The third RKO Dick Tracy film and the return of fan favorite Ralph Byrd to the role. Byrd is effortless as an incorruptible big city lawman, but he’s got an easygoing side, too. His likable presence manages to sell us on some real cornball stuff in this hour-long B-movie in which Tracy is after a hook-handed killer called The Claw (Jack Lambert). It’s a minor and entertaining film, no big deal, that doesn’t let the comic relief get in the way of the crime story.
There aren’t as many campy character names here as in the previous films. There’s an insurance company guy named Peter Premium and that’s it.