The Kennel Murder Case (Warner Bros.) (1933)

he | (Lead Story) William Powell Stars In" Kennel Murder Case’ Who killed Archer Coe? That is the most baffling question that Philo Vance, the famous and debonair detective character created by S. S. Van Dine, and impersonated by William Powell in Warner Bros. picture, “The Kennel Murder Case,” ever has been called upon to answer. The picture comes to the Strand next Friday. Archer Coe is found dead in his bedroom with a revolver in his hand and not a sign of a struggle and with the door locked. He has a bullet in his brain and a scalp abrasion. The police consider it a case of suicide until Philo Vance walks into the scene and through a series of deductions proves that it is murder and not suicide and then proceeds to discover the murderer. Not only is “The Kennel Murder Case” one of the most mysterious of all of Van Dine’s stories, in which seven persons are found to have both a motive for the crime and an opportunity to have committed it, but it carries a strange love tangle which is eventually unraveled by Vance. The picture has a strong cast in support of Powell and includes such noted players as Mary Astor, Eugene Pallette, Ralph Morgan, Helen Vinson, Jack La Rue and Paul Cavanaugh. The picture was directed by Michaed Curtiz, one of Hollywood’s foremost directors, who has a long list of impressive film successes. Murder Film Now at Strand Mystery and murder is the keynote of the Strand Theatre’s picture, “The Kennel Murder Case,” which is now being shown locally. William Powell hes "ge cast in the popular role of 1 France, the character made fatutué-by S. S. Van Dine in a series of mysterious and baffling detective novels which are known throughout the world. Powell is an old hand at Vance roles having played them before. His partner in detection is Sergeant Heath, played by Eugene Pallette. Mary Astor plays the leading feminine role while Helen Vinson is the other woman in the case. The plot involves the mysterious slaying of two men and the attempted murder of a third. District Attorney Markham, played by Robert McWade, another of Van Dine’s noted characters, together with Vance, set out to solve the puzzling murders. Their trail leads to many a_ precarious situation and only after a surprise clue is discovered by Vance is the clever murderer apprehended. Mat 105 — 15c William Powell And: Mary Astor Baffling Mystery “The Kennel Murder Case,” which is now playing at the Strand Theatre, is the most baffling mystery story ever written by S. S. Van Dine, creator of the famous detective, Philo Vance, who is impersonated by William Powell. In the cast besides Powell in the role of the famous criminologist, and Mary Astor in the leading feminine part, are Eugene Pallette, Ralph Morgan, Helen Vinson, Jack La Rue and Paul Cavanaugh. Michael Curtiz, noted for his mystery and melodramatic film hits, handled the directorial reins for the Warner Bros. film. Philo Vance Back Philo Vance and Sergeant Heath, perhaps two of the most famous characters in modern detective stories, both created by S. S. Van Dine, have come to life on the screen. For motion picture fans that means that William Powell, in the role of the debonair detective, and Eugene Pallette as the burly booming sergeant from Police Headquarters, wrestle verbally over the contradictory aspects of S. S. Van Dine’s most celebrated murder mystery, “The Kennel Murder Case.” Michael Curtiz directed the exciting Warner Bros. film. Movie Tops Book “The Kennel Murder Case,” a best-selling mystery story, has been transferred by Warner Bros. to movie form and is currently enjoying additional popularity at the Strand Theatre. Many people have expressed their belief that the picture version is even more thrilling than the book. William Powell, plays the role of the suave, bland, Philo Vance with a new and_ greater interpretation. He ferrets out the solution from a maze of seven suspects, all of whom have both the motive and the opportunity for committing the crimes. Others in the cast are Mary Astor, Eugene Pallette, Ralph Morgan, Jack La Rue and Paul Cavanaugh. Michael Curtiz directed the production. Mat 203 — 30c PHILO VANCE COMES BACK fo the screen this Friday at the Strand Theatre with William Powell playing the role of the famous detective, in “The Kennel Murder Case”. Others in the Warner Bros. film are Mary Astor and Eugene Pallette. (Review) "Kennel Murder Case’ Van Dine's Best Story Philo Vance returned to the screen last night before a Strand packed audience which gave him a royal welcome when he appeared in the person of William Powell, and set about to unravel the tangled crime that made up the variegated pattern of S. S. Van Dine’s famous story, “The Kennel Murder Case,” which started its local run. The debonair detective with whose brilliant exploits Van Dine has been entertaining the American mystery-loving public