The Kennel Murder Case (1933) Movie Classic

Philo Vance is a debonair amateur detective (William Powell) who runs with the rich and elite. His love of dogs and his own dog has brought him to a dog show at a prestigious kennel club on Long Island. This leads him to investigate the deaths of two brothers Archer (Robert Barrat) and Brisbane Coe (Frank Conroy) who were members of the exclusive club.

Archer is found dead in a bedroom that is locked from the inside. What appears to be a definite suicide to the police appears suspicious to Philo Vance. The Coroner proves Vance is correct. All evidence leads straight to brother Brisbane, but the brother is soon found stabbed to death. Now, it's up to Vance to find out who killed the brothers Coe. Powell’s Philo Vance persona is definitely a precursor of his dapper “Thin Man” style.

Vance’s efforts to investigate the murders are hindered by an inept Sergeant played wonderfully well by Eugene Pallet. Actor James Lee is the 1930's typical Asian houseboy, Liang, who bows constantly and fractures the English language when he speaks. However, Liang’s disguise does not fool Vance; he realizes immediately that Liang is not what and who he appears to be. When Vance confronts the Coe’s houseboy, he discovers that Liang is a well educated scholar and has a specific reason for working in the Coe household. Mary Astor is also in this movie, Astor fans will recall that she was later cast as the beautiful and conniving Brigid O'Shaughnessy in 1941 movie The Maltese Falcon.

The Kennel Murder Case is the type of light mystery that was very popular in the 1930’s. Now these movies are candy for the eyes and ears. The sophisticated fashions, magnificent apartments and clever ‘come-back’ lines are a thing of the past. A great movie classic.