People are voting emotionally.

Admirable film.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The Kennel Murder Case is one of those rare films that show everyone involved at the best of their craft, and working well together to give a good show. It is well worth watching for story, characters, and an odd nostalgia that comes from reflecting on the police procedural drama, from then and today. From the threat of physical violence from the lead police officer, to a district attorney being directly involved in a criminal investigation, you can add to the fun of a good movie by asking yourself "What could they do now, and what did they do wrong in the picture?" Again I love this film and have watched in many times, but some of the little anachronisms are like wonderful Easter Eggs.Little things spring up SPOILER ALERT throughout the film. Despite a mob of police, nobody searches the house which is the scene of the crime. Suspects are allowed to live in the house which is the scene of two murders, a possible burglary, and an ongoing investigation. Vance is allowed to take over a police investigation without any more authority than being a friend of the District attorney. There are architectural models made in what seems like hours that have an extraordinary level of detail; in fact they are probably the models used for some of the incredible camera shots throughout the film.Speaking of the camera work, it is inspired. With all the murder mysteries filmed at this time based on stage plays, with a resulting flat camera work, this movie makes the camera almost a character in itself. I wish someone would spend the money and restore this film. I can think of at least three films of Powel's that should be cleaned up for this generation.However you chose to watch this film, as a story, acting, cinema photography, or just as a good whodunit, you won't go wrong by watching this pleasing picture.

But tells it well. It's almost as if this Philo Vance mystery takes its cues from Agatha Christie, with the story being so intricately plotted that the least suspected person ends up as the murderer. However, I have to admit, in this case I did suspect the culprit.WILLIAM POWELL assumes a more serious demeanor as the detective, unlike his characterization of Nick Charles in the Thin Man mysteries. The humor comes from some in the supporting cast, most of whom are suspects in the case.MARY ASTOR is pretty and lively as ROBERT BARRATT's daughter. He's the man who is at first suspected of committing suicide in a locked study. ETIENNE GIARADOT is the doctor who is always being called away to check out a dead body just as he gets to enjoy a quick meal. ("I know a dead man when I see one!" he cries impatiently). RALPH MORGAN is the murdered man's private secretary. EUGENE Palette is a befuddled detective who can't decide who's guilty without the aid of Vance and gets a few chuckles along the way.Directed in lively fashion by Michael Curtiz, it's a good little mystery that borrows from a whole bunch of clichés but manages to be tight and entertaining throughout. Well worth watching. The locked room explanation is a little hard to swallow but is acted out efficiently during solution of the crime.

There were times when this movie seemed to get a whole lot more complicated than it needed to be, but I guess that's part of it's charm. Detective Philo Vance's powers of observation seem greater than all the Oriental sleuths of the era combined when it comes down to that final evaluation of how the murders were committed. The dropping of the dagger into the Chinese vase was the kicker for me; I mean, couldn't somebody have just dropped it? Vance (William Powell) had a line early in the film about Archer Coe's 'psychological impossibility' to kill himself - I had to think about that for a while. I was left wondering if there's some scientific basis in fact for that concept to be true, not having studied psychology myself. Seems logical, but then there's always the case that doesn't fit the rules.You know, I got a kick out of the agitated coroner (Etienne Girardot), who reminded me of Star Trek's Dr. McCoy the couple of times he stated "I'm a doctor, not a magician" and "I'm a doctor, not a detective". I can picture DeForrest Kelley watching the film and saying to himself - 'I'll have to use that sometime'.Once the killer's identity is revealed, it doesn't seem like such a big surprise, but up till then it's really anybody's guess. But Archer and Brisbane Coe aside, the film didn't answer the central question posed by the title, and the murder I was really interested in - who killed Sir Thomas MacDonald's dog Ghillie?

Enjoyed viewing this film on TCM and watching a very young William Powell, (Philo Vance) playing detective just like he did with Myrna Loy in the "Thin Man Series". Back in the 1930's William Powell played in the Philo Vance Series and in this picture, the famous veteran actress Mary Astor, (Hilda Lake) becomes one of the suspects in a murder/suicide case where a man named, Archer Coe, (Robert Barrot) is found dead and Archer was in a room that was bolted from the inside. Ralph Morgan, (Raymond Wrede/Archer's Secretary) gave a great supporting role and was the brother to Frank Morgan who appeared "In the Wizard of Oz" 1939. Eugene Palette, (Detective Sgt. Heath) appeared in quite a few of these Philo Vance films and also gave a great performance in "Robin Hood" with Errol Flynn. Always remember, the least likely actor could very well be the killer. Enjoy a great Classic from the past.