THE KENNEL MURDER CASE (Warner Brothers, 1933), directed by Michael Curtiz, returns William Powell to the screen playing detective Philo Vance. Having originated S.S. Van Dine's novel character in earlier Paramount capers as THE CANARY MURDER CASE (1929), THE GREENE MURDER CASE (1930), and THE BENSON MURDER CASE (1930), followed by Basil Rathbone's take on the character in MGM's THE BISHOP MURDER CASE (1930), it was natural having Powell back as the master sleuth once again as assisted by Eugene Palette as the police inspector from the Paramount entries. While those aforementioned titles along with the entire "Philo Vance" mysteries are as forgotten as the character himself, THE KENNEL MURDER CASE goes on record as the finest and most revived of them all.
The story opens at a Long Island Kennel Club where Detective Philo Vance (William Powell) enters his Scottish terrier, Captain McTavish, in a dog show. Also in attendance is Archer Cole (Robert Barrat) observing glaringly at his mistress, Doris Delafield (Helen Vinson), accompanied by a much younger man, Eduardo Grassi (Jack LaRue). Cole's niece, Hilda Lake (Mary Astor), despises him because of his control over both her assets and personal life. Cole disapproves of Sir Thomas MacDonald (Paul Cavanaugh) whom Hilda intends to marry. While Vance's dog loses the contest, MacDonald's dog, Ghillie, is soon found dead in the alley. MacDonald places the blame on Cole and intends on avenging his dog's death. After having a heated argument with Doris and confrontation with her lover, Cole returns to his 980 East 71st Street residence. The next morning, Gamble (Arthur Hohl), Cole's butler, finding the door bolted, looks through the keyhole to find his employer dead. Before the steamer leaves port for Italy, Vance, on board, hears the news about Cole's death on the radio and immediately cancels his vacation to do some investigating. Because Cole's death is ruled a suicide by coroner, Doctor Doremus (Etienne Girardot), Vance believes otherwise and intends on proving it. Teaming up with Detective Ernest Heath (Eugene Palette) and District Attorney John F. Markham (Robert McWade) during the investigation, Vance encounters a total of seven suspects with motives for wanting Cole dead, ranging from his niece, her fiancé, Raymond Wrede (Ralph Morgan), Cole's personal secretary and live-in boarder in love with Hilda; Brisbane Cole (Frank Conroy), the victim's brother who owns a book of unsolved murders; and Liang (James Lee), Cole's Chinese cook. Things prove more complicated when Vance learns the sole witness to be a Doberman Pinscher.
For Powell's fourth go round as Philo Vance, it also became his last. Powell would play other master detectives over the years, his best known and admired being that of Nick Charles in six installments of "The Thin Man" series for MGM (1934-1947). Based on his performance enacted here can only envision the way Powell's Philo was performed over at Paramount. In fact, Powell's Philo appears to be no different from his Nick Charles interpretation, with the exception that Nick is married. It really doesn't matter considering their similar techniques on crime solving and how he goes about revealing "who done it?" and why. Aside from its fine casting, director Curtiz keeps the pace moving through portions of split screen techniques, limited off-screen narration (by Vancve) and flashback details. Another definite asset is the familiar presence of Mary Astor, eight years before her substantial performance in the third screen adaptation of Dashell Hammett's detective mystery, THE MALTESE FALCON (Warners, 1941) starring Humphrey Bogart as private eye, Sam Spade.
Being both classic "Philo Vance" and top-notch Powell, THE KENNEL MURDER CASE was unrecognizably remade by Warners as CALLING PHILO VANCE (1940) featuring James Stephenson in the title role; with Margot Stevenson (Hilda Lake); and Richard Kipling (Archer Cole). Shorter (65 minutes) from the original (73 minutes), the remake, with material brought up to date, is a very dull affair.
