The Kennel Murder Case

Rating:
Summary: William Powell is wonderful
Review: This movie was a little long with not enough substance to warrant its length. But William Powell is an actor's actor in this one. Totally natural and believable as the detective who's just slightly a scoundrel himself. Very smooth.

Rating:
Summary: William Powell is wonderful
Review: This movie was a little long with not enough substance to warrant its length. But William Powell is an actor's actor in this one. Totally natural and believable as the detective who's just slightly a scoundrel himself. Very smooth.

Rating:
Summary: A lesser 1930s detective comedy-thriller
Review: William Powell drifts through this brisk murder mystery, portraying detective Philo Vance in a B-grade preview of the infinitely suaver, more witty "Thin Man" roles he would later excel at. This film is entertaining enough, after a style, but the script is as clumsy as the stage is cluttered, as one great character actor after another bump into one another as the plot zips unsuspensefully by. A murder is committed, but the police peg it as a suicide until Vance pops up to prove them wrong, playfully locking horns with the inept Sargeant in charge of the case (delightfully portrayed by the gravel-voiced Eugene Palette). Not one of director Michael Curtiz's brightest moments -- things just whiz by too quickly and the formula isn't given enough time to develop a sense of charm or wit. This is okay, but there are plenty of other oldies-but-goodies to spend your time on first.

Rating:
Summary: A lesser 1930s detective comedy-thriller
Review: William Powell drifts through this brisk murder mystery, portraying detective Philo Vance in a B-grade preview of the infinitely suaver, more witty "Thin Man" roles he would later excel at. This film is entertaining enough, after a style, but the script is as clumsy as the stage is cluttered, as one great character actor after another bump into one another as the plot zips unsuspensefully by. A murder is committed, but the police peg it as a suicide until Vance pops up to prove them wrong, playfully locking horns with the inept Sargeant in charge of the case (delightfully portrayed by the gravel-voiced Eugene Palette). Not one of director Michael Curtiz's brightest moments -- things just whiz by too quickly and the formula isn't given enough time to develop a sense of charm or wit. This is okay, but there are plenty of other oldies-but-goodies to spend your time on first.

Rating:
Summary: Suicide?
Review: William Powell stars as sleuth Philo Vance who is trying to solve the murder of a man who it is assumed committed suicide. The film begins by setting up the motives of several people for wanting him dead so that his death comes as no surprise. However, he is found dead in a locked room with no signs of struggle, shot in the head with the gun in his hand, so the conclusion of suicide seems natural. But not to Philo Vance, who carefully pieces together a series of events that point only to murder. Powell is fine as Vance, but does not make the same strong impression as the other famous sleuth he portrayed, Nick Charles. The supporting cast is excellent, with the always reliable Mary Astor and Eugene Pallette among the actors. The mystery is well presented and difficult to solve, and despite the age of the film, stands up well. Mystery buffs will really enjoy this film.