Dick Tracy, a supremely intelligent police detective, must solve a series of brutal murders in which the victims, all from different social and economic backgrounds, are viciously slashed to pieces by the one known as Splitface.

Tracy leaves to pursue leads at The Paradise Club nightclub, taking Tess along as "cover".

It develops that he is Splitface's silent partner, but had written extortion notes on his own; hoping to make money on the side.

Tracy conquers Splitface in a brutal fistfight and life at the precinct returns to normal (with Tess once again stood up for a dinner date by a homicide).

Getting the rights to produce Dick Tracy from the character's creator, Chester Gould, cost RKO pictures $10,000.