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Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946) movie poster

Timeline

Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1946 · 62 mins · English
Directed by
Gordon Douglas
Starring
Trevor Bardette, Joseph Crehan, Rita Corday, Ian Keith, Fred Aldrich, Anne Jeffreys

HE’S TERRIFIC! Your Favorite Crime Crusader! A police detective uses his girlfriend to track down a homicidal maniac.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (11)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Dick Tracy vs. Cueball
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946)

Where can you watch Dick Tracy vs. Cueball? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Artiflix, FlixFling and fuboTV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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11 events in order · contains spoilers

Dick Tracy vs. Cueball Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Abbott murdered aboard the docked liner

    Lester Abbott arrives aboard the ocean liner that has just docked, planning to sell diamonds to Jules Sparkle. Cueball, alerted to Abbott's arrival by Little and Clyde, robs him and strangles him before he can depart. The murder seeds the elaborate plan to move the gems through Priceless and resell them for a fortune.

    When
    Immediately after docking
    Where
    Ocean liner / port
  2. Plan to pay Cueball and resell the gems

    Little and Clyde, who work for Sparkle, set up a deal with Percival Priceless to pay Cueball a few thousand dollars up front. They intend to recut and resell the stolen gems for a huge profit, splitting the proceeds three ways. This marks the formal kick-off of the diamond-heist scheme.

    When
    Shortly after Abbott's murder
    Where
    Priceless's shop
  3. Little tries to back out of the deal

    Little meets Cueball after the murder, hoping to back out of the arrangement. He did not expect Abbott to be killed, and his reluctance increases the tension. Cueball presses ahead with his demands for the diamonds.

    When
    Soon after the murder
    Where
    Little's location / meeting place
  4. Cueball hides at Filthy Flora's Bar

    Cueball visits Filthy Flora, madam of the Dripping Dagger Bar, and Flora hides him in a secret room to keep him safe from the police. She knows he has the diamonds and demands a large payment in return for protection. The arrangement tightens as other players move pieces into place.

    When
    Later the same day
    Where
    Dripping Dagger Bar, Filthy Flora's hidden room
  5. Detectives question Sparkle and surveil the suspects

    Detectives Dick Tracy and Pat Patton visit Sparkle's establishment to question him about the missing gems. Their suspicions fall on Little and Clyde. Tracy follows Clyde that evening and sees her slip a note under the door of Priceless's shop before walking away.

    When
    That evening
    Where
    Sparkle's establishment and Priceless's shop
  6. Flintheart investigates Priceless's shop

    Vitamin Flintheart visits Priceless's shop undercover as a customer to observe activity. He sees Clyde go in and out but cannot overhear their conversation. Priceless uses what he observes to conclude that Little is an unreliable partner.

    When
    The following day
    Where
    Priceless's shop
  7. Priceless confronts the diamonds deal

    Priceless heads to Cueball's room to finalize the transaction, with Tracy and Patton tailing him secretly. Cueball spots the detectives in the bar and becomes enraged. Suspecting Priceless of treachery, he strangles Priceless.

    When
    Shortly after Flintheart's observation
    Where
    Cueball's room
  8. Flora seizes the diamonds and murders again

    While Cueball is away, Flora searches his room for the diamonds and finds them. She steals the gems, unaware that Cueball is watching her through a window. He confronts Flora and strangles her to keep the loot secure.

    When
    After Priceless's murder
    Where
    Cueball's room / Flora's area
  9. The hatband clue points to Cueball

    Cueball's method of strangling with a braided leather hatband becomes a key clue for the police. Investigators piece together the killer's identity from this distinctive signature. The investigation tightens as the evidence accumulates.

    When
    Following Flora's murder
    Where
    Police investigation scenes
  10. Tess Trueheart is used to draw Cueball out

    Tracy allows his girlfriend Tess Trueheart to appear as a wealthy diamond client to lure Cueball out of hiding. Tess is kidnapped by Cueball, who recognizes her identity and is about to strangle her when Tracy arrives on the scene. A tense confrontation follows as the trap is sprung.

    When
    Climax setup
    Where
    Sparkle's establishment / surrounding area
  11. The chase to the railroad ends Cueball

    A high-tension pursuit culminates as Cueball escapes with Tess in tow. He runs onto the railroad tracks, attempting to flee. A speeding locomotive delivers his final, fatal end, bringing the case to a close.

    When
    Climax
    Where
    Railroad tracks

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:32

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Timeline questions answered

Dick Tracy vs. Cueball Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Cueball kill Lester Abbott aboard the ocean liner?

Cueball kills Abbott because he was hired by Simon Little and Mona Clyde to rob Abbott of the diamonds he was carrying. Little and Clyde work for gem dealer Jules Sparkle and orchestrated the heist, with Cueball acting as the muscle. They had arranged for Cueball to steal the diamonds and then sell them through crooked antiques dealer Percival Priceless, splitting the profits three ways.

  • cueball
  • lester abbott
  • diamonds
  • ocean liner
  • murder
Q2

Why does Simon Little want to back out of the diamond scheme?

Little wants to back out because he did not expect Cueball to murder Abbott. The plan was simply to steal the diamonds, not kill anyone. When Cueball shows up with the stolen gems after committing murder, Little realizes the situation has become far more dangerous and wants to abandon the deal before the police get involved.

  • simon little
  • cueball
  • diamonds
  • back out
  • murder
Q3

How does Dick Tracy connect Little, Clyde, and Priceless to the diamond theft?

