Dick Tracy: Part 1 - A Warren of Yellow -- Classic Movie Review 1990

[@BrotherApexx]

A great review of a great movie from a great time period. Rest in peace, Glenne Headly.

[@HarryPartridge]

Excellent stuff. Can't wait for part two. I'm very thankful you two continue to work so hard for all of us :)

[@retroblasting]

Thanks Harry!

[@EwanMakeMovies]

Retro Blasting forever!

[@Dragonrider1227]

YES! I was hoping this was still happening! I absolutely loved this movie as a kid though you're absolutely right about its problems. Especially with the villains. Though your comment on Warren Beatty actually had the opposite effect on me. Being six years old at the time and this being my introduction to Warren Beatty, I look at everything else he does and think; "Hey, it's Dick Tracy!" I think the issue was that while Disney was trying to make the next Batman while Warren Beatty was just making a big budget fan film. I look forward to part 2

[@sfighter0085]

Great video. It has been a long time since I've watched this movie, I used to rent it a bunch as a kid at my local video store. You brought up some great points about the movie's flaws. There have been talks for a possible a sequel to this movie for decades, but the fact that the movie pretty much killed off every iconic villain through the span of the movie really didn't leave it open to such a possibility. Also the fact that Warren Beatty was to old for the role just fascinates me, since you could hardly tell that he was 52 at the time. I remember the movie being more stylish visually and didn't really care about the story, and that trend seems to still go on to this day. Really rad recreation of the movie's opening and great Dick Tracy costume.

[@KasumiKenshirou]

Beatty did appear as Dick Tracy once more a few years ago in a TV special where the Dick Tracy character was interviewed by Leonard Maltin. This was a situation similar to the Roger Corman Fantastic Four (or Fant4stic) or Sony's Amazing Spider-Man where Beatty had to do a Dick Tracy related project in order to retain the film rights.

[@parkercowan8648]

1988- Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1989- Batman 1990- Dick Tracy 1991- The Rocketeer 1992- Batman Returns 1993- Jurassic Park 1994- The Jungle Book And that’s where it ends for me.

[@larryclowers]

I loved the whole Dick Tracy mania so much. It was one of the best parts of my childhood.

[@ForgeMaciejewski]

Absolutely loved the opening! This is still a favorite film of mine today. Thank you for doing this video and can't wait for part 2!!

[@retroblasting]

Love it too, Forge. Love it too.

[@drewg809]

I love coming back and watching these again! Still so good!

[@pixelcreatures]

As a Dick Tracy fan, I had been waiting for this episode for a very long time.As a Retroblasting fan, I am deeply thankful for all the memories you guys bring -with class and style. I am sure the second part will be just as delightful.

[@borderruffian100]

I love you guys.....

[@Agent_1701-D]

Thanks for posting this review. Although I also have a soft spot for the movie, and am admittedly trying to get a DT cosplay together (if I can ever get my hands on that watch), your review is spot on. Looking back, I personally felt like the movie was a one off - not designed for a sequel. And your assertion that the Madonna promo photos only weakened the love triangle is also true. It's a fun movie to be sure, but looking back with an honest perspective, it is by no means a perfect film.

[@MysterioMaximus]

I had all the toys except the two vehicles and the Blank. I absolutely loved them as a kid. I was only 5 at the time, so I even remember thinking a brilliant idea would be to take a red Crayola marker and dotting some of my gangsters with bullet holes to make them look like they were riddled by a Tommy gun. I still remember finding the Mumbles scene absolutely hysterical. I sincerely love the movie to this day; in fact…I think I appreciate it more on a technical level now. The brightly colored noir scenery is simply gorgeous. The matte paintings are stunning! What Batman (1989) was for essentially replicating comic panels and live-action comic artistry off the page for “the dark,” Tracy was for “the light,” the colorful. I love the over-the-top radio drama quality; I’m just a complete sucker for 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s era serial adventure type characters. It’s why I also adore other cult flicks like The Rocketeer and The Shadow. Yeah…I actually like The Shadow flick…even with all its glaring flaws. But with that said…I def. agree that Warren was NOT an ideal Tracy. While I wouldn’t say he’s bad by any means, he just physically isn’t as imposing as he should be. It seemed a case of fanboy director being so overprotective of the character that he simply wouldn’t let anyone else play the role. The irony is, the film would have been better if he had allowed someone else…