Aside from broadcasts on commercial television, THE KENNEL MURDER CASE turned up quite regularly on public broadcast stations in the 1980s as part of its "Sprockets" series. As much as other "Philo Vance" mysteries featuring different actors distributed by other film companies through 1947, THE KENNEL MURDER CASE became the of many to be distributed to video cassette. Having fallen into public domain, many video prints are usually of poor quality. DVD copies are either found with a double bill with NANCY DREW, DETECTIVE (1938) on the flip side or as a solo disc. Better visuals and audio copies of THE KENNEL MURDER CASE can be seen on Turner Classic Movies. While a film like this may not win any blue ribbons, it should satisfy both humans and dogs alike. Sequel: THE DRAGON MURDER CASE (Warners, 1934) starring Warren William as Philo Vance supported by Eugene Palette, Robert McWade and Etienne Girardot resuming their initial roles. (***)
The story opens at a Long Island Kennel Club where Detective Philo Vance (William Powell) enters his Scottish terrier, Captain McTavish, in a dog show. Also in attendance is Archer Cole (Robert Barrat) observing glaringly at his mistress, Doris Delafield (Helen Vinson), accompanied by a much younger man, Eduardo Grassi (Jack LaRue). Cole's niece, Hilda Lake (Mary Astor), despises him because of his control over both her assets and personal life. Cole disapproves of Sir Thomas MacDonald (Paul Cavanaugh) whom Hilda intends to marry. While Vance's dog loses the contest, MacDonald's dog, Ghillie, is soon found dead in the alley. MacDonald places the blame on Cole and intends on avenging his dog's death. After having a heated argument with Doris and confrontation with her lover, Cole returns to his 980 East 71st Street residence. The next morning, Gamble (Arthur Hohl), Cole's butler, finding the door bolted, looks through the keyhole to find his employer dead. Before the steamer leaves port for Italy, Vance, on board, hears the news about Cole's death on the radio and immediately cancels his vacation to do some investigating. Because Cole's death is ruled a suicide by coroner, Doctor Doremus (Etienne Girardot), Vance believes otherwise and intends on proving it. Teaming up with Detective Ernest Heath (Eugene Palette) and District Attorney John F. Markham (Robert McWade) during the investigation, Vance encounters a total of seven suspects with motives for wanting Cole dead, ranging from his niece, her fiancé, Raymond Wrede (Ralph Morgan), Cole's personal secretary and live-in boarder in love with Hilda; Brisbane Cole (Frank Conroy), the victim's brother who owns a book of unsolved murders; and Liang (James Lee), Cole's Chinese cook. Things prove more complicated when Vance learns the sole witness to be a Doberman Pinscher.
For Powell's fourth go round as Philo Vance, it also became his last. Powell would play other master detectives over the years, his best known and admired being that of Nick Charles in six installments of "The Thin Man" series for MGM (1934-1947). Based on his performance enacted here can only envision the way Powell's Philo was performed over at Paramount. In fact, Powell's Philo appears to be no different from his Nick Charles interpretation, with the exception that Nick is married. It really doesn't matter considering their similar techniques on crime solving and how he goes about revealing "who done it?" and why. Aside from its fine casting, director Curtiz keeps the pace moving through portions of split screen techniques, limited off-screen narration (by Vancve) and flashback details. Another definite asset is the familiar presence of Mary Astor, eight years before her substantial performance in the third screen adaptation of Dashell Hammett's detective mystery, THE MALTESE FALCON (Warners, 1941) starring Humphrey Bogart as private eye, Sam Spade.
Being both classic "Philo Vance" and top-notch Powell, THE KENNEL MURDER CASE was unrecognizably remade by Warners as CALLING PHILO VANCE (1940) featuring James Stephenson in the title role; with Margot Stevenson (Hilda Lake); and Richard Kipling (Archer Cole). Shorter (65 minutes) from the original (73 minutes), the remake, with material brought up to date, is a very dull affair.
Aside from broadcasts on commercial television, THE KENNEL MURDER CASE turned up quite regularly on public broadcast stations in the 1980s as part of its "Sprockets" series. As much as other "Philo Vance" mysteries featuring different actors distributed by other film companies through 1947, THE KENNEL MURDER CASE became the of many to be distributed to video cassette. Having fallen into public domain, many video prints are usually of poor quality. DVD copies are either found with a double bill with NANCY DREW, DETECTIVE (1938) on the flip side or as a solo disc. Better visuals and audio copies of THE KENNEL MURDER CASE can be seen on Turner Classic Movies. While a film like this may not win any blue ribbons, it should satisfy both humans and dogs alike. Sequel: THE DRAGON MURDER CASE (Warners, 1934) starring Warren William as Philo Vance supported by Eugene Palette, Robert McWade and Etienne Girardot resuming their initial roles. (***)