Tracy's brother Gordon is injured and presumed dead in an aerial accident caused by The Spider's sabotage. As Tracy investigates, he discovers that his brother has been brainwashed by the villain and turned into a deadly enemy. With high-speed chases, daring escapes, and cunning espionage, Chapter 1 sets the tone for a fast-paced, suspense-filled serial adventure. --- Main Cast: Ralph Byrd as Dick Tracy Kay Hughes as Gwen Andrews Smiley Burnette as Mike McGurk Lee Van Atta as Junior Carleton Young as Gordon Tracy John Picorri as The Spider (masked villain) Francis X. Bushman Jr. as Steve Lockwood --- Key Features: First-ever live-action adaptation of Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy comic strip. Introduced the iconic trench coat-wearing, square-jawed detective to cinema audiences. This serial mixed pulp-style action with early sci-fi elements like rayguns and deathtraps. Known for its elaborate cliffhangers at the end of each chapter, typical of Republic serials. Features stunt work by legendary serial stuntman Yakima Canutt. --- Trivia: Ralph Byrd became so associated with the role of Dick Tracy that he returned to play the character in three more serials and a later TV show. Republic Pictures originally wanted to use Tracy’s comic strip villains but created original ones like The Spider due to licensing costs. Though titled Dick Tracy, many plot elements were newly invented, giving the serial a pulpier, superhero feel than the noir tone of the comics. The Spider’s lair was designed with secret panels, dramatic lighting, and masked henchmen—setting a visual standard for supervillain tropes. The plane crash sequence in the first chapter was so well-executed for its time that footage was reused in other Republic serials. The serial was so successful it led to a trilogy of follow-ups: Dick Tracy Returns (1938), Dick Tracy's G-Men (1939), and Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc. (1941).