The Kennel Murder Case (1933)

A wealthy dog fancier (Robert Barrat) is found dead in his bedroom which is locked from the inside, a bullet hole in his head and a gun in his hand. It would appear to be a suicide. But the private detective Philo Vance (William Powell) suspects foul play and this is confirmed by the coroner Etienne Girardot) who says the man was already dead when he was shot. Based on the novel by S.S. Van Dine and directed by Michael Curtiz (WHITE CHRISTMAS). Powell returns as Philo Vance for the fourth and final time. The next year he would play detective Nick Charles in THE THIN MAN, a role he would play on and off until 1947. As for his final foray as Philo Vance, this is a perplexing murder mystery with a plethora of suspects, all of who had reasons to kill the victim. My head was spinning trying to keep abreast of who was where at the time of the murder and what their particular motive was. Eventually, I stopped trying to guess and let Powell's Vance do the work. This might be the best of the Philo Vance mysteries (certainly Powell made the part his own) and murder mystery buffs should have fun with it. Remade in 1940 as CALLING PHILO VANCE. With Mary Astor, Eugene Pallette, Helen Vinson, Jack La Rue, Ralph Morgan and Paul Cavanagh.