The Dragon Murder Case (1934)

At her party, a young socialite (Margaret Lindsay) suggests her guests all go for a night dip in the large natural pool on her estate. When her fiance (George Meeker) dives in and doesn't come up, the police are called in. But when the pool is drained, no body is found! Enter private detective Philo Vance (Warren William) to solve the case! Based on the novel by S.S. Van Dine and directed by H. Bruce Humberstone (SUN VALLEY SERENADE). Following in the footsteps of Basil Rathbone and William Powell, Warren William inherits the Philo Vance role. It has one of the more complex murder plots in the series but the list of suspects is small and rather obvious so I guessed the murderer and their motive early on. It's brief running time (1 hour, 6 minutes) keeps it tight and compact and to the point. Unfortunately, the cranky police sergeant as played by Eugene Pallette and the coroner (Etienne Girardot) who constantly has his meals interrupted return. They weren't amusing in the last installment and they haven't gotten any funnier this time around. With Lyle Talbot, Dorothy Tree, Helen Lowell, Robert McWade and Robert Barrat.