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William Powell, Mary Astor, Eugene Pallette, Ralph Morgan, Helen Vinson ... see more see more... , Etienne Girardot , Jack LaRue , Paul Cavanagh , Robert H. Barrat , Henry O'Neill , Robert McWade , Frank Conroy , Spencer Charters , Charles C. Wilson , Jimmy Lee , Harry Allen , Wade Boteler , Don Brodie , James Burke , George Chandler , Arthur Hohl , Milt Kibbee , Monte Vandergrift , Leo White , Paul Cavanaugh

Often (and accurately) described as a model of the whodunit genre, The Kennel Murder Case stars William Powell, making his fourth screen appearance as S. S. Van Dine's dilettante detective Philo Vance... read more read more.... This time the story involves intrigue at the Long Island kennel club. The murder victim is Robert H. Barrat, who works overtime making himself a much-hated target in the first ten minutes. With the aid of a Doberman, Vance solves not only Barrat's murder but a follow-up killing designed to deflect attention from the killer. The suspects include Mary Astor, Ralph Morgan, Jack LaRue, Helen Vinson, Paul Cavanaugh and Arthur Hohl, all of whom have "done it" from time to time in other murder mysteries (movie buffs, however, will have little trouble spotting the killer; the person in question has probably been the hidden murderer in more films than any other member of the Screen Actor's Guild). Kennel Murder Case was William Powell's last "Philo Vance" film; it would be remade in 1940 as Calling Philo Vance, with James Stephenson as Vance and a new World War II angle added to the plot. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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66% liked it

956 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 13 min.

Directed by: Betty Amann, Bonita Granville, Dickie Jones, Eugene Pallette, Frank Conroy, Frankie Thomas, John Litel, Mary Astor, Mary Lee, Michael Curtiz, Ralph Morgan, Robert Barrat, Robert McWade, William Clemens

Release Date: October 28, 1933

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DVD Release Date: July 3, 2001

Stats: 50 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (50)

  • jjnxn
    March 26, 2011
    jjnxn
    Creaky mystery but Powell is suave and efficient as always.
  • ajv2688
    September 6, 2010
    ajv2688
    Before the Thin Man, Powell played Philo Vance, detective. He has charm and humour in this movie as well. This movie is fun and exciting for a movie involving a dog.
  • neffielee
    July 31, 2010
    neffielee
    Although William Powell is always a class-act, his Philo Vance seems to be Nick Charles, without as much fun. He's a detective trying to piece together a string of murders related to a dog show. I had a little bit of a difficult time keeping up, because so many of the actors l... read moreooked alike. I kept getting confused on who was who. It's a good little film, but definitely not one of his best.
  • kingmob6
    July 8, 2010
    kingmob6
    This was something I checked out because of William Powell's involvement, and while there's nothing wrong with the film, I suppose I was expecting something more in the vein of The Thin Man series, where this is played mainly straight.

    Still, it's an enjoyable mystery, well wort... read moreh a look.
  • matricialynnicus
    September 5, 2008
    matricialynnicus
    Don't think for a moment that because this has William Powell in it that it is going to be good.

    I think what annoyed me the most about this mystery was that there was no real investigation. Powell's character would walk into a room and instantly know just where the clues would... read more be. If there had been a hidden safe, he would have instantly found it.

    I don't mind having a character who is a little more on top of things than the others in mysteries, but it's not so fun when it appears that they have already read the script and just have to hurry through the motions to make the mystery solving look official.
  • DS291284
    September 10, 2007
    DS291284
    A clever and witty mystery film with comedic touches, in the same tradition as Powell's own "Thin Man" series. The mystery itself takes several unexpectd twists and turns during the investigation that, along with entertaining performances from leads, keep the viewer watching. A m... read moreust for mystery buffs!

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Critic Reviews

Ken Hanke
August 2, 2004
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Top notch Philo Vance mystery with non-stop clever touches.

March 26, 2009
Variety

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Mordaunt Hall
January 28, 2006
Mordaunt Hall, New York Times

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Emanuel Levy
June 29, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

July 30, 2003
TV Guide's Movie Guide

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MaryAnn Johanson
April 20, 2001
MaryAnn Johanson, Apollo Guide

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Geoff Andrew
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

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May 24, 2003
Film4

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