William Powell stars as Philo Vance in this series of Pre-Code Murder Mysteries. Newly restored on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber.
The Film(s)
The Canary Murder Case
The first of the Philo Vance films. What’s wild is how compact the film is not just in its run time but it’s in locations (taking place on a few sets) but remains entertaining as a murder mystery. This is in large part due to the cast specifically William Powell. Those who know Powell from his iconic work as Nick Charles in the Thin Man series, know the actor’s charms and sharp comedic timing. Those qualities here in The Canary Murder Case but much more subdued. It goes to the writing itself of Vance, more “gentleman detective” ala Sherlock Holmes than shoe leather gumshoe former detective Nick Charles.
The film and mystery itself the murder of The Canary aka Margaret O’Dell (Louise Brooks) a showgirl with her fingers in many pies hoping for a larcenous prize. Before O’Dell has a chance to cash in on her romance with socialite Jimmy Spottswoode (James Hall), she’s murdered. But murdered under the strangest of circumstances. It appears that she’s been murdered without anyone entering or leaving her apartment.
The film itself is lean and to the point with Vance working up questioning subjects, posting theories, more issues that arise, and finally the solution via a poker game with all the subjects. The Canary Murder Case isn’t an ingenious pandora’s box ala an Agatha Christie or Conan-Doyle story. What it does have is the entertaining performance of William Powell who keeps this one afloat with his Charisma and wit alone showing why he became a superstar.
The Greene Murder Case
The return of Philo Vance with a bigger budget but just as lean of a mystery. However, there is something to be said about a 62-minute film. The Greene Murder Case doubles down on everything to like about the William Powell starring mystery but adds some truly wonderful production design.
On New Year’s Eve, the rich and terrible Greene family have gathered to see how their ailing patriarch (Gertrude Norman) plans to distribute her wealth to the family. As the night wears on the Greene’s begin to be murdered one at a time. The police are brought in and Philo Vance (Powell) as well. As they begin to unravel what’s happened in the dilapidated manor more bodies begin to appear asking the question, who is killing the Greenes.
What The Greene Murder Case lacks in plot and mystery more than makes up for in characters. Vance as a character has many more dastardly types to bounce off of in this entry than the original. This only helps the film which even at its diminished run time could have worn thin with its obvious mysterious killer. There’s a sharper more acidic wit at play in this film than the prior or even in the next film Powell starred in.
The Benson Murder Case
The fourth entry in the series but the third Powell starred in (he would eventually make one more The Kennel Murder Case) has a great hook though not as stylish as The Greene Murder Case. Powell makes this a good time to be had.
As the stock market crashes greedy stockbroker Harry Gray (William Boyd) manages to embezzle three of his client’s money with no recourse. To celebrate he parties it up and ends up at his country estate where he is murdered. All three of his victims are now suspects. Luckily for everyone, Vance (Powell) manages to be “in the neighborhood” to solve it all.
This is the least of the entries, stretching the least amount of creditability the series had with the magical appearance of Vance at the right moment to solve everything. This entry in the series will test your patience because of how lazy everything seems. The Benson Murder Case isn’t as witty and stylish production design as The Greene Murder Case nor does it have the attention-grabbing mystery The Canary Murder Case has. We are left with Powell who is good but himself seems distracted by the convivence of the plot.
One does wish they found something to hook an audience with this entry. As it stands The Benson Murder Case remains a rather pedestrian entry into the series.
The Transfer(s)
The all-new 4K Restoration of The Canary Murder Case, all-new 4K Restoration of The Greene Murder Case, and 2K Restoration of The Benson Murder Case are all winning versions of these films. It should be noted that by the very nature of films that are almost 100 years old the image is not perfect. The wear and tear of life and time is present on each of these transfers but nowhere near older iterations of these films. In other formats these films have been positively murky experiences with little to no definition and clarity throughout. This has been reserved in each of the three films. Each beautifully rendered in high definition.
The Extras
They include the following;
- NEW Audio Commentaries for THE CANARY MURDER CASE and THE GREENE MURDER CASE by Novelist/Critic Kim Newman and Writer/Journalist Barry Forshaw
- NEW Audio Commentary for THE BENSON MURDER CASE by Professor and Film Scholar Jason A. Ney
The all-new Audio Commentary for The Canary Murder Case by Novelist/Critic Kim Newman and Writer/Journalist Barry Forshaw begins with introductions by the critics. Some of the details include SS VanDine’s (under his real name) criticized cinema they could not create a detective story; how this was filmed as a silent film but transferred to a sound film after its production was completed; a larger discussion of this time frame where silents went to talkies – various examples of such; a larger discussion of the history of the detectives of literature and their translations to cinema – including alternate versions of Philo Vance; the history and career of Lousie Brooks – and why she did not made the transition from Silent Films; a larger discussion of the various troupes and social norms of the era and a discussion of them in the modern era – examples are the “gold digger” troupe, the portrayal of the persons of color, and more; a larger discussion of SS VanDine – his personal life, his work, the critics of his work and more; the coded nature of Philo Vance – both in the books and the movies; the work and career William Powell – including a discussion of this series of roles; the various other versions of Philo Vance and their quality; and much more.
