The Kennel Murder Case

William Powell, Michael Curtiz, and a good murder mystery make "The Kennel Murder case" an entertaining film. Philo Vance (Powell) does some of his most difficult deducting, and Curtiz's direction keeps things moving quickly.

When rich, obnoxious Archer Coe is murdered, the case causes lots of difficulty for the police. It's bad enough that Coe's meanness gave a good reason for murder to pretty much anyone who ever knew him, but it's even worse that the clues are so complicated that he could have been killed in at least two completely different ways. Only Vance can figure it all out, and after some good twists, there is an interesting and creative solution.

Though basically filmed as a routine whodunit, there are several good features besides the story itself. Powell is as lively as Vance as he was later as Nick Charles in the "Thin Man" films. Most of the rest of the cast is good, too, especially Mary Astor as one of the suspects and Eugene Pallette as the earnest but not very bright sergeant in charge of the case. Everything moves along quickly with many good touches of humor.

Most mystery fans will find this movie entertaining and enjoyable.

Talented detective Mr. Philo Vance (William Powell) cancels his overseas trip to investigate an apparently cut and dried case of suicide he has good reason to suspect is really something much more, a rather deliciously complex murder!

As far as murder mystery films go, it just doesn't get any better than this one. Populated with suspicious characters, all connected to a dog show and all having very good reason to murder the apparent suicide victim Archer Coe, it's truly tough to figure this one out or wrap one's head around it but boy, does it proves fascinating to watch unfold before us. Even the cops, the coroner and the district attorney prove colorful, fleshed out characters adding a level of unexpected gritty realism to this one's proceedings and amping up its overall "fun" factor. I particularly enjoyed the comic scenes involving the coroner (played by Etienne Girardot), who is always it seems to him being rudely and untimely interrupted by the discovery of corpses or injured men during this one's running time. Also Eugene Palette's Detective Sgt. Heath provides welcome, often later delightfully humorous at his expense, critical commentary during Vance's investigation. I cannot think of any valid criticism to give this movie in fact except perhaps that it hasn't dated particularly well. Doesn't stop the movie from being just plain good fun viewing though. Watch and see if you can wrap your head around this one's mystery. Highly recommended you try!

Suicide or Murder? When the much hated Archer Coe turns up dead and is believed to be a suicide, Philo Vance and Detective Heath steps into the scene to find out why a rich man would consider suicide as an option. Things become a bit stranger when Archer Coe's brother, Brisbane, turns up dead in a closet. Vance and Heath enlist the help of poor Dr. Doremus who never seems to get a chance to eat while this investigation is going on. It must be murder - but who and why?!

A film I really enjoyed watching! It's a mystery film that is peppered quite a bit with comedy. Detective Heath is the funniest - and has an outstanding speaking voice! Dr. Doremus is very funny as well! Two of my favorite characters in the entire film.

8.5/10

William Powell plays Philo Vance for the last time in this enjoyable Warner Brothers B murder mystery. Because it is a B, there are some problems with the script and some problems with the art design. I'll get into that later.

Vance is at a dog show on Long Island showing his Scottish terrier Captain. This is where we meet Archer Coe (Robert Barrat), also a dog show enthusiast as well as a collector of Chinese Art who has an unfaithful mistress (Helen Vinson). Coe argues with and crosses just about every character in the film. Coe is discovered dead the next morning, a bullet in his head, the gun that shot him in his hand, a head wound from a blunt instrument, and a stab wound in his back with his bedroom door locked from the inside. The police are about to call this one a suicide(???) when enters Philo Vance to systematically figure out who did it. Oh, and there is an additional body in the foyer closet.

Powell is great here as Vance, the perfect combination of masculinity and sophistication. He played the same role over at Paramount three other times. Oddly enough, Eugene Pallette as Sgt. Heath is ported over here in the same role he played in the other films. He is the same kind of sidekick cop that Guild (Nat Pendleton) was in The Thin Man. He probably would have never found the body in the closet and had Coe ruled a suicide if not for Vance, but his self esteem is never bothered by this and the two play off of each other perfectly as old pals.

Michael Curtiz' direction gives this B some extra punch, and I never thought I'd see Jack La Rue convincingly play an effete Italian after having seen him as a ruthless thug in "Story of Temple Drake", but he does pull it off.

There are a couple of holes I will just mention. First, before Coe is murdered, the dog of one of his foes is kidnapped and killed. The killer of that dog is never discovered nor is it even mentioned later in the film. Next, when Vance is describing how the murders were carried out, he has a set of detailed miniature models of the buildings involved in his explanation of the crime. These models can be broken out with detailed sectional views of each. Where on earth did he get such a thing on short notice?

This is one of those movies that you wish you hadn't seen before - so you could see it again " for the first time " . Van Dine's books still bring pleasure - but are termed excessively flowery by many . This movie is by far the best film adaptation of his works . William Powell is William Powell - say no more . The plot is intricate . The story moves all too quickly , because you want it to last . Enjoy.