Philo Vance (William Powell) competes in a show dog competition at Long Island Kennel Club. Hilda Lake (Mary Astor) is frustrated by her uncle Archer Coe who controls her share of the family fortune. A dog is killed. Coe is shot dead in a presumed suicide. Vance does not believe that Coe has the mentality to kill himself. He cancels his trip to Italy and gets the police to reopen the investigation.
This is a solid mystery film from the early talkie era. It has the foresight to cast William Powell as the sly amateur sleuth. He simply fits the role which he would do over and over again. He's a dapper Sherlock Holmes. The mystery is rather old fashion. It would be nice for him to get a partner and the dog doesn't count. From that early scene, I assumed that he would be paired up with Mary Astor for the whole movie. Powell is such a better actor with a smart dame by his side.
This is a solid mystery film from the early talkie era. It has the foresight to cast William Powell as the sly amateur sleuth. He simply fits the role which he would do over and over again. He's a dapper Sherlock Holmes. The mystery is rather old fashion. It would be nice for him to get a partner and the dog doesn't count. From that early scene, I assumed that he would be paired up with Mary Astor for the whole movie. Powell is such a better actor with a smart dame by his side.