The Philo Vance Murder Case Collection [DVD]

Based on best-selling author S.S. Van Dine's stylish and clever sleuth in the early 1900s, Philo Vance was brought to talkies six times in the 1930s - three productions each by Warner Bros. and MGM. The earliest effort in this six-pack stars Basil Rathbone in "The Bishop Murder Case." Next, William Powell is Vance in "The Kennel Murder Case." Warren William has the role in "The Dragon Murder Case" with Paul Lukas taking a crack at it in "The Casino Murder Case." Edmund Lowe is Vance in the fifth outing, "The Garden Murder Case" and James Stephenson stars in the last, "Calling Philo Vance." Six popular era actors with very different styles; the rigid Rathbone, whimsical Powell, humorous William, stodgy European Lukas, tongue-in-cheek Lowe and the intense Stephenson Typical of MGM productions in 1930-31, "Bishop" looks like a filmed stage play; the scenes played out full length in rooms with ceilings 30-feet high. The acting is over the top by today's standards, but the mystery is intriguing. "Kennel" from WB is the strongest entry with an excellent performance by Powell. Some of the wry humor he would mine to greater glory in "The Thin Man" series is evident as he goes about solving this locked-room mystery. The supporting cast is first rate. Eugene Pallette, the rotund, foghorn voiced character actor of that era provides comic relief as the dense police sergeant here and returns in the role with William in "Dragon." This entry features a very unusual plot - a much hated man disappears in the swimming pool on a private estate and is later discovered in a quarry far from the pool. And there may be a dragon who dunnit! Lots of red herring suspects for Vance to wade through here The most convoluted plot comes in "Casino" from MGM with Lukas as Vance and a young Rosalind Russell as a suspect/leading lady. At the time Ted Healy was a studio contract player. Healy was a vaudeville performer who created The Stooges: Moe and Shemp Howard and Larry Fine. By all accounts He was a vicious boozer and died a victim of a lethal beating. Why anyone thought then or now why he was a comic is a bigger mystery than the one in this film. Also from MGM, Lowe plays Vance lighter than the others in "Garden." In this one depressed people mutter they must die - and they do. Nat Pendleton, another brutish actor on the MGM payroll, supports as the sergeant trying to nail the sinister killer."Calling Philo Vance" is a reworking of "Kennel" with the hated first victim an airplane designer selling designs to foreign enemies during WW2, instead of a collector of stolen artifacts and pedigreed show dogs. Stephenson as Vance has become a government agent tracking plane designs from Europe back to the USA. He still must solve a locked-bedroom and closet mystery to nail the culprit. Outside of "The Kennel Murder Case" - sold cheaply in unrestored condition - none of the other five are currently available outside of this Warner Archive collection. These are DVD-R produced on-demand discs. I gave the collection four stars because I like those early sound-era mysteries with all their layered plots, and to study the production values various studios employed. Also to study screenwriting, directing and acting styles from that era as compared to today. These six films, remastered to restore crisp lighting, photography and sound, are as silvery as first projected 70-years ago.

Bishop Murder Case, TheStilted, verging on humorous, acting in this early talkie murder mystery. (A good example of silent film actors struggling to adapt to talking pictures.) Basil Rathbone, as Philo Vance, at least gets practice for his Sherlock Holmes character. If you’re looking for another old mystery to watch and have run out of other options, give this a view. Otherwise, you have many better choices.Kennel Murder Case, TheThis is the best of the Philo Vance series. It serves as a good introduction to the series, and if you want to get a good feel for the nature of these whodunits, choose this film first. William Powell, among the many actors who portray the detective, also does the best job—the most authentic, the most charismatic, and the most comfortable. And Mary Astor—she’s good in everything she’s in. Can’t go wrong with this gem.Dragon Murder Case, TheEngaging, entertaining murder mystery from the early 30s starring Warren William as Philo Vance. (You even get early underwater photography in this film.) Acting is good all around in this mystery. Witty dialogue and ongoing suspense make this whodunit worth watching.Casino Murder Case, ThePaul Lukas plays Philo Vance in this typical 30s whodunit but doesn’t have the charisma of the other actors who play this character. Humorous bits play out in this entry in the Vance series, in fact it’s interesting that Vance fights with his manservant in a fashion similar to the sport Clouseau has with his servant, Cato, in the Pink Panther series. Even though, this entry is not as interesting as the others in the Vance series. Worth a look if you’re out of other options.Garden Murder Case, TheEdmund Lowe stars as a subpar Philo Vance in this very average episode in the Philo Vance series. Formulaic and predictable. View if you really want to see all the movies in the series.Calling Philo VanceJames Stephenson plays Philo Vance and is arrested in Vienna by Nazis. This provides foreign intrigue, but most action takes place in America in this better-than-average Vance whodunit. This is a remake of The Kennel Murder Case. Good mystery and worth watching.

I received this quite sometime ago. I enjoyed these dvds, thank you very much. They got here in good condition.

Super mystery movies love them

just what I expected. sometimes expectations can be ruined by bad product, but all amazon products that I have purchased have met or exceeded my expectations. thanks very much. don

These are a treasure of the old style mystery/puzzle movies. I love these classic old black and white movies. These were nicely transferred, or whatever they do, to the modern format. This is not for those seeking blood and guts and driving tension. These are a nice lay back with popcorn set of movies

I am happy with my purchase.