Professor Popinjay's Compendium of Perspicacity

A Non-review by Professor Popinjay

WARNING! THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS MULTIPLE PICTURES OF OLD WHITE GUYS!

This Non-review will focus on the following titles:

1. The Canary Murder Case (1929)
2. The Greene Murder Case (1929)
3. The Bishop Murder Case (1929)
4. The Benson Murder Case (1930)
5. Paramount on Parade (1930)
6. The Kennel Murder Case (1933)
7. The Dragon Murder Case (1934)
8. The Casino Murder Case (1935)
9. The Garden Murder Case (1936)
10. The Scarab Murder Case (1936)
11. Night of Mystery (1937)
12. The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939)
13. Calling Philo Vance (1939)
14. Philo Vance’s Gamble (1947)
15. Philo Vance Returns (1947)
16. Philo Vance’s Secret Mission (1947)

I hope I don’t get demonetized for using the word “murder” so many times. Haha! Just kidding. I’m not monetized. Murder murder murder!

Say, what’s the angle to get moderns interested in these yarns, anyways? Some stooge is always gettin’ bumped off! The public’s got a taste for a good homicide these days, ain’t they? At least in the picture shows. Takes a bit to figure out whodunnit too, see? That’s always a tantalizing affair. Red herrings galore, and misdirections to bamboozle ya. Fun as a barrel of monkeys, just like them Scooby-Doo capers! Oh, I know! They got dames what with the gams that’ll stop yer ticker! That’ll grease your skids!

This Philo Vance character is a real slick fella, a smooth operator. The gent’s got brains, see? He’s a regular Edison! Guh… Good lord! If I keep on like this we’ll never get through this article.

These are a series of mysteries like Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot. Can’t say as Philo Vance was ever popular as those others but these hold up (with some installments better than others). My interest in these piqued mainly due to the involvement of William Powell who also played Detective Nick Charles with Myrna Loy in the Thin Man franchise.

The Thin Man movies have a sense of humor ahead of their time and I figured if Powell was involved in the Philo Vance films it might be more of the same.

Powell played Vance in four installments: The Canary Murder Case (1929), The Greene Murder Case (1929), The Benson Murder Case (1930), and The Kennel Murder Case (1933). Some of these early films were actually silent, later redubbed with audible dialogue. There was also a variety show called “Paramount on Parade” which showcased a number of song and dance and comedy routines, one of which was a short farce featuring Powell as Philo Vance, Clive Brook as Sherlock Holmes and Warner Oland as the ever culturally insensitive Dr. Fu Manchu.

There was another installment in the midst of the Powell films, distributed by MGM instead of Paramount, starring Basil Rathbone as Vance. This would be 10 years before Basil would take up his signature role as Sherlock Holmes.

Philo Vance is described as a bit of a dandy by writer S.S. Van Dyne who goes into such detail as to even describe the intricacies of Vance’s skull! Don’t worry though, those details didn’t make it into the films. Vance mostly remains cool as a cucumber with a firm grip on what’s really going on throughout these mysteries. The best part is if you watch Vance closely and you’re clever, you might be able to put the pieces together with him even while he says nothing. Incidentally, I’m not that clever but it’s fun to speculate as things transpire.

William Powell does indeed bring his coolness and charm to the screen as Vance as you might see in the Thin Man franchise. The humor however mostly comes from the perpetually befuddled Sgt. Ernest Heath, played more often than not by Eugene Pallette. Also commonly present and providing simultaneous stability and straight-face for Heath’s commentary is District Attorney John F.X. Markham, switched out occasionally but frequently played by E.H. Calvert. These two hang about the various crime scenes hilariously trying to keep up with Vance, doubting his sanity and cracking wise the whole time.

Another character of note is Dr. Doremus, the city coroner, who doesn’t show up until 1933s Kennel Murder Case, but becomes a recurring character after that. Doremus, as coroner, is more concerned with his breakfast, lunch, dinner and time with his wife than he is with having to come out at all hours to determine time and cause of death. The exchanges between him and Sgt. Heath are pretty hilarious. It’s strangely cavalier sometimes though, considering someone has just died. That’s movies for you though, especially back then.

The “Paramount on Parade” variety film was hardly worth the watch, especially if you’re looking for Vance. I sifted through it to get to his part and it was short. Both Holmes and Vance have hilariously over-acted death scenes though. And for some reason Dr. Fu Manchu literally flies off the set. I don’t know a whole lot about Fu Manchu but I’m fairly certain he didn’t spontaneously fly in his films.

The next four years show us a variety of men playing Vance, each maintaining a decent consistency with the character’s gentlemanly ways. The Dragon Murder Case (1934) stars Warren William as Vance. Eugene Pallette is still here as a very enjoyable Sgt. Heath. Vance starts to show an interest in a female character throughout this era of films which sometimes end with a non-threatening side hug but no mention of the relationship in each successive film. He’s a regular 007, this guy.

1935’s The Casino Murder Case is a unique one. Paul Lukas played a part in an earlier Vance film but now has signed on the play Philo Vance himself. The Hungarian born actor adds a “delicious” accent to the character as it has been described. I had to wonder if this was a previously overlooked attribute of the character as described by author Van Dine. Nope, it’s Paul Lukas’ real accent. Actually, it worked just fine for the character.

