A new and baffling crime wave hits the city. A ruthless gang, led by the menacing Gruesome (Boris Karloff), has stolen a secret formula for a gas that can temporarily paralyze anyone who breathes it.
The case lands on the desk of detective Dick Tracy (Ralph Byrd) after a bizarre incident at the city morgue. A hulking criminal, presumed dead after passing out, inexplicably revives and escapes—this is Tracy’s first encounter with Gruesome and the effects of the paralyzing gas. When the gang later uses the gas to knock out everyone inside a bank and calmly walk away with the money, Tracy knows he’s facing a brilliant and dangerous new foe. This classic caper makes Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome a fan-favorite entry in the iconic detective’s film series.