for years, is considered by many of his fans, to be Powell’s happiest and most popular characterization. The role of the amateur criminologist, who knows as much about dogs and Chinese porcelains as he does about crime, fits the dapper, sophisticated star as perfectly as his own immaculately tailored clothes. Last night in “The Kennel Murder Case,” William Powell showed Mat 105 — 15c William Powell through his grand performances why he has become one of Hollywood’s most patronized stars. Philo Vance’s friendly enemy, Sergeant Heath, played by Eugene Pallette, who appeared in that character before with Powell, is back to snort and rib the criminal specialist as much as ever. An exceptional supporting cast, made up of Mary Astor, Ralph Morgan, Helen Vinson, Jack La Rue, and Paul Cavanaugh, makes every one of the numerous characters in “The Kennel Murder Case” doubly vivid. Mystery in its most baffling form, with suspense all the way, has been kept in the foreground by the direction of Michael Curtiz. Trio of Sleuths Fast action and baffling mystery are to be found in the Warner Bros. film, “The Kennel Murder Case”, starring William Powell as_ the famous Philo Vance, which is now playing at the Strand Theatre. Sergeant Heath, played by Eugene Pallette and District Attorney Markham, played by Robert McWade, appear with him. CAST OF CHARACTERS WILLIAM POWELL MARY ASTOR Philo Vance Hilda Lake Heath Raymond Wrede.. Doris Delafield Eduardo Grassi Sir Bruce MacDonald Paul Cavanaugh Robert Barrat __Ralph Morgan Helen Vinson Jack La Rue Archer Coe Arthur Hohl Henry O'Neill Robert McWade Frank Conroy Etienne Gibardot Spencer Charters Charles Wilson James Lee Dr. Doremus Snitkin SYNOPSIS | (Not for publication) Archer Coe (Robert Barrat) sportsman and collector of antiques is found dead in his room with the revolver still in his hand. The police believe it to be suicide but when Philo Vance, (William Powell), famous amateur criminologist, is called in, he proves that it is murder. He further shows where any one of seven people had both the motive and the opportunity for com mitting the crime. After several harrowing but interesting experiences, which are shared by Vance's old pals of criminal detection, Sergeant Heath (Eugene Pallette) and District Attorney Markham (Robert McWade), Vance traps the criminal in a very unusual manner. (Running time 73 minutes.) PRODUCTION STAFF Directed by MICHAEL CURTIZ Novel by S. S. Van Dine; Screen Play by Robert N. Lee and Peter Milne; Dialogue Director, Arthur Greville Collins; Photographer, William Reese; Film Editor, Ed. M. McLarnin; Art Director, Jack Okey; Gowns by Orry-Kelly; Vitaphone Orchestra Conductor, Leo F. Forbstein. Helen VINSON—LA RUE—CAVANAUGH (Opening Day Story) Philo Vance in Exciting Film At Strand Today “The Kennel Murder Case,” a Warner Bros. picture, brings William Powell back to the screen of the Strand Theatre today as Philo Vance, the famous detective created by S. S. Van Dine. Powell made some of his first great screen successes in the role of this character. “The Kennel Murder Case” is considered the most baffling and thrilling picture of all the S. S. Van Dine stories in which Powell has starred. The action is swift moving, starting with the murder of a prize Scottie and involving the slaying of two men and the attempted murder of a third. Mystery piles upon mystery as Philo Vance unravels the crimes in which seven suspects have both the opportunity and the motive for the killings. There is more of romance in the underlying theme than the usual detective story, including a _ love affair between the niece of the murdered men and a titled Englishman as well as a clandestine affair, and a mad infatuation on the part of the uncle for his ward. Playing in support of Powell are Mary Astor as his leading lady, Eugene Pallette as Sergeant Heath, a role he has played previously with Powell, Ralph Morgan, Helen Vinson, Jack La Rue and many others. Michael Curtiz, noted for his fine handling of action-packed dramas and mysteries directed the film. Double Killing The murder of one of the Scotties in a Dog Show starts a baffling series of events in “The Kennel Murder Case,” which comes to the Strand Theatre on Friday, that leads to the slaying of two men and the attempted murder of a third before the slayer is brought to bay. “The Kennel Murder Case” which brings William Powell to the screen again as the famous detective, Philo Vance, is S. S. Van Dine’s most puzzling mystery drama. Mary Astor, Eugene Pallette, Helen Vinson, and many others make up the talented supporting cast. Official Billing WARNER BROS. 40% Pictures, Inc. Presents 5%, WILLIAM POWELL = '°°% 20% 20% as Philo Vance in S. S. Van Dine's “THE KENNEL MURDER CASE” 757. with MARY ASTOR Eugene Ralph PALLETTE — MORGAN Jack Paul 50%, 25% 25%, % % Directed by Michael Curtiz * % a 20% A Warner Bros.-First National Picture 5%