Edmond Lowe in The Garden Murder Case (1936) adds a bit of uncharacteristic playfulness to Vance which feels slightly out of place. Just looking at a picture of Edmond Lowe, he clearly has a mischievous “I’m a movie star” demeanor which, I would argue, permeates whomever he’s portraying. But I haven’t seen him in anything else to my knowledge, so I’ll shut up.

Nat Pendleton takes over as Sgt. Heath in The Garden Murder Case. Pendleton also featured in one of the Thin Man films with William Powell. He’s always a humorous snarky addition to any film and takes the role of Heath well on. He’s really the highlight of The Garden Murder in my opinion.

The plot of Garden very obviously had to do with hypnotism and was a bit far fetched even if you believe in hypnotism. I think hypnotism is real to a certain degree and even has practical applications, but not like it was presented in this film. It was kind of silly. Also the cavalier attitude around homicide in this installment is downright palpable. It’s like the film can’t decide to take itself seriously or not. I think it’s because Edmond Lowe is just so thrilled to have landed this part that he forgot to act.

The Scarab Murder Case (1936) is interesting, but not due to its content. It might be interesting for its content but no one can find this film! It is among the British Film Institute’s list of 75 Most Wanted lost films. Of course one can still read the book. Vance was to be played by William Powell again in this one but he had changed studios and started producing The Thin Man franchise in 1934. Scarab would star Wilfred Hyde-White, who some might remember as Colonel Hugh Pickering from My Fair Lady (1964). I’m so curious to see this. It would be amazing if it were found!

Night of Mystery (1937) starring Grant Richards is not lost. It is however very hard to find and the one obscure website that claimed to have it wanted me to set up an account and I’m unmotivated. It’s also hard to search for as it has a very generic title. Besides all that, Night of Mystery is a remake of The Green Murder Case. I imagine Paramount wanted to make a talkie version instead of just a silent film dubbed with voiceovers. I eventually just gave up trying to watch this one.

Next we have The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939). Author S.S. Van Dine was a huge fan of George Burns and Gracie Allen. While George decided to sit this one out and let Gracie have the spotlight, word is he was on set everyday encouraging Gracie.

It’s a strange title. It seems to imply Gracie Allen gets bumped off, but that is not the case. And this IS a Philo Vance story. He shows up about half way through, played by Warren William again. William Demarest plays Sgt. Heath but he’s less comedy relief, more straight man for Gracie. No sign of the coroner in this one either. Gracie really supplies all the humor.

Gracie’s humor is such a welcome addition to this film, it would have been great to have her along for all these capers. If you don’t watch any of these but like a good comedy, definitely watch The Gracie Allen Murder Case.

I lump the next films together simply because they have Philo Vance’s name in the title but “Calling Philo Vance” was made eight years before the rest of them: Philo Vance’s Gamble, Philo Vance Returns, and Philo Vance’s Secret Mission, all made in 1947. They could really crank out the films back then!

These do have something in common though. Sgt. Heath is swept under the rug to make room for a constant comedy relief side kick, played by one person or another in each instalment. We do see Dr. Doremus, the coroner, again, cantankerous as ever but played by Jimmy Conlin in “Calling”. Herbert Anderson has a bit part there too. Herb is more well known as Henry Mitchell, Dennis Mitchell’s father in the Dennis the Menace TV series (1956).

Weirdly, James Stephenson plays Philo Vance. Weird because the female love interest is played by Margot Stevenson. I thought they might be married in real life except that’s two different spellings of the last name. Just a strange coincidence they should both be cast.

“Philo Vance’s Gamble” and “Philo Vance’s Secret Mission” both star Alan Curtis as Vance with William Wright playing Vance between these two films in “Philo Vance Returns”. At least that’s my understanding of how it went. Not sure why they would jerk us around like that though except “Secret Mission” was produced by a different company than the other two. I guess they must have liked a seemingly younger springier Vance. Everyone who played Vance has been roughly the same age when taking on the role. Alan Curtis seems to present a vitality not present in previous representations. It comes at the cost of Philo’s more dapper qualities however, which I prefer. Also, I miss Sgt. Heath.

Ironically and sadly, Alan Curtis would only star in five other unrelated films after these. Complications leading to heart failure set in after a routine kidney operation in 1953. He was 43.

Philo Vance Returns (1947) was kind of unintentionally hilarious. This dude (not Vance) has a history of failed marriages but writes up a will that divides his vast fortune amongst his five ex-wives with a stipulation that if any of them have passed away, the money is to be devided amongst whomever remains. It’s like the guy WANTED his ex-wives to murder each other to get at the money. Add to this a crazy cackling grandmother and you have a recipe for wackiness. It’s not played out as humorous but I found it so.

Despite a shortcoming here and there, these are all a good watch minus a couple of racial insensitivities. The mysteries are pretty enthralling and fun to guess at. They each have a decent balance of thrill, drama, and humor. Philo is unique enough from Holmes and Poirot, frankly I’m surprised more people don’t know about him.

There was an Italian-made Philo Vance TV miniseries that came out in 1974. It looked cool but I don’t speak Italian… yet.

Until then, ¡Arrivederci!