[@sXeblues]

Easily one of my favorite all-time movies... I always considered Dick Tracy and Who Framed Roger Rabbit as sister flicks, never being able to watch one without following up with the other. The '89 Batman being a first cousin, in that analogy. I have thrilling memories of going to the then Disney's MGM Studios Theme Park and attending the backlot tour, wherein they had a whole host of props and material to do with Roger Rabbit, but I was extra ecstatic because it featured a BTS movie making promo video hosted by Warren Beatty, made during the filming of Dick Tracy. They showed you how they made one of the outside-looking-in diner scenes seem like it was outdoors, a fan blowing, some random debris, a guy walking past holding his hat and collar, when it was all on a soundstage. I adored it. Much as I still adore this movie. Love the video, too. Been waiting for this one!

[@mrf19741]

My Mother, Stepfather and I went to go see Dick Tracy when it came out that Summer and we all loved it. But just like you, we were all surprised at the way all of the Classic Villians were being wiped out.

[@Darthbauer951]

Looking forward to part 2 and beyond! Loved Dick Tracy so much that I had a Dick Tracy themed birthday party that year.

[@scottstalcup4453]

It's very nice that you'd do this, given Glenne (Tess Trueheart) Headly's recent passing.

[@scottstalcup4453]

Why can't it also serve as a nice memorial for a great actress?

[@ranwolf76]

Broken Vader walks by and sees Micheal on the floor. "Ha! Serves you right," and walks away like a boss...

[@Sharksleep]

Great video, as always! I'm hoping part 2 covers the absolute drought when it comes to the availability of the Blank. I'm still angry about my collection being incomplete 27 years later.

[@No1.OriginalTrilogyStarWarsFan]

Great work guys. Can't wait for part 2, the figures in the toy line, can't say I was that impressed.

[@benjaminspears8488]

This is an AWESOME look back at the Dick Tracy movie...and the thoughts on what didn't work for the movie are right on! If they rebooted this movie featuring only one or two cool villains with a 'Sin City' feel (except making it family friendly), I would definitely be in the theatres.

[@hailtothechin955]

15 years later, we get Sin City. Both are comics on screen done right. I had the Lips Manlis with concrete boots toy and Dick Tracy. Didn't have any more, there were a lot of toys vying for my parent's wallet at the time, but the fit in alongside WWF and Masters of the Universe figures for bizarre Royal Rumbles.

[@ParentsNightIn]

Dick Tracy is an absolute delight. I didn't appreciate it that much when it came out (I was all about Batman '89 at the time, and Dick Tracy was definitely different from Batman), but it's become one of my favorite old comic book adaptations. The color palette is incredible, the performances are fantastically old-school comic booky, and it's a truly immersive experience; a precursor to films like Sin City and 300.

[@KevinMayle1974]

You actually held my interest on something I could not have cared less about. Informative and entertaining.

[@maximpact24]

I still love the movie and the toys, despite the flaws. Another excellent piece you guys! Thank you!

[@trentrolfingsmeier7519]

In 1990, my only exposure to Dick Tracy was an old Looney Tunes short starring Daffy Duck , that was regularly shown through compilation broadcasts. It was fun to recognize which Tracy characters Daffy Duck had parodied, while watching the movie. A sharp eye can see a few original Tracy villains in the background.

[@Dragonrider1227]

I loved that cartoon XD

[@TheNightBadger]

So satisfying and yet... coitus interruptus! Why can't these things be longer?! (he says - not having to do the work). And the ending... tease!

