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

SS 1 Se Pees Witten es ee DES Sa eee BE: pa ener See PeeWee... 8s: Oa... Aaah ee pe a ee ee: ae DR FTI sha: is paige cess Aes GHG T aan boe Bac Rays vb cdges coon TPs ok sc vs Steph ted sows Pee 0d (a aaa a ee eae era Doremnisse eS ee ee No writer of detective stories has such a grip on the emotions of so large a following as has the famous author S. S. Van Dine, and the motion pictures based on his novels have been the most thrilling, fantastic and exciting mystery dramas screened in many a year. Now comes a new Philo Vance, the master detective of the Van Dine series, whose hair-raising exploits have made him even more famous than Sherlock Holmes. This new Philo Vance is Warren William, and “The Dragon Murder Case” is undoubtedly the greatest of the Philo Vance thril _ lers, in suspense, mystery, weird situations and production on the screen. Stamm (Robert Barrat), owns a yuntry estate on which is a swiming pool that tradition credits 4 sheltering a dragon which s upon unsuspecting bathers. mtague (George Meeker), ve of Bernice (Margaret Lind«y), Stamm’s sister, dives into the pool and fails to come up. The police arrive, accompanied by Philo Vance, who disgusts the regular detectives by pretending to believe the dragon theory when Montague’s mauled body is discovered. During the investigation the butler has his head cracked, a guest, Greeff, tries to throttle a friend and disappears. Mystery piles upon mystery, until Vance assembles Dar eCLOIWee «a pc? OR 7 Oe sae a ee Se Adaptabtion bye. crise cvves vert. BA. Ae. eee. George Meeker pe Rn). Mogae Robert Warwick cali slat CU: Arthur Aylesworth EN as Se eR eter Charles Wilson everyone at the pool and forces Stamm to dive into the pool. Stamm vanishes into the water. Suddenly a great monster appears and climbs out of the pool dragging Stamm, who is nearly dead with fright. The monster turns out to be a man in a diving suit who has hauled Stamm under with a grappling hook. Vance discovers a diver’s equipment in a coffin in the family vault, and Stamm finally confesses that he killed Montague because he owed him a vast sum of money and the victim was using this to force Bernice to marry him, despite her love for another man. He had killed Greeff because he knew too much, and had tried to murder the butter because he had followed him the night he slew Greeff. In the cast, in addition to William, Barrat and Miss Lindsay, are Lyle Talbot, Eugene Pallette, Dorothy Tree and other leading screen players. “The Dragon Murder Case” is expected to be a far greater picture than Van Dine’s “The Kennel Murder Case,” “The Bishop Murder Case” or “The Canary Murder Case,” all of which held the public spell bound. Warren William is seen to best advantage as the suave Philo Vance, the role giving him the opportunity to display his real versatality and exceptional ability. Aa eee H. Bruce Humberstone eh METS. cc S.S. Van Dine wok: ae Rian James Screentlagyb gn 8. 214).......... F. Hugh Herbert and Robert N. Lee Dalogue Deter... iced Diets PROCGGTED NG. OY oi, 5. 6.05510 egtinees ae ee Oe RR Oa eee SL! Dr OCR aie in, PINS I EE. Gowns Gg oh... Vitaphone Orchestra conducted by Cee Se Daniel Reed Hb scte tin Tony Gaudio ne Terry Morse Cen Orry-Kelly ee ee Leo F. Forbstein “THE DRAGON MURDER CASE” 100% by S. S. Van Dine 30% with Warren William 75% : Margaret Lindsay 75% Lyle Talbot 75% Eugene Pallette 60% Or ode nit Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone 20% A First National Productions Corporation Picture 40% es eee Warren William <a Saee Margaret Lindsay Peep ord ass Worcs ie eee Lyle Talbot ae Se Eugene Pallette rr, ee Robert McWade ee a Helen Lowell ee Ne Dorothy Tree ses oh, pan ie aN aoe Robert Barrat Sect. Sgt