Calling Philo Vance (1940)

This remake of "The Kennel Murder Case" (the bulk of the film) and "Private Detective 62" (all the introductory sequences) offers quite passable entertainment for those of us who haven't yet had the pleasure of seeing William Powell in both these wonderful films directed by Michael Curtiz. This one is directed efficiently but somewhat less effectively by William Clemens. The best thing about it is Jimmy Conlin who does more amusingly by Doctor Doremus than did Etienne Girardot in the original adaptation of the S.S. Van Dine thriller. Edward Brophy is also a joy. On the other hand, James Stephenson who gave such a great performance opposite Bette Davis in "The Letter" (1940) makes a very disappointing Philo Vance. In fact, he was miscast. His accent is all wrong for a start, a problem that Stephenson himself seems acutely aware of. Instead of making Vance a debonair detective (William Powell style), he turns him into a stuffed shirt. Both his expressionless facial activity and his reading of his lines signally lack charisma. But at least you can hear him clearly. He doesn't mumble like many present-day leads, but a stuffed-shirt hero is also a deadly dull hero.

This is a remake of the "Kennel Murder Case" with Philo Vance (James Stephenson) going after some U.S. airplane plans sold to a foreign nation; the designer of the plans and his brother both wind up murdered, and there are plenty of suspects.William Powell was probably the best Philo Vance - he had the requisite charm. Stephenson, who started in films late in life after stage work, was on his way to a big career when he made "Calling Philo Vance" - unfortunately, he died the next year, at the age of 53. As with "The Dragon Murder Case" with Warren William as Vance, the supporting players have the good lines and the energetic roles. Stephenson doesn't have a lot to work with, but he's okay.Parts of this film are interesting, it's a little better than "The Dragon Murder Case," which isn't really saying much.

Archer Coe makes airplane designs all by him self and keeps them at home in an easily accessible form. All his friends and neighbors want them even if they do not know what an airplane is. One morning Archer is found dead in a locked room. Yep it was suicide, or was it.Everyone could have do it if they could get inside the room many we find out are foreign agents or just unscrupulous. There is even a buyer from England.Be sure to watch the original film first.This film is not an update of "The Kennel Club Case" (1933). It is a cheep wartime substitute. It is worth obtaining as a contrast and compare movie in your collection. However it strains itself to cram "plain plan" in every time it should say money.James Stephenson makes a snotty Philo Vance with no passing or charm. He makes you wish he was the victim.

Spoilers herein.There are two kinds of films: those that simply talk to you, and those that have an engaging conversation of some type. There are an amazing number and variety of the second type, with the prototype being the detective story. In its pure form it is an intimate wrestling match for control over what happens next in your imagination. This is interesting because it is something in between. The detective story is very clever in the situation it presents. But it is not given as a game, instead all we can do and watch as the story surprises us with its various confabulations. Its titillating being on the edge.Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.