[@sgf129]

What I remember most about Dick Tracy was trying like hell to find the figure of the blank, I looked everywhere and every time I went into a toy store, nothing. I didn't know until sometime later that the blank wasn't released in the US, and the cars that were made for the figures were pretty cool too.

[@yvonnerogers6429]

Cool episode! Good to have you back. I remember the marketing a little from when I was eight. I think McDonald's had a Happy Meal tie-in and I remember looking at all the villains on the display stand. Thanks.

[@astrofist]

Great job! Now I WANT to see the film

[@Ecto_Eric]

Great look at Dick Tracy thanks retroblasting you rule

[@dex7721]

G. I. Joe writer Larry Hama modeled the naming of the characters of G. I. Joe and Cobra after the way Chesty Gould did in Dick Tracy.

[@yaoyao9]

Gosh dangit RB you've brought back the agony of waiting for the next video once again!

[@scottreacher]

This is one of my favorite movies, I found the poster at a garage sale for 25 cents and that made me very happy.

[@Thor13332]

Man I remember going to see this movie the summer it came out.

[@trixiejoyce1516]

Summer of 1990! What memories!

[@AGoodJoe]

I was 10 when this came out and I was in heaven. Still have the Truehearts and Tommy Guns trilogy comic toys and coloring books.

[@JediDB]

I loved this movie, I worked at the movie theater the year it came out, so I got to see it many times. Yeah, it has some MAJOR issues, but it is a fun movie nonetheless.

[@kamdan2011]

8:02 Max Allan Collins did it with the sequels to the novelization, Dick Tracy Goes to War and Dick Tracy Meets His Match. Highly recommend reading along with his novelization. It’s what the final film’s script should have been.

[@burntvirtue]

All of the villains in that photo could have been individual films?! 5 additional Dick Tracy films would never have worked. I'm so thankful for, and greatly missing the era of intellectual properties not being run into the ground by the production of excessive content. Also, I've gotta say that interpreting Dick Tracy as "handsome people out to murder ugly people" comes off as such a 2017/SJW concept.

[@retroblasting]

+burntvirtue dude, cool your jets. The handsome vs. ugly criticism came from a 1990 review at the time. Leave your 2017 politics at the door before you walk in here. And remember - Batman got three sequels. Dick Tracy could have had a few as well. Those villains were WASTED in this slaughter. Many unexplored GREAT characters.

[@Mrster]

I've been kind of curious about this. I missed out on the Summer of Batman but I've certainly heard that it was big and I saw plenty of the aftermath of it, I had some toys, I saw that some people had Batman symbol pins from the marketing and so on. For me I don't think anything came close to Jurassic Park but I was pretty damn young at the time so I might've blown it out of proportion. Star Wars Episode I I remember vividly and that too was massive. So to get to the point, was Summer of Batman comparable to those or even bigger? Did it see as much buzz around it? Was the marketing on par?

[@themykeshow9027]

I disagree with a lot of what Michael has to say in this video, but I still gave it a thumbs up. I thought Beatty did an excellent job playing Dick Tracy, and even if someone did boil the movie down to "this movie is about attractive characters gunning down ugly characters" I don't feel this dichotomy harms the film at all.

[@a.f.watcher8888]

😂 glad I finally discovered you’re channel. I have a soft spot for this film, I watch it every New Year’s Eve.

[@batangbatugan]

Welcome back Retroblasting! (I missed ya!) I think I was already too old and didn't care much for the movie, but it was a very well put together film. and YES, the promotion for this movie was everywhere, they wouldn't stop showing the behind the scenes snd cast interviews. Back then, I actually thought Mahoney was created for the movie just to put Madonna in the cast.

[@Drawkcabi]

I saw Dick Tracy in the theaters in 1990 when I was 15, and I hated it. Thought it was the worst movie of the summer. Now I appreciate it more and kind of like it, though I still cringe during every scene Madonna is in.

