1990 Playmates Dick Tracy Toys

Action figures based on bad movies of the 90s seems to be a recurring theme in my nostalgia. Some of my favorite toy lines growing up came from films like Super Mario Bros, Last Action Hero, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, and last but not least, Dick Tracy.

Dick Tracy has been around in one form or another for almost 80 years, but in 1990 Warren Beatty decided to make a film version of the pulp icon, and pretty much buried the character.

This isn’t a movie review, so bring on the movie tie-ins! Like most big Hollywood event films (especially those adapted from cartoons or comics) Dick Tracy had a toy line, apptly titled Dick Tracy: Coppers and Gangsters. The figures had the classic 90s Playmates stocky look to them, and came with awesome accessories. Check out a commercial and lots more after the jump.

Luckily, the characters in the movie were completely crazy, so their action figures turned out pretty nice. Lets face it, if it wasn’t for these characters’ messed up faces, they’d be pretty boring. Dick Tracy himself is cool because he has a yellow hat, pistol, billy club, and smarmy expression.

Dick Tracy is my favorite of the line (a fine accomplishment) because he was so versitile. You know what I mean, when it came time to mix your favorite action figures up to act out whatever crazy mini-series you had going on in your head, you always wanted some generic guys that could easily fit into your story. If every toy you had looked like Spider-Man or Spawn, it’d be pretty hard to reenact the assassination of Ronald Reagan or create your own Space Western, right? Come on, I wasn’t the only kid who did that was I?

Anyway, Dick Tracy was the perfect policeman action figure. He even had a cool 1930s gangster car, but since I didn’t have that he cruised around my room in Arnold’s convertible from Last Action Hero, or on a motorcycle.

There were plenty of other cool characters in the toy line, including Sam Catchem, Big Boy (Al Pacino), The Brow, The Blank, Flattop, Pruneface, and get this: Steve the Tramp.

Since the movie had the worst combination of prosthetics and overacting, the action figures have some great expressions. But wait, Steve the Tramp? I don’t remember this character from the movie, but then again I try not to think of the movie much. As far as I can remember, Steve the Tramp is only the second hobo action figure next to the Playmobil police officer/hobo set.

I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think this would fly today. Especially when you take a closer look. He comes with a board, a knife, and a garbage can lid. His profile is pretty descriptive too. Here are some highlights.

• Description – Ignorant bum with cauliflower ears, dirty and scarred from a life on the streets. You’ll smell him before you see him.
• M.O. – Recruits runaway children into his army of little street thieves and con artists.
• Warning – Steve the Tramp will use and abuse any young, helpless prey he comes across. Beware.

I really wish I was funny enough to make those up, but they’re really on the back of his card.

The nice thing about liking toys like this is that they are not very collectible. I bought a bunch of figures in the package on ebay on the cheap, and I have two or three loose Dick Tracys. I often check and see what’s available just in case I need some more. So there you have it, just one of the many toy lines of the 90s based on bad movies.

What were some of your favorite toy lines?

Update: – For some reason, you can still buy a Dick Tracy MIB on Amazon.