The all-new Audio Commentary for The Green Murder Case by Novelist/Critic Kim Newman and Writer/Journalist Barry Forshaw continue their discussion of Philo Vance discussion with this track. Some of the details include the continuity of the first three novels – though the confusing nature of the film series; the great visual style and production design of the film; the plot and mystery – and criticisms of the lack of originality; the difference between the novel and film adaptation, not the story; the “old dark house” troupe that the story is a part of – including a discussion of the various other of the time; the difference between Philo Vance in the novel and the films as played by William Powell; a discussion of the reason why the character has not transcended time – which leads to a larger conversation about the other detectives of similar ilk; a larger discussion about the nostalgia that brought back various detectives beginning in the 1970s; a larger discussion of the various IP and the exchanging of the rights changing hands within the studios and how much this has changed; and much more.
The all-new Audio Commentary for The Benson Murder Case by Professor and Film Scholar Jason A. Ney introduces himself and discusses the first novel in the Vance novels. Some of the details include the work of Director Frank Tuttle – including a discussion of his filmography and the style he developed previously; the stock crash – which was very timely once it was released in April 1930; the fact that the Vance films were B-Pictures; the true historical definition of what a B-Picture was; the work and career of screenwriter Bartlett Cormack; the issues with sound on this film – an explanation of why this occurred; the creation of a Spanish language release – a larger discussion of the history of making non-English language versions, including a discussion of the two versions of 1931’s Dracula (from Universal); a larger discussion of Pre-Code era and what was allowed and not allowed in that era; a discussion of the life and career of SS VanDine; the character of Philo Vance as written in the novel and how William Powell’s performance changed that; and much more.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Blackmail (1:16); Lucky Jordan (1:36); The Hour Before Dawn (2:10)
The Final Thought
Kino Lorber’s Philo Vance Collection shows how the label continues to release wonderful releases filled with special features. Highest Recommendations!
Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray edition of the Philo Vance Collection is out now
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William Powell stars as Philo Vance in this series of Pre-Code Murder Mysteries. Newly restored on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber.
The Film(s)
The Canary Murder Case
The first of the Philo Vance films. What’s wild is how compact the film is not just in its run time but it’s in locations (taking place on a few sets) but remains entertaining as a murder mystery. This is in large part due to the cast specifically William Powell. Those who know Powell from his iconic work as Nick Charles in the Thin Man series, know the actor’s charms and sharp comedic timing. Those qualities here in The Canary Murder Case but much more subdued. It goes to the writing itself of Vance, more “gentleman detective” ala Sherlock Holmes than shoe leather gumshoe former detective Nick Charles.
The film and mystery itself the murder of The Canary aka Margaret O’Dell (Louise Brooks) a showgirl with her fingers in many pies hoping for a larcenous prize. Before O’Dell has a chance to cash in on her romance with socialite Jimmy Spottswoode (James Hall), she’s murdered. But murdered under the strangest of circumstances. It appears that she’s been murdered without anyone entering or leaving her apartment.
The film itself is lean and to the point with Vance working up questioning subjects, posting theories, more issues that arise, and finally the solution via a poker game with all the subjects. The Canary Murder Case isn’t an ingenious pandora’s box ala an Agatha Christie or Conan-Doyle story. What it does have is the entertaining performance of William Powell who keeps this one afloat with his Charisma and wit alone showing why he became a superstar.
The Greene Murder Case
The return of Philo Vance with a bigger budget but just as lean of a mystery. However, there is something to be said about a 62-minute film. The Greene Murder Case doubles down on everything to like about the William Powell starring mystery but adds some truly wonderful production design.
On New Year’s Eve, the rich and terrible Greene family have gathered to see how their ailing patriarch (Gertrude Norman) plans to distribute her wealth to the family. As the night wears on the Greene’s begin to be murdered one at a time. The police are brought in and Philo Vance (Powell) as well. As they begin to unravel what’s happened in the dilapidated manor more bodies begin to appear asking the question, who is killing the Greenes.
