The Kennel Murder Case
(1933)
73 mins | Drama | 28 October 1933
Director:
Michael CurtizWriters:
Robert N. Lee, Peter Milne, Robert PresnellCinematographer:
William ReesEditor:
Harold McLernonProduction Designer:
Jack OkeyProduction Company:
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.The Kennel Murder Case was the fourth film in which William Powell portrayed novelist S. S. Van Dine's popular detective "Philo Vance." The previous films, The Canary Murder Case (1929), The Greene Murder Case (1929), and The Benson Murder Case (see entries), were produced by Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. Throughout the 1930s, several studios, including M-G-M, released Philo Vance pictures with Basil Rathbone, Warren William, Paul Lucas, Edmund Lowe, and Grant Richards variously portraying the detective.
A news item in FD noted that Ralph Bellamy was signed to a role in this picture, but he was not in the released film. According to Warner Bros. records, initial casting included Hugh Herbert as "Dr. Doremus," George Blackwood as "Bruce MacDonald," and Claire Dodd as "Doris Delafield." William Powell's onscreen credit reads "William Powell returns as Philo Vance in The Kennel Murder Case." Modern sources include Harry Allen (Dog trainer), Leo White (Desk clerk), and Monte Vandergrift (Detective) in the cast.
Among the many movies featuring Philo Vance were two made by Paramount in 1929: The Canary Murder Case, directed by Malcolm St. Clair; and The Greene Murder Case, directed by Frank Tuttle. Two more were made in 1930: The Bishop Murder Case, starring Basil Rathbone as Philo Vance, directed by Nick Grinde for M-G-M; and The Benson Murder Case, starring William Powell and directed by Frank Tuttle for Paramount. The 1930 Paramount film Paramount on Parade featured Powell as Vance in a spoof of detective mysteries called "Murder Will ...
The Kennel Murder Case was the fourth film in which William Powell portrayed novelist S. S. Van Dine's popular detective "Philo Vance." The previous films, The Canary Murder Case (1929), The Greene Murder Case (1929), and The Benson Murder Case (see entries), were produced by Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. Throughout the 1930s, several studios, including M-G-M, released Philo Vance pictures with Basil Rathbone, Warren William, Paul Lucas, Edmund Lowe, and Grant Richards variously portraying the detective.
A news item in FD noted that Ralph Bellamy was signed to a role in this picture, but he was not in the released film. According to Warner Bros. records, initial casting included Hugh Herbert as "Dr. Doremus," George Blackwood as "Bruce MacDonald," and Claire Dodd as "Doris Delafield." William Powell's onscreen credit reads "William Powell returns as Philo Vance in The Kennel Murder Case." Modern sources include Harry Allen (Dog trainer), Leo White (Desk clerk), and Monte Vandergrift (Detective) in the cast.
Among the many movies featuring Philo Vance were two made by Paramount in 1929: The Canary Murder Case, directed by Malcolm St. Clair; and The Greene Murder Case, directed by Frank Tuttle. Two more were made in 1930: The Bishop Murder Case, starring Basil Rathbone as Philo Vance, directed by Nick Grinde for M-G-M; and The Benson Murder Case, starring William Powell and directed by Frank Tuttle for Paramount. The 1930 Paramount film Paramount on Parade featured Powell as Vance in a spoof of detective mysteries called "Murder Will Out" (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.0352, F2.0424, F2.0760, F2.2254 and F2.4133). Other "Philo Vance" films were made by various studios during the 1930s and 1940s. For additional information on films featuring the character, consult the Series Index.
When wealthy, heartless Archer Coe is found dead, ace detective Philo Vance joins forces with his nemesis, police sergeant Ernest Heath, to solve the case. What first appears to be suicide turns out to be not only Coe's murder, but also the killing of his brother Brisbane. There are several suspects, each with a strong motive: Hilda Lake, Coe's ward, who deeply disliked her guardian and resented his control of her money; Sir Thomas MacDonald, who planned to marry Hilda, and whose outrage when his prize show dog was killed made him threaten Coe with revenge; Raymond Wrede, Coe's secretary, who was also in love with Hilda and believed that Coe stood between him and happiness; and Doris Delafield, Coe's mistress, who was about to run away with her art dealer boyfriend, Eduardo Grassi, when Coe caught them together, canceled a big business deal with Grassi and ended his relationship with Doris. During the investigation, Liang, Coe's cook, who had been helping his employer illegally purchase ancient Chinese art, is found hiding evidence and is added to the list of suspects. When an attempt is made on Sir Thomas' life, Vance links that incident with the other crimes and with the help of Sir Thomas and a Doberman pinscher, Vance stages a scene to induce the real killer to strike again. The murderer, Wrede, confesses and Vance skillfully explains the intricate plotting of the crime, leaving Hilda and Sir Thomas free to ...
When wealthy, heartless Archer Coe is found dead, ace detective Philo Vance joins forces with his nemesis, police sergeant Ernest Heath, to solve the case. What first appears to be suicide turns out to be not only Coe's murder, but also the killing of his brother Brisbane. There are several suspects, each with a strong motive: Hilda Lake, Coe's ward, who deeply disliked her guardian and resented his control of her money; Sir Thomas MacDonald, who planned to marry Hilda, and whose outrage when his prize show dog was killed made him threaten Coe with revenge; Raymond Wrede, Coe's secretary, who was also in love with Hilda and believed that Coe stood between him and happiness; and Doris Delafield, Coe's mistress, who was about to run away with her art dealer boyfriend, Eduardo Grassi, when Coe caught them together, canceled a big business deal with Grassi and ended his relationship with Doris. During the investigation, Liang, Coe's cook, who had been helping his employer illegally purchase ancient Chinese art, is found hiding evidence and is added to the list of suspects. When an attempt is made on Sir Thomas' life, Vance links that incident with the other crimes and with the help of Sir Thomas and a Doberman pinscher, Vance stages a scene to induce the real killer to strike again. The murderer, Wrede, confesses and Vance skillfully explains the intricate plotting of the crime, leaving Hilda and Sir Thomas free to marry.
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