The Dragon Murder Case (1934)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

S.S. Van Dine (writer)
Rian James (adaptation)

Release Date:

25 August 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery

Plot:

Wonderful idea to give a party with people who dislike each other. Late at night, everyone decides to go into the pool...

Plot Keywords:

Dragon | Socialite | Philo Vance | Police | Duplicity

Cast

Warren William	...	Philo Vance
Margaret Lindsay	...	Bernice Stamm
Lyle Talbot	...	Dale Leland
Eugene Pallette	...	Sergeant Ernest Heath
Helen Lowell	...	Mrs. Stamm
Robert McWade	...	District Attorney John F.X. Markham
Robert Barrat	...	Rudolph Stamm
Dorothy Tree	...	Ruby Steele
George E. Stone	...	Tatum
Etienne Girardot	...	Dr. Doremus
George Meeker	...	Monty Montague
Robert Warwick	...	Dr. Halliday
William B. Davidson	...	Greeff (as William Davidson)
Arthur Aylesworth	...	Trainor - Stamm's Butler
Charles C. Wilson	...	Hennessey (as Charles Wilson)

Runtime:

67 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #104) | Finland:K-16

Company:

First National Pictures

Quotes:

Dr. Doremus: Ernest, it's clear that you don't know much about women. Now I'll tell you, women are, generally speaking -
Sergeant Ernest Heath: You certainly said it! They ARE generally speaking!

Movie Connections:

Followed by Calling Philo Vance (1940)

All the Suspects Look Fishy!

S. S. Van Dine's sophisticated, witty, "gentleman" detective Philo Vance is back once again in this murder mystery about a group of rich people who have hidden/outward dislikes for each other attending a party and then deciding to take a dip in a naturally-made pool called the dragon pool. One man goes in and never comes out, and soon, with a host of suspects, Philo Vance, the district attorney, and the ever affable, blunderbuss of a policeman - Sergant Ernest Heath(Eugene Palette) arrive to take aim at cracking the mysterious disappearance and later death that is discovered. As mysteries go, this one really is not that bad, it has some real red herrings laced throughout and never gives too many obvious indications of just who the guilty party is. Warren William plays Vance and I thought he was adequate, though not in the league of previous Vance William Powell(who is?) or Basil Rathbone even before him. As with most Vance film, the best lines go to Eugene Palette who never seems to tire of making wonderful wisecracks and not thoroughly thought-out observations. The things that caught my attention more than anything else was the fish room in the palatial house with all of its aquariums. It really showed how the fish-keeping hobby had been started(through wealthy men tracking down different species abroad and bringing them back here). The collection was most impressive. A good period mystery all in all.