What The Greene Murder Case lacks in plot and mystery more than makes up for in characters. Vance as a character has many more dastardly types to bounce off of in this entry than the original. This only helps the film which even at its diminished run time could have worn thin with its obvious mysterious killer. There’s a sharper more acidic wit at play in this film than the prior or even in the next film Powell starred in.
The Benson Murder Case
The fourth entry in the series but the third Powell starred in (he would eventually make one more The Kennel Murder Case) has a great hook though not as stylish as The Greene Murder Case. Powell makes this a good time to be had.
As the stock market crashes greedy stockbroker Harry Gray (William Boyd) manages to embezzle three of his client’s money with no recourse. To celebrate he parties it up and ends up at his country estate where he is murdered. All three of his victims are now suspects. Luckily for everyone, Vance (Powell) manages to be “in the neighborhood” to solve it all.
This is the least of the entries, stretching the least amount of creditability the series had with the magical appearance of Vance at the right moment to solve everything. This entry in the series will test your patience because of how lazy everything seems. The Benson Murder Case isn’t as witty and stylish production design as The Greene Murder Case nor does it have the attention-grabbing mystery The Canary Murder Case has. We are left with Powell who is good but himself seems distracted by the convivence of the plot.
One does wish they found something to hook an audience with this entry. As it stands The Benson Murder Case remains a rather pedestrian entry into the series.
The Transfer(s)
The all-new 4K Restoration of The Canary Murder Case, all-new 4K Restoration of The Greene Murder Case, and 2K Restoration of The Benson Murder Case are all winning versions of these films. It should be noted that by the very nature of films that are almost 100 years old the image is not perfect. The wear and tear of life and time is present on each of these transfers but nowhere near older iterations of these films. In other formats these films have been positively murky experiences with little to no definition and clarity throughout. This has been reserved in each of the three films. Each beautifully rendered in high definition.
The Extras
They include the following;
The all-new Audio Commentary for The Canary Murder Case by Novelist/Critic Kim Newman and Writer/Journalist Barry Forshaw begins with introductions by the critics. Some of the details include SS VanDine’s (under his real name) criticized cinema they could not create a detective story; how this was filmed as a silent film but transferred to a sound film after its production was completed; a larger discussion of this time frame where silents went to talkies – various examples of such; a larger discussion of the history of the detectives of literature and their translations to cinema – including alternate versions of Philo Vance; the history and career of Lousie Brooks – and why she did not made the transition from Silent Films; a larger discussion of the various troupes and social norms of the era and a discussion of them in the modern era – examples are the “gold digger” troupe, the portrayal of the persons of color, and more; a larger discussion of SS VanDine – his personal life, his work, the critics of his work and more; the coded nature of Philo Vance – both in the books and the movies; the work and career William Powell – including a discussion of this series of roles; the various other versions of Philo Vance and their quality; and much more.
The all-new Audio Commentary for The Green Murder Case by Novelist/Critic Kim Newman and Writer/Journalist Barry Forshaw continue their discussion of Philo Vance discussion with this track. Some of the details include the continuity of the first three novels – though the confusing nature of the film series; the great visual style and production design of the film; the plot and mystery – and criticisms of the lack of originality; the difference between the novel and film adaptation, not the story; the “old dark house” troupe that the story is a part of – including a discussion of the various other of the time; the difference between Philo Vance in the novel and the films as played by William Powell; a discussion of the reason why the character has not transcended time – which leads to a larger conversation about the other detectives of similar ilk; a larger discussion about the nostalgia that brought back various detectives beginning in the 1970s; a larger discussion of the various IP and the exchanging of the rights changing hands within the studios and how much this has changed; and much more.
The all-new Audio Commentary for The Benson Murder Case by Professor and Film Scholar Jason A. Ney introduces himself and discusses the first novel in the Vance novels. Some of the details include the work of Director Frank Tuttle – including a discussion of his filmography and the style he developed previously; the stock crash – which was very timely once it was released in April 1930; the fact that the Vance films were B-Pictures; the true historical definition of what a B-Picture was; the work and career of screenwriter Bartlett Cormack; the issues with sound on this film – an explanation of why this occurred; the creation of a Spanish language release – a larger discussion of the history of making non-English language versions, including a discussion of the two versions of 1931’s Dracula (from Universal); a larger discussion of Pre-Code era and what was allowed and not allowed in that era; a discussion of the life and career of SS VanDine; the character of Philo Vance as written in the novel and how William Powell’s performance changed that; and much more.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Blackmail (1:16); Lucky Jordan (1:36); The Hour Before Dawn (2:10)
The Final Thought
Kino Lorber’s Philo Vance Collection shows how the label continues to release wonderful releases filled with special features. Highest Recommendations!
Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray edition of the Philo Vance Collection is out now
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