[@Sano1970]

Loving it so far!

[@david_miles83]

wicked Part 1 Michael! can't wait for part two! and man! the little Batman talk you gave, got me pumped for when you do a full review on Batman movies and the toys!!

[@SkeletorTclaws]

best channel ever !!

[@HIELOKING]

LOVED IT !!! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Thank you Michael !!! Say hi to Belinda !!!

[@Dark-Lord3386]

Can't wait for part 2 !

[@ducksmith1724]

Dear Retro Blasting, I saw your video on you restoring the vintage snow speeder and I was wondering if you could restore my vintage ewok village. I am a young vintage toy collector and I inherited the ewok village from my father who had it as a child himself. It was one of his favorite toys and the toy definitely shows it. It is missing some accessories and is cracked in a few places, but it would mean a lot to me if you could fix it. I can pay you if you need me to.

[@markbennettjr]

My friends you need to acquire a Colt model 1903, the 1911 just isn't screen accurate. but I still love that you put that beautiful 1911 in the video.

[@retroblasting]

+mark bennett really dude... Really???

[@retroblasting]

+mark bennett and yet no complaint about the radio or the badge

[@KendrickHarrisKenfinity]

Answer the "watch" and enjoy the unstoppable colors/figures in the slick crime outsmarted detective classic. Stay safe everyone!

[@CosmicTimesTV]

Thanks for this video ... I agree with everything you said. For all of its flaws Dick Tracy is actually a fun watch. This video makes me want to go back and watch it again (haven't seen it since maybe 1995 - on Laser Disc).

[@riderbuzz2606]

once again great work RB,please keep it up

[@wallsjr77]

lol you're the best man. you guys won't give any slack. i love it.

[@mastersoftheeighties53]

I loved this movie back in the 90s. And I may be in the minority here, but I actually loved Madonna in this film. Thought she was perfect for the role. She's had some bad acting roles, but I think she actually did this part justice.

[@aaronsnyder2420]

I saw Dick Tracy at the drive in when it came out but I haven't seen it since. I don't remember caring for it much (I was in junior high so I just laughed each time they called him "Dick") but looking at the coloring and stylization of it I think I might appreciate it more now. I remember it getting pushed as much that summer as Batman was pushed the summer before but it just couldn't drum up as much interest.

[@davidmreyes77]

Bruce Campbell could have played Tracy, but he wasn't A list at the time.

[@gl0087]

I remember getting a copy of the movie for Xmas in 1990, but my dad watched it more than I did. I barely remember any of it other than who was in it.

[@VMIFerrari]

As a six year old in 1989, I was obsessed with *Batman*. I also remember all the kids being hyped over Dick Tracy the following year, but to me it was never as special, or memorable, as Tim Burton's film.

[@ericlewis217]

Loved the film when it was released, I still enjoy it a lot today, but it pales in comparison to the Batmania the year before that I feel it tried to emulate.

[@buckethead3594]

Great and funny review! I've grown to adore this flick and its source material over a year or so...but can't really argue that the film is flawless, either. I read from one source that Beatty put as many characters into his film as possible as kind of a fail safe (in case there were no sequels later) but that could be made up, for all I know. I think the biggest problem was/is that the story line isn't very strong. Still engaging, but I think it could've been "More!" I'm sure ya know: apparently it was and Beatty had to cut off 15ish minutes for a brisker run time. Also: while I can consider that the role of Tracy himself may well have been better for some other actor, I think Beatty himself was no less a fine fit! & I don't much care what anyone says: No, he was NOT too old for the part. Thats ridiculous. But, looking forward to Part 2!

[@malberri]

Great video as always !!!

[@Shockwave-ob2tx]

That's what happens when you put on a yellow fedora...you get attacked by merchandise...

[@BoStErO1905]

man I do remember the marketing explosion of this movie! I even had, get this... Dick Tracy bicycle shorts wtf??