Tracy follows Mona Clyde after questioning Sparkle and watches her slip a note under the door of Priceless's shop. This confirms his suspicion that something suspicious is happening between Clyde and Priceless. He then enlists Vitamin Flintheart to pose as a customer at the shop, where Flintheart observes Clyde entering and leaving, further solidifying the connection between the suspects.

  • dick tracy
  • mona clyde
  • pericval priceless
  • simon little
  • investigation
Q4

Why does Cueball kill Percival Priceless?

Cueball kills Priceless because he suspects him of treachery. When Priceless arrives at Cueball's hidden room at the Dripping Dagger Bar to complete the diamond transaction, Cueball spots Tracy and Patton tailing him. Believing Priceless has led the police to him, Cueball strangles him in a fit of rage.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Priceless learns from Clyde that Little is an unreliable partner, creating tension in the criminal network.

  • percival priceless
  • cueball
  • strangled
  • police tailing
Q5

Why does Cueball kill Filthy Flora?

Cueball kills Flora because she steals the diamonds from his hidden room while he's away. Flora knows Cueball has the stolen gems and searches his room to take them for herself. However, Cueball watches her through the window, confronts her, and strangles her to keep the diamonds and prevent her from betraying him to the police.

  • filthy flora
  • cueball
  • diamonds
  • murdered
  • strangled
Q6

How does the braided leather hatband become a clue for the police?

The hatband becomes a key clue because Cueball uses his own braided leather hatband to strangle all his victims, including Lester Abbott, Percival Priceless, and Filthy Flora. This distinctive method of murder leaves a unique signature that allows the police to connect the different killings and eventually identify Cueball as the serial killer.

  • hatband
  • clue
  • strangled
  • signature
  • police investigation
Q7

Why does Dick Tracy use Tess Trueheart to lure out Cueball?

Tracy uses Tess Trueheart as bait because the police need to draw Cueball out of hiding. Knowing Cueball is the killer and has been watching the criminal underground, Tracy arranges for Tess to pose as a wealthy customer seeking diamonds. This trap is designed to lure Cueball into the open so the police can capture him.

  • tess trueheart
  • dick tracy
  • lure
  • cueball
  • trap
Q8

How does Cueball die at the end of the movie?

Cueball dies after being chased by Dick Tracy onto railroad tracks. During the pursuit, Cueball's foot becomes stuck under the track, and he is struck and killed by a speeding locomotive. This occurs right after he kidnaps Tess Trueheart and is about to strangle her when Tracy arrives to rescue her.

  • cueball
  • railroad tracks
  • killed
  • locomotive
  • chase
Q9

What is the overall diamond scheme in the movie?

The scheme involves stealing diamonds from Lester Abbott and reselling them for profit. Little and Clyde, working for Jules Sparkle, hire Cueball to rob Abbott. They enlist crooked antiques dealer Percival Priceless to handle the gems, planning to recut and resell them for a fortune, splitting proceeds three ways between themselves, Cueball, and Priceless. The plan unravels as Cueball's murders draw police attention.

  • diamonds
  • scheme
  • little
  • clyde
  • pricles
  • sparkle
Q10

Why does Cueball use a hatband to strangle his victims?

Cueball uses his own braided leather hatband as his weapon of choice, creating a distinctive murder signature. This method is used on all his victims, Lester Abbott, Percival Priceless, and Filthy Flora. The repeated use of the same weapon becomes the crucial clue that helps police identify him as the killer.

  • cueball
  • hatband
  • strangle
  • victims
  • method

Movie threads

More Movies Like Dick Tracy vs. Cueball, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Dick Tracy vs. Cueball tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Pulp Noir Crime Thrillers like Dick Tracy vs. Cueball

Fast-paced detective stories with gritty villains and methodical investigations. If you liked the tense, pulpy vibe of Dick Tracy vs. Cueball, explore more movies like it. This section features similar fast-paced crime stories with gritty investigations, homicidal villains, and decisive conclusions that capture the classic feel of the genre.

  • pulpy
  • suspenseful
  • gritty
  • retro
  • methodical
  • anxious
  • Tone: tense, gritty
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a linear investigative path. A dedicated lawman or detective methodically pursues a ruthless criminal, facing treachery and danger along the way. The narrative builds tension through a clear rising action, leading to a suspenseful final confrontation and a satisfying resolution where justice is served.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a specific mood—suspenseful, pulpy, and retro—coupled with a fast pace and medium intensity. They focus on the procedural aspects of crime-solving within a stylized, often gritty world, creating a coherent and thrilling viewing experience.

Straightforward Cat-and-Mouse Chases like in Dick Tracy vs. Cueball

Linear thrillers where a hero pursues a villain with clear, escalating stakes. For viewers who enjoyed the direct chase in Dick Tracy vs. Cueball, this section highlights similar movies with a straightforward cat-and-mouse plot. Discover other tense stories where a clear hero-villain dynamic and fast pacing create a suspenseful and satisfying investigative thriller.

  • suspenseful
  • anxious
  • focused
  • methodical
  • relentless
  • direct
  • Tone: tense, focused
  • Pacing: fast, linear
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern is a clear, linear pursuit. The hero's goal is unambiguous—catch the villain—and the plot advances through a series of escalations: clues are found, traps are set, and narrow escapes build towards a final, decisive confrontation. Complexity is low, prioritizing action and momentum over twists.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their narrative simplicity and pacing. They share a 'straightforward' complexity and 'fast' pacing, ensuring the viewer's attention remains locked on the central conflict. The experience is defined by consistent tension and a focused, satisfying narrative arc.

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Every angle

Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Dick Tracy vs. Cueball in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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