Themes: Murder Investigations, Amateur Sleuths, Star Detectives
Main Cast: William Powell, Mary Astor, Eugene Pallette, Ralph Morgan, Helen Vinson
Release Year: 1933
Country: US
Run Time: 73 minutes
Plot
Often (and accurately) described as a model of the whodunit genre, The Kennel Murder Case stars William Powell, making his fourth screen appearance as S. S. Van Dine's dilettante detective Philo Vance. This time the story involves intrigue at the Long Island kennel club. The murder victim is Robert H. Barrat, who works overtime making himself a much-hated target in the first ten minutes. With the aid of a Doberman, Vance solves not only Barrat's murder but a follow-up killing designed to deflect attention from the killer. The suspects include Mary Astor, Ralph Morgan, Jack LaRue, Helen Vinson, Paul Cavanaugh and Arthur Hohl, all of whom have "done it" from time to time in other murder mysteries (movie buffs, however, will have little trouble spotting the killer; the person in question has probably been the hidden murderer in more films than any other member of the Screen Actor's Guild). Kennel Murder Case was William Powell's last "Philo Vance" film; it would be remade in 1940 as Calling Philo Vance, with James Stephenson as Vance and a new World War II angle added to the plot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The Kennel Murder Case was the fifth film in the Philo Vance series, but it's easily the best of the bunch, and it proved influential in encouraging the production of other intricate, challenging mystery films. Directed with crispness and efficiency by the reliable Michael Curtiz, the film is a good example of the high production standards of Warner Bros. in its post-silent era. The script is a solid whodunit packed with interesting characters, well-performed and impeccably cast. Much of the verbosity of S. S. Van Dine's novel is missing from Kennel Murder Case, making for a briskly told story. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide
Jack Okey - Art Director, Orry-Kelly - Costume Designer, Orry Kelly - Costume Designer, Michael Curtiz - Director, Harold McLernon - Editor, Ed N. McLarmin - Editor, Leo F. Forbstein - Musical Direction/Supervision, William Rees - Cinematographer, Robert R. Presnell, Sr. - Producer, Robert N. Lee - Screenwriter, Peter Milne - Screenwriter, Robert R. Presnell, Sr. - Screenwriter, S.S. van Dine - Book Author
The Kennel Murder Case is a 1933 American film directed by Michael Curtiz starring William Powell as Philo Vance, reprising the role after appearing as Vance in three films for Paramount.
Many film historians (including William K. Everson, who pronounced it a "masterpiece" in the August 1984 issue of Films in Review) consider it one of the greatest screen adaptations of a Golden Age mystery novel, and rank it with the 1946 film Green for Danger.