vas. hime George E. Stone \ ALUULNCOOUQOORODLLUO LL UU LLLLOUU MUL HAE Warren William Warren William always wanted to be an actor, but it wasn’t until after he had served in the Engineers’ Corps of the A.E.F. and the armistice had been signed that he joined a theatrical troupe, organized to tour the Army camps in Europe. When he returned to America, the soldier-engineer-actor decided to find out whether lay audiences might not approve of his ability as definitely as his doughboy audiences on the other side had done. The Broadway managers inclined a favorable ear and soon Warren found himself in a road company of “I Love You.” A season in stock ensued, then Broadway gave him a chance in Rachel Crothers’ “Expressing Willie.” Even before the war, his father had been set on having Warren become a newspaper man, but his son’s increasing success as an actor finally induced the older man to bestow his approval on his efforts. His more recent pictures include “Dr. Monica,” “Smarty,” “Upperworld,” “Bedside,” ‘“‘Goodbye Again,’ “Gold Diggers of 1933,” “Mind Reader,” “Employees’ Entrance,’ “The Match King” and “The Dark Horse.” The latest film in which he appears is “The Dragon Murder Case,” which comes to the .............. Theatre on Philo Vance Well, not really Philo Vance, but that’s the role that Warren William so fascinatingly portrays in S. S. Van Dine’s “The Dragon Murder Case,” First National’s mystery film coming to the Strand Theatre soon. Mat No. 6—10c¢ Robert Barrat Robert Barrat was born in New York City and educated in the public schools. His debut in theatrical circles was in stock in Springfield, Mass. Later he appeared in many noteworthy productions with some of the leading stars of the stage. It was while playing the role of the strong man in the stage play “Lilly Turner” that Warner Bros. engaged him for that identical role with Ruth Chatterton in the picture. Since then he has played in “Here Comes The Navy,’ “Housewife,” “Midnight Alibi,’ “Return of the Terror,’ “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” “Fog Over Frisco,” “Wonder Bar,’ “Gambling Lady,” “Upperwotld,” “Hi, Nellie!,’’ “Massacre,” “Dark Hazard,’’ “From Headquarters,’ “I Loved A Woman,” “Wild Boys of the Road,” “Heroes For Sale,” “Baby Face,’ “The Silk. Express,” ‘“Picture Snatcher” and “The Mayor of Hell.” His current picture is “The Dragon Murder Case,” now showWie ae the: ..:....neee Theatre. Lyle Talbot Lyle Talbot was born in Pittsburgh where his father was operat LYLE TALBOT in First National’s “THE DRAGON MURDER CASE”’ at the Strand ing a stock company and made his first appearance under his father’s direction when sixteen years of age, as a magician. After several years in stock and in the Little Theatre field, he was signed by Warner Bros.-First National for a role with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in “Love Is a Racket.” Since then he has appeared in many outstanding productions, including “Return of the Terror,” “Fog Over Frisco,’ “Registered Nurse,” “Heat Lightning,” ‘“Mandalay,” “College Coach,” “Havana Widows,” “Mary Stevens, M.D.” and his current picture, “The Dragon Murder Case,” which comes to the-sccecetis:: MPC AtrekON ar... cc... <s Eugene Pallette Eugene Pallette was born in Winfield, Kansas, July 8, 1889, of nonprofessional parents and educated at the Culver Military Academy. He was on the stage for six years appearing in stock then turned to pictures during the early silent days. In all, he has appeared in more than 100 pictures. His more recent successes include “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” “T’ve Got Your Number,” “From Headquarters,” “The Kennel Murder Case,” “Half Naked Truth,” “Wild Girl,’ “Night Mayor,” “Strangers of the Evening,” “Thunder Below” and “Shanghai Express.” Pallette is five feet nine inches tall, weighs 185 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. His favorite sports are hunting and fishing. He is now appearing in “The Dragon Murder Case” at the ponents EE Theatre. WARREN WILLIAM—“Dr. Monica,’ “Smarty,” ‘Upperworld,” “Bedside,” “Gold Diggers of 1933,” “Goodbye Again,’ ‘“Employees’ Entrance.” MARGARET LINDSAY — “Fog Over Frisco,” “Merry Wives of Reno,” “From Headquarters,” “lady Killer,’ “The House on 56th Street.” LYLE TALBOT—‘Return of the error ;eewes) Over. Frisco,’ ‘““Registered Nurse,’ “Heat Lightning,” “Mandalay,” ‘“College Coach.” EUGENE PALLETTE — “Friends Hie oir weweeney, “I’ve: ‘Got Your Number,” “The Kennel Murder Case,” “From Head quarters.” ROBERT McWADE — “Midnight Alibi,’ “The Kennel Murder Case,’ “I Loved a Woman,” “Heroes, for Sale,’ “Hard To Handle,” “42nd Street.” HELEN LOWELL—“Madame Du Barry,” “Midnight Alibi,’ “The Merry Frinks,” “Side Streets.” DOROTHY TREE—“Madame Du Barry,” “Here Comes the Navy,” “The Man with Two Faces,” “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” “Side Streets.” } ROBERT BARRAT — “Here Comes the Navy,” “Housewife,” “Midnight Alibi,” “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,’ “Return of the Terror.” TTR LOORO CUO CORR URCR CC eOR Dorothy Tree Dorothy Tree was born in New York City and educated in the grammar and high schools there and at Cornell University. She took part in dramatics both in high school and at Cornell. Later she attended the Inter-Theatre Art Dramatic School in the Cherry Theatre, New York. Her first stage work was in stock from which she worked her way up to leads on Broadway, playing in such productions as “Holiday,” “Grand Hotel” and “Merchant of Venice.” She made her screen bow in the Warner Bros. production of “Life Begins.” Her latest picture is “The Dragon Murder Case,” which comes togthiess sans. SPHEALEELON eas... ‘i Margaret Lindsay Margaret Lindsay was born in Dubuque, Iowa, her real name being Margaret Kies. She was educated in the National Park Seminary in Washington, D. C., and in the National Academy of Dramatic Art. She began with small parts on the stage and worked up to leading roles, playing also in stock and LINDSAY at the Strand in “THE DRAGON MURDER CASE”’ a First National film = Mat No. 5— 10e repertoire. Her biggest stage hit was in “Death Takes A Holiday.” Recently she entered pictures and made a striking success in her role in “Cavalcade.” Other pictures in which she has appeared include “Fog Over Frisco,” “Merry Wives of Reno,” “Lady Killer,” “From Headquarters,” “The House on 56th Street,” “The World Changes” and “Private Detective 62.” She is now appearing in “The Dragon Murder Case,” which comes COMGHGR se, co eee tee Theatre on GEORGE E. STONE—“Return of the Terror,” “42nd Street,” “The Woman from Monte Carlo,” “Cimarron,” “Five Star Final.” GEORGE MEEKER — “Hi, Nellie!,’ “The World Changes,” “Dark Hazard,’ “The Life of Jimmy Nolan,” “A Fool’s Advice,” “The Match King.” ROBERT WARWICK — “Doctor X,” “Ladies They Talk About,” “Frisco Jenny,” “Silver Dollar,” “T Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang.” WILLIAM DAVIDSON—“Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” “Fog Over Frisco, “Convention City,’ “Lady Killer,” “I’m No Angel.” ARTHUR AYLESWORTH — “Dames,” “The Man With Two Faces,” “Midnight Alibi.” CHARLES WILSON—“The Circus Clown,” “Fog Over Frisco,” “Harold Teen,” “I’ve Got Your Number,” “The Kennel Murder Case.” ETIENNE GIRARDOT—‘Return of the Terror,’ “Fashions of 1934,” “The Kennel Murder Case,” “Advice To the Lovelorn.” H. BRUCE HUMBERSTONE — (Director) “Merry Wives of Reno,’ “King of the Jungle,” “Goodbye Love,” “Strangers of the Evening,’ ‘‘The Crooked Circle.” Page Fifteen