The Dragon Murder Case (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Dragon MurderCase | Most Baffling Of Mystery Thrillers Never has that master of mystery dramas, S. S. Van Dine, woven a plot with more thrilling and hair raising incidents, set in a background of eerie detail that makes cold chills creep up and down the spine, than in “The Dragon Murder Case,” the First National picture which opened at NETS a! teres Theatre yesterday. Warren William, portraying the now internationally famous fiction detective, Philo Vance, has created a character with which he undoubtedly will be forever linked, for William is Vance, and Vance is William. The story is weird enough to please the most avid collector of sereen thrills. A man dives into a swimming pool from which there is no outlet except through a fine grating, and disappears. Even draining the pool fails to disclose the body. But there are found strange tracks like those that might have been made by the talons of a prehistoric monster. Surrounding the pool is a legend that it is the lair of a dragon which seizes and destroys unwary swimmers. Into this situation come the police and Philo Vance, in time to prevent a couple of other murders and eventually to solve the first. Two other great actors have previously portrayed Philo Vance. These were William Powell and Basil Rathbone. But to this reviewer, William seems to be a closer embodiment of the character than either of the others. Eugene Pallette again plays the part of Sergt. Heath with his characteristic droll humor. Robert McWade also is once more District Attorney Markham and Dr. Doremus returns in the person of Etienne Girardot who created the role. Margaret Lindsay is the leading lady and a most charming and capable murder suspect she proves to be. Lyle Talbot has the role of a half breed college type Indian with whom Margaret is in love. Robert Barrat, Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree, George E. Stone, Arthur Aylesworth and William Davidson are all noted film players, who always may be counted on for finished and masterly performances. Others in the cast who deserve mention are George Meeker, all appear in S. S. Van Dine’s The Key to the Crime Thrilling Mystery Drama Is Coming To .+s+ «Theatre Today “The Dragon Murder Case,” the latest of the murder mystery dramas from the pen of the peerless author, S. S. Van Dine, to be dramatized for the screen, opens aiathet i Ao ae Theatre today. The picture is said to be the most bizarre as well as the most baffling of all the novels of the famous author, involving as_ it does a series of mysterious crimes apparently committed by some prehistoric monster. It is not until Philo Vance, in the person of Warren William, comes on the scene that the strange murders are finally solved, and the slayer brought to justice. William is a new Philo Vance, though the parts of Sergt. Heath and District Attorney Markham are again carried by Eugene Pallette and Robert McWade, respectively. Etienne Girardet also will be seen again in the person of the quaint and querulous Dr. Doremus. Margaret Lindsay has the leading feminine role, the fiancee of the first man murdered, and suspected of the crime because she is in love with another of her guests, a part played by Lyle Talbot, who also comes under the scrutiny of the police. Six other persons are also suspected, including Robert Barrat, owner of the estate, his mother who advances the dragon theory, a part played by Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree, George E. Stone, William Davidson, guests and Arthur Aylesworth who plays the role of the butler. Others in the cast include George Meeker, the first to fall a victim of murder, and Robert Warwick as the family physician. The_ picture was adapted by Rian James from which the screen play was written by F. Hugh Herbert and Robert N. Lee. H. Bruce Humberstone directed. ee Robert Warwick and Charles Wil son. H. Bruce Humberstone directed and sustained the suspense until the climax. The adaption by Rian James is excellent as is the screen play by F. Hugh Herbert and Robert N. Lee. “The Dragon Murder Case” is pure melodrama, but so excellently handled that even the suggestion of the supernatural is plausible. It will be enjoyed even by those who pride themselves upon their ability to solve screen mysteries at the end of the first reel. Here’s one that will fool them. Warren William, as Philo Vance, confronts a suspect with an important clue. The slightly perturbed gentleman with the mustach is George E. Stone, while Eugene Pallette is the curious fellow looking on. They “The Dragon Murder Case,” First National film now at the Strand. Mat No. 8—20c HELEN LOWELL 1S BACKED BY 5O VEARS OF STAGE ’ EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO HER SUCCESSFUL SCREEN CAREER,’ = NEVER READA DETECTIVE STORY UNTIL HE WAS CAST AS PHILO VANCE IN eeencesess i h eed A/\ K /\ /\ ) MARGARET ) LINDSAY ‘WAS CAPTAIN OF A/S : “a ig farts AT NATIONAL IN PARK SEMINARY WASHINGTON, D.C: pie Interesting highlights about some of the players in “The Dragon Murder Case”? now playing at the Strand Theatre. FAVORITES DOROTHY TREE HAS NEVER APPEARED ON THE SCREEN WITHOUT HIDING HER BEAUTIFUL DARK HAIR/ Mat No. 13—20c (Note: These items may also be used as short program squibs and for local movie columns.) Margaret Lindsay Sizzles