Dick Purcell

Acting

Dick Purcell

Born 1905-08-06 · Greenwich, Connecticut, USA

Dick Purcell (born Richard Gerold Purcell, Jr.) was an American screen and stage actor. He is best known for playing Marvel Comics' Captain America in the 1944 film serial. The serial was released on February 5, and Purcell, age 38, died two months later, on 10 April 1944, the result of a fatal heart attack.

Acting credits

Private Affairs poster
7.0

A girl decides to consult her natural father, whom she's never seen, for advice on her mixed-up love life.

Private Affairs

1940

Arise, My Love poster
6.3

A dashing pilot and a vivacious reporter have romantic and dramatic adventures in Europe as World War II begins.

Arise, My Love

1940

Bullets or Ballots poster
6.6

After Police Captain Dan McLaren becomes police commissioner, former detective Johnny Blake publicly punches him, convincing rackets boss Al Kruger that Blake is sincere in his effort to join the mob. "Bugs" Fenner, meanwhile, is certain that Blake is a police agent.

Bullets or Ballots

1936

Snowed Under poster
7.4

Alan Tanner's new play opens in a week, but he just can't finish the third act. He's retreated to a snowbound cottage to work, but blonde neighbor Pat Quinn wants to play. Producer Arthur Layton sends Alice, Alan's first ex-wife, to help him stick to business. But then Daisy, his second ex-wife, shows up wanting her alimony. Stranded with two ex-wives, a girlfriend, and a jug of applejack, Alan still has to finish his play!

Snowed Under

1936

Captain America poster
5.3

Superhero Captain America battles the evil forces of the archvillain called The Scarab, who poisons his enemies and steals a secret device capable of destroying buildings by sound vibrations.

Captain America

1944

The Bank Dick poster
6.5

Egbert Sousé becomes an unexpected hero when a bank robber falls over a bench he's occupying. Now considered brave, Egbert is given a job as a bank guard. Soon, he is approached by charlatan J. Frothingham Waterbury about buying shares in a mining company. Egbert persuades teller Og Oggilby to lend him bank money, to be returned when the scheme pays off. Unfortunately, bank inspector Snoopington then makes a surprise appearance.

The Bank Dick

1940

Flight Command poster
5.9

A rookie flyer, Ens. Alan Drake, joins the famous Hellcats Squadron right out of flight school in Pensacola. He doesn't make a great first impression when he is forced to ditch his airplane and parachute to safety when he arrives at the base but is unable to land due to heavy fog. On his first day on the job, his poor shooting skills results in the Hellcats losing an air combat competition. His fellow pilots accept him anyways but they think he's crossed the line when they erroneously conclude that while their CO Billy Gray is away, Drake has an affair with his wife Lorna. Drake is now an outcast and is prepared to resign from the Navy but his extreme heroism in saving Billy Gray's life turns things around.

Flight Command

1940

Over the Wall poster
5.7

When a singing, song-writing prizefighter is framed for murder and sent to the state pen, his girlfriend sets out to prove his innocence.

Over the Wall

1938

Valley of the Giants poster
6.7

A lumberman takes on a sleezy corporate giant wanting to move in and do whatever it takes to drive everyone else out of business.

Valley of the Giants

1938

Tough Kid poster
6.5

Skipper Murphy is serving as trainer and inspiration for his brother Red Murphy training for a world championship title bout. Trouble comes for the Murphys when Red runs up against a gambling syndicate and is put on the spot to throw the fight.

Tough Kid

1938

Follow the Fleet poster
6.9

When the US Navy fleet docks at San Francisco, sailor Bake Baker tries to rekindle the flame with his old dancing partner, Sherry Martin, while Bake's buddy Bilge Smith romances Sherry's sister, Connie. But it's not all smooth sailing—Bake has a habit of losing Sherry's jobs for her and, despite Connie's dreams, Bilge is not ready to settle down.

Follow the Fleet

1936

In Old California poster
5.3

Boston pharmacist Tom Craig comes to Sacramento, where he runs afoul of local political boss Britt Dawson, who exacts protection payment from the citizenry. Dawson frames Craig with poisoned medicine, but Craig redeems himself during a Gold Rush epidemic.

In Old California

1942

King of the Zombies poster
5.2

During World War II, a small plane somewhere over the Caribbean runs low on fuel and is blown off course by a storm. Guided by a faint radio signal, they crash-land on an island. The passenger, his manservant and the pilot take refuge in a mansion owned by a doctor. The quick-witted yet easily-frightened manservant soon becomes convinced the mansion is haunted by zombies and ghosts.

King of the Zombies

1941

New Moon poster
6.9

A revolutionary leader romances a French aristocrat in Louisiana.

New Moon

1940

Flight Into Nowhere poster
5.3

When headstrong pilot Bill Kellogg disobeys orders and takes a plane to photograph potential landing fields in uncharted Latin American country, he ends up running out of gas and crashing. The members of a nearby tribal village save Bill from the wreckage, but arent willing to help him get home.

Flight Into Nowhere

1938

Penrod's Double Trouble poster
7.5

When a young boy disappears, a man desperate for the offered reward money turns up with an identical child.

Penrod's Double Trouble

1938

Nancy Drew… Detective poster
6.5

After a wealthy dowager who has made a substantial donation to her alma mater suddenly disappears, Nancy Drew sets out to solve the mystery.

Nancy Drew… Detective

1938

Jailbreak poster
6.7

A reporter gets himself sent to prison so he can solve a murder behind bars.

Jailbreak

1936

Public Wedding poster
6.0

The operators of a bankrupt carnival sideshow hope to restore their fallen fortunes by staging a fake 'public wedding' in the mouth of their unprofitable giant whale. But the intended 'bridegroom' absconds with the proceeds, arranging a substitute. The bride, Flip Lane (Jane Wyman), much to her surprise, finds herself really married to a handsome stranger, whose career as an artist she decides to manage, much to his dismay.

Public Wedding

1937

Idaho poster
6.3

A deputy sets out to prove that a respected judge, who had once been a criminal, is being framed for crimes committed by a crooked saloon owner.

Idaho

1943

The Captain's Kid poster
6.7

In this children's adventure, the children of a small town are enthralled by the tales of the town drunk.

The Captain's Kid

1936

Freshman Love poster
7.0

A star rower is forced to join a good school under a pseudonym because his wealthy dad doesn't like schools that have high academic standards.

Freshman Love

1936

Outside the Three-Mile Limit poster
5.7

Government Agent Conway, posing as a crew member of a ship, is investigating the flood of counterfeit money that seemingly is originating for a gambling ship, moored off-shore beyond the three-mile limit and operated by gangster Dave Reeves.

Outside the Three-Mile Limit

1940

Broadway Musketeers poster
4.4

Three women who grew up in an orphanage cross paths later in life: one unhappily married with a young daughter, one an office secretary, and one a nightclub performer.

Broadway Musketeers

1938