[@AvengerII]

The Blu ray for the 1990 movie has EXCELLENT audio quality, especially if you're a fan of the Danny Elfman score for this movie. The soundtrack is LONG out of print but I've listened to the CD many times and it can't touch the Blu ray. The Blu ray has a higher dynamic sound quality and just feels warmer, like you're in a room with an orchestra instead of just listening to a recording. That's the stark contrast between CD-quality and high-definition sound that is done well. It is a crying shame that the music industry never got its act together and backed a quality successor format to the audio CD. MP3 doesn't cut it and most stuff online is still highly compressed. Really, they should have come out with a 5-inch format that was economical and didn't have all the restrictions of traditional CD combined with the BS pricing schemes of the record companies. It was pathetic towards the end of the mass-market CD/record era that movies would be priced lower than CD soundtracks within a year!

[@AvengerII]

The one bad thing you can say about the Dick Tracy Blu ray is that there are NO EXTRAS. I know there was at least one making of featurette made for it and Warren Beatty made a mini-film and reappeared as Tracy a few years back to keep his rights to making another Tracy feature for the future. There were also rumors that there were more scenes shot and that a more adult version of the film could have been released but I have my doubts about this. If the film has one weakness, it's the action... It's not very violent and restrained. Its best virtues are the soundtrack -- one of my favorite Elfman scores --, the visual design, and the casting. I think Beatty was very good as the title character and nobody else was miscast, either. It's among the most faithful visual adaptations of a comic strip or comic book that anybody's done and by far the best adaptation Dick Tracy has had in film or TV. Solid B grade film.

[@Tr0nzoid]

I bought a Dick Tracy logo t-shirt. I can't remember if I wore it when I went to see the movie opening day, but I did expect the same kind of hype that surrounded Batman the year before.

[@jasonking3182]

Rest In Peace Tess Trueheart

[@achannel1136]

What is your favorite 80s theme

[@Thraka5]

So I have been in a mood to watch older movies i barely remember instead of watch the crap coming out now. I watched Dick Tracy the other night for the first time since I was a kid and it was way way better then I remember. That end shootout scene was nothing short of amazing especially for a movie made in 1990. Holy Cow!! But damn this movie is also DARK. Not a kids movie in my opinion despite the PG rating. What they do to Lips was nightmare fuel. And Then Madonna's gown in the first interaction between Breathless and Dick was see threw..... But I liked it so much so that I plan to collect the figures. I think my son and I would love it. And yes I let my son (7) watch it assuming we were good since I watched it when I was a kid. My son did keep asking, "What are they doing to that man (talking about Lips) I was like they are just trying to scare him he's going to be okay.....

[@tomchris60]

Artist Chester Gould had always maintained that the reason his criminals looked do hideous was to illustrate the ugliness of crime. Beatty choosing to have the movie's bad guys wear prosthetics while the heroes look normal is keeping the comic strips' visual themes.

[@fdfkjow]

amazing intro

[@jmsberetta]

great video

[@MidnightsEdgeAfterDark]

This movie needs a 4K so bad

[@WhateverHappenedToFun]

I can't wait for part 2 I tried two times and this is the only movie that I can't finish... I'll try the third time... There things that I liked but things that I really disliked like Madonna... Yes, I hate her music but I loved Who's That Girl, Seeking Susan Desperately and A League of Their Own, in this movie I just can't stand her.

[@gusbaker4u]

I watched the movie a only just few years ago, and I thought it was okay except for any time Madonna is on screen, she's just awful, and Beatty was so hung up on her she's like the center of the whole movie's universe.

[@snorpenbass4196]

...I still have my Batman sweatpants. Still fit, too. Then again, I was a fat kid.

[@joshuar8261]

Ah that pasted by in a breeze! When will the estimated time be for part 2?

[@retroblasting]

+Joshua Roeder not as long. We're almost finished with the studio so not long.