With Anger at Teacher Feminine Lead in ‘‘Dragon Murder Case’? Then Sets Out to Show Him ETERMINATION is the keynote of Margaret Lindsay’s meteoric career. Not conscious determination, claims the beautiful actress, who appears opposite Warren William in “The Dragon Murder Case,” the First National production now showing at the SO Se Aart eee Theatre, but somehow, she always manages to accomplish just those things that others have told her were impossible. First of all, there was the incident that occurred when Margaret was a student at Sargent’s in New York City—or as it is more widely known, the American Academy of Dramatic Art. Margaret, an honor student at the National Park Seminary in Washington, D. C., had enrolled at Sargent’s because she had decided apon a Career—with a capital C. She wasn’t particularly impressed with the glamor of the theatre, but thought she might make a pretty good actress with little effort. Her attitude was rather apparent at Sargent’s. She wasn’t at all serious about her studies—and finally, an instructor took her to task. He told her that she was really wasting her time, and that she was too much of a play girl to make good in a profession that required seriousness of purpose. Margaret laughed it off, but she determined to make him eat his words! And before long, the play girl, Margaret Lindsay, was one of the most serious students in the school. She graduated with all available honors. Determination came to the fore the second time when the budding young actress landed in England. In spite of her excellent theatrical background acquired in New York City, her diction was critized as being far too American by the prejudiced English. So Margaret hurried to a voice teacher in London, “My dear young woman,” he told her after one interview, “it would be stealing your money to try to teach you English. I could give you an accent, but it would be stilted and unnatural. I would advise you to return to New York, where your — er — Jowa twang would be less noticeable.” Calmly and systematically, Margaret set about to make herself into the typical young Englishwoman. She carried about a little notebook, and jotted down every British inflection and pronunciation she ran across. She learned to use a casual broad “A” and to say “Thank you” and “Fancy” in the best London manner. In a very few months, she had a place in an English touring company, and was playing leading roles in “Escape,” “Death Takes a Holiday,” “By Candlelight” and “The Middle Watch.” Margaret’s determination came to the fore for the third time when she finally landed a job in the allEnglish cast of the screen version of “Cavalcade.” She was told that it would be impossible for her to do it—which made her all the more intent upon landing the job In “The Dragon Murder Case,” the clever actress has the leading feminine role opposite Warren William, who plays the part of Philo Vance, detective extraordinary, for the first time. This melodramatic mystery thriller is said to be the most exciting and baffling of all by the famous author, S. S. Van Dine. Others in the cast include Lyle Talbot, Dorothy Tree, Eugene Pallette, Helen Lowell, Robert Barrat and George E. Stone. H. Bruce Humberstone directed the picture from the screen play by F. Hugh Herbert and Robert N. Lee. Talbot’s Indian Make-Up For Film Will Not Wash Off Instead of the time-worn phrase, “Lo The Poor Indian,” Lyle Talbot thinks that it should be “Io The Poor Talbot.” It practically meant the same thing when Lyle played the role of a redskin in the First National production of “The Dragon Murder Case,” which comes to the Rh = 529 SEHCALE CE Olas stasis with Warren William in the role of S. S. Van Dine’s famous sleuth, Philo Vance. Lyle’s entire body was covered with a creamy reddish-brown liquid that soon dried into the required Indian hue. When he plunged into the Dragon Pool, the scene of several of the sinister murders in the picture, the Indian make-up remained in perfect condition. Lyle asked the make-up artist how to remove it. “Soap and water — and_ elbow juice,” replied the maestro. So when the actor finished work he went home and stepped into a shower. Lathering himself with soap, he scrubbed his reddish body —to no avail. The make-up remained inviolate. Hastily drying himself, he rushed to the telephone and called the make-up man. “Hey,” he yelled, “I’ve been scrubbing myself with soap and water until I’m dizzy. What’s the matter with this make-up of yours?” “Oh, itll take several applications,” was the careless reply. “Ttll come. off in time.” Others in the cast of this mystery thriller include Margaret Lindsay, Eugene Pallette, Robert MeWade, Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree and Robert Barrat. H. Bruce Humberstone directed. Demure Or what is your one-word descrip tion of Margaret Lindsay, who appears in “The Dragon Murder Case,” First National film at the Strand Theatre. Mat No. 7—10c Pallette the One and Only Sergt. Heath Eugene Pallette has played the role of Sergeant Heath, Philo Vance’s ambitious co-worker, in every filmization of an S. S. Van Dine murder mystery. The newest is First National’s production of “The Dragon Murder Case,” now showing at the ........ ME ea baa Theatre with Warren William as Philo Vance. Once a Stage Star Dorothy Tree, clever young First National player who appears Page Eleven