The Kennel Murder Case **** (1933, William Powell, Mary Astor, Eugene Pallette, Ralph Morgan) – Classic Movie Review 11,308

William Powell is perfect in his fourth and last appearance as smooth sleuth Philo Vance, in the excellent 1933 vintage suspense crime thriller film The Kennel Murder Case. This entertaining little gem is 73 blissful mystery minutes.

‘GREATEST OF ALL THE PHILO VANCE MYSTERIES!’

Director Michael Curtiz’s 1933 Warner Bros black and white film The Kennel Murder Case is an excellent vintage suspense crime thriller with William Powell, who is perfect in his last appearance as smooth sleuth Philo Vance, investigating a bizarrely complicated case that smacks of suicide but is something more sinister after Archer Coe is found dead in his bedroom, locked from the inside. But then, the next morning, the other brother is found dead in the downstairs closet.

And next, there is the clue of a wounded Doberman Pinscher, and Vance uses his handy knowledge of dog breeding to try to solve the case.

The mystery plot packed with action and surprises gives a full measure of pleasure. Mary Astor (as the victims’ niece Hilda Lake) and Ralph Morgan (as the secretary Raymond Wrede) are especially good in the tremendous cast. Eugene Pallette adds some well-aimed laughs as the troublesome detective sergeant Heath. And director Curtiz achieves an exhilarating pacing of scenes.

The Kennel Murder Case is a thoroughly entertaining little gem, 73 blissful mystery minutes, and the finest of the Philo Vance films. William Powell is reprising the role after appearing in three films as Philo Vance at Paramount.

The screenplay by Robert N Lee, Peter Milne and Robert Presnell Sr is based on the novel by S S Van Dine. Michael Curtiz inventively uses a variety of techniques such as mobile camera, dissolves and wipes to distract from the talky screenplay.

Also in the cast are Robert McWade, Robert Barrat, Frank Conroy, Helen Vinson, Jack La Rue, Paul Cavanagh, Robert Barrat, Etienne Girardot, James Lee, and Arthur Hohl.

It is remade in a wartime update as Calling Philo Vance in 1940.

It follows The Canary Murder Case (1929) with William Powell, The Greene Murder Case (1929) with William Powell, The Bishop Murder Case (1929) with Basil Rathbone, and The Benson Murder Case (1930) with William Powell.

It is followed by The Dragon Murder Case (1934) with Warren William.

The cast are William Powell as Philo Vance, Mary Astor as Hilda Lake, Eugene Pallette as Detective Heath, Ralph Morgan as Raymond Wrede, the Secretary, Robert McWade as District Attorney Markham, Robert Barrat as Archer Coe, Frank Conroy as Brisbane Coe, Etienne Girardot as Dr Doremus, Paul Cavanagh as Sir Thomas MacDonald, James Lee as Liang, Arthur Hohl as the butler Gamble, Helen Vinson as Doris Delafield, Jack La Rue as Eduardo Grassi, Harry Allen as Sandy, Wade Boteler as Sergeant Mellish, George Chandler as first reporter at police station, Spencer Charters as Sgt Snitkin, and Leo White as desk clerk.

Warner Bros recorded that the film cost $272,000, and earned $441,000 in the US and $241,000 internationally (= $682,00 globally), making a profit of almost $400,000. Warners would undoubtedly have liked William Powell back, but it is his first and last Vance film for them, and fourth and final Vance film. So Vance was later played by Warren William, Paul Lukas, Edmund Lowe, and James Stephenson.

Release date: October 28, 1933.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,308

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