[@Mattytime]

haaaa don't forget the anatomically correct Madonna doll..... -_-

[@idunno...someguy3252]

I gotta say, that is a really nice fedora.

[@retroblasting]

+J. M. Knoell Penman Hats

[@idunno...someguy3252]

Thanks.

[@bkjbearcat78]

OK, someone please tell me if I was wrong. I remember looking at a Dick Tracy strip around the mid '90s. And they updated many of the villains. One that stuck with me was named High Top I guess the '90s version of Flat Top. He was black and yes, he had that Kid from Kid N' Play hair style.

[@burntvirtue]

Madonna was indeed the most popular popstar of the day...eeeexcept for a little known entertainer named MICHAEL JACKSON!

[@scottjohnson388]

I was 14 in the summer of 1990, and I've never seen Dick Tracy. I had an understanding of the property through pop culture references and the media onslaught, but it just looked so goofy with its bright colors and silly villains. I needed gritty violence. It was just such a weird idea to try to make something that was such a product of the late 1930s and 40s and bring it to 1990 with en eye towards kids. Makes no sense.

[@primusvsunicron1]

I'm going to guess that part 2 is the toyline tie-in by Playmates

[@retroblasting]

+PrimusVsUnicron yes. That's how we usually do 2-parters...

[@primusvsunicron1]

RetroBlasting I know

[@masterpainter72]

Who's Art Percy?

[@cliffyk3380]

I could write so many inappropriate jokes about Dick Tracey it's not really hard.

[@retroblasting]

+Simplastic Reviews I see what you did there

[@fatsmcgee8923]

LOL

[@JSPagliacci]

I remember loving the art direction of the Dick Tracy film that summer, but involving Warren Beatty was the kryptonite in the recipe. As you mention in the review, "Warren Beatty in a yellow fedora". Stalwart, righteous, true: that's not Warren Beatty. Honest hard working American comes home to find his wife in bed with "some dude who makes fun of the carpet color"...that's Warren Beatty.

[@TheDevilinThePaleMoonlight]

Can we get the retroblasting theme song lyrics????

[@retroblasting]

www.retroblasting.com/blog/2015/8/4/retroblasting-theme-song-lyrics-what-the-heck-are-they

[@TheDevilinThePaleMoonlight]

@@retroblasting thanks for the quick reply , I dont own even a single toy but I heard micheal on the livestream with Jeff from WCBS a while back and now I'm hooked, I went from not thinking about toys for 25 years to watching toy restorations on KZbin lol. Love ur content thanks again.

[@brycevo]

It looks like a comic book come to life, but so much is wrong with this movie

[@CubanPete1990]

Where is part 2?

[@owenoulton9312]

Beatty would not have been able to act through the makeup. He's just not an actor with the depth, gravitas or screen presence, and was therefore entirely wrong for the role. He should've stuck to acting in light romantic comedies and cast a dramatic actor in the role.

[@makishepard]

Make more please.

[@haruruben]

2:52 gasp! Noppera-bo!!!!!!!!!

[@OneMinuteCritic]

Solid channel! I love what you guys are doing. If you have 60-seconds to spare, please check out my review. I think you'll like it!

[@georgeowain]

9:46 Kryten...?

[@c.a.k.comedy692]

Is that hat a penman by any chance?

[@MutatedGuy]

The Applause Madonna had nipples. I was a young man at the time sorry.

[@JD_Colton]

Is that 1911 a water gun? :)

[@retroblasting]

+JD Colton no. It's actually your namesake

[@JD_Colton]

Government Issue (G.I.)... Nice Did it see any action?

[@shtdaprdtr]

Beatty had to kill everyone cause this franchise had no chance for a sequel..like it or not...no kid gave a shit about dick tracy..yes the merch was overwhelming...but it sat cause earlier that winter/spring was the tmnt movie

[@Dragonrider1227]

I do feel like I was the only little kid at the time genuinely into this movie. (Forever alone)