Calling Philo Vance

This is a remake of the "Kennel Murder Case" with Philo Vance (James Stephenson) going after some U. S. airplane plans sold to a foreign nation; the designer of the plans and his brother both wind up murdered, and there are plenty of suspects.

William Powell was probably the best Philo Vance - he had the requisite charm. Stephenson, who started in films late in life after stage work, was on his way to a big career when he made "Calling Philo Vance" - unfortunately, he died the next year, at the age of 53.

As with "The Dragon Murder Case" with Warren William as Vance, the supporting players have the good lines and the energetic roles. Stephenson doesn't have a lot to work with, but he's okay.

Parts of this film are interesting, it's a little better than "The Dragon Murder Case," which isn't really saying much.

This is an adequate afternoon B-feature that probably served more as a warning against fifth-columnists than it actually entertained anyone. It all centres around attempts by the Axis powers to obtain access to the designs of "Archer Coe" (the briefest of appearances from Richard Kipling). Now he has an exclusive arrangement with the Americans so when he is found murdered, it falls to the wily, suspicions and tenacious "Vance" (James Stephenson) to find out who the killers were and on whose malevolent behalf they were working? Did they manage to steal his secret plans? Now this is just a substantial reworking of "The Kennel Murder Case" (1933) - even down to whopping great chunks of the script being transferred, albeit updated, to allow for it's WWII scenario. Although all pretty lightweight and devoid of any real sense of jeopardy, Stephenson is actually quite engaging and there is a decent supporting effort from Edward Trophy ("Ryan") delivering some fun to this rather dry, procedural, crime drama. It's only an hour, and if you like the genre then there isn't really anything not to like - or memorable - about this.

The main problem with this movie is that it is a remake of the 1933 the Kennel Murder Case, starring the incomparable William Powell. James Stephenson makes a passable attempt at playing Philo Vance, but without Powell's panache and humor. He would have made a better Bulldog Drummond. The plot is updated to Nazis and aviation secrets with a mysterious suicide? Murder? In the obligatory locked room. The supporting cast is as effective as most B movies, although Margot Stevenson lacks the fire and spirit of Mary Astor, who originated the role. It remains a moderately diverting movie. Be sure to catch William Hopper and George Reeves in early uncredited roles.

One of the weakest Philo Vance films: a pointless remake of "The Kennel Murder Case", with a blander cast. But if you haven't seen "Kennel", you may still find the story ingenious. The then-topical WWII elements look out of place now in a Philo Vance mystery. ** out of 4.

James Stephenson is Philo Vance in this movie. He's in Vienna, tracking down a rumor that Richard Kipling has been selling his military airplane designs to foreign governments, instead o the US, as he is required by contract to do so. Vance gets the plans, but they are taken from him by the local police. As a result, when he returns to the States, he reports to Henry O'Neill that he has no proof that would stand up in court. Stephenson and O'Neill go to Kipling's home, only to discover him dead bebehind a locked door. He seems to have committed suicide -- by shooting himself with a bow, a gun, and a blunt instrument.

It's a remake of The Kennel Murder Case, and Stephenson's posh British accent and unhurried motions fit the character pretty well. The updating of the maguffin from Chinese art to airplane plans shows where Warner Brothers' thoughts were about the international situation. With a plethora of suspects, including Margot Stevenson, Sheila Bromley, Ralph Forbes, and Bo Ling, it's a pretty good updating of S. S. Van Dine's mystery.