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The Benson Murder Case

  • 19301930
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 5m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
407
YOUR RATING
William Powell in The Benson Murder Case (1930)
CrimeMysteryThriller
A ruthless, crooked stockbroker is murdered at his luxurious country estate, and detective Philo Vance just happens to be there; he decides to find out who killed him.A ruthless, crooked stockbroker is murdered at his luxurious country estate, and detective Philo Vance just happens to be there; he decides to find out who killed him.A ruthless, crooked stockbroker is murdered at his luxurious country estate, and detective Philo Vance just happens to be there; he decides to find out who killed him.
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
407
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Frank Tuttle
  • Writers
    • S.S. Van Dine(novel)
    • Bartlett Cormack(scenario)
  • Stars
    • William Powell
    • William 'Stage' Boyd
    • Eugene Pallette
  • Director
    • Frank Tuttle
  • Writers
    • S.S. Van Dine(novel)
    • Bartlett Cormack(scenario)
  • Stars
    • William Powell
    • William 'Stage' Boyd
    • Eugene Pallette
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos12

    William Powell, Mischa Auer, William 'Stage' Boyd, and Natalie Moorhead in The Benson Murder Case (1930)
    Natalie Moorhead and Richard Tucker in The Benson Murder Case (1930)
    William Powell, E.H. Calvert, and Eugene Pallette in The Benson Murder Case (1930)
    William Powell and Natalie Moorhead in The Benson Murder Case (1930)
    William Powell and Natalie Moorhead in The Benson Murder Case (1930)
    William Powell and Natalie Moorhead in The Benson Murder Case (1930)
    William Powell and Paul Lukas in The Benson Murder Case (1930)
    William Powell, E.H. Calvert, Eugene Pallette, and Richard Tucker in The Benson Murder Case (1930)
    The Benson Murder Case (1930)
    William Powell, Paul Lukas, and Eugene Pallette in The Benson Murder Case (1930)
    William Powell in The Benson Murder Case (1930)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Powell
    William Powell
    • Philo Vance
    William 'Stage' Boyd
    William 'Stage' Boyd
    • Harry Gray
    • (as William Boyd)
    Eugene Pallette
    Eugene Pallette
    • Sgt. Ernest Heath
    Paul Lukas
    Paul Lukas
    • Adolph Mohler
    Natalie Moorhead
    Natalie Moorhead
    • Fanny Del Roy
    Richard Tucker
    Richard Tucker
    • Anthony Benson
    May Beatty
    May Beatty
    • Mrs. Paula Banning
    E.H. Calvert
    E.H. Calvert
    • Dist. Atty. John F.X. Markham
    Mischa Auer
    Mischa Auer
    • Albert Brecker
    • (uncredited)
    Perry Ivins
    • Print Dealer
    • (uncredited)
    Charles McMurphy
    Charles McMurphy
    • Detective Burke
    • (uncredited)
    Guy Oliver
    Guy Oliver
    • Captain Hagedorn
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Rush
    • Detective Welch
    • (uncredited)
    Otto Yamaoka
    Otto Yamaoka
    • Sam
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Frank Tuttle
    • Writers
      • S.S. Van Dine(novel)
      • Bartlett Cormack(scenario)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The screen rights for the original 1926 source novel, the first in the Philo Vance series, was purchased by Paramount from author S.S. Van Dine for $17,500.
    • Connections
      Alternate-language version of El cuerpo del delito (1930)

    User reviews13

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    The Benson Murder Case
    This is a fast-paced, standard mystery from the Philo Vance catalog. I just picked up the first three with William Powell and this was probably just slightly the best of that original trio. 'The Canary Murder Case was mostly of interest due to the presence of Louise Brooks, who was so poorly dubbed, one can only treasure some nice shots of her beautiful face. The Greene Murder Case was nearly as static, but had more atmosphere than Canary or even this one. The problem with those two more than their innate stiffness, is that the mysteries are so poor and immediately predictable that they may be the worst mysteries I have seen from early Hollywood.

    The Benson Murder Case has similar faults, but by 1930 the sound technology had improved enough that it moves much better than the previous two. The mystery is more of a challenge for Philo Vance and he proves that he is not only up to the challenge, but he hammers it all home in a satisfying finale. Frank Tuttle, a veteran of the previous two, directed this one and does a competent, but unremarkable job. It has less atmosphere than Greene, but thankfully is a more interesting mystery. Also, Distict Attorney Markham is strangely very angry for most of this film. Eugene Palette is his usual, boisterous self as Sergeant Heath.

    Paramount stopped making Vance movies after this one, but had prepared S.S. Van Dine's "The Scarab Murder Case" for William Powell. They even created an advance poster for this film that was sadly not made. Had Powell not made another Vance film after this, his legacy as a great screen detective would remain intact, but he came back one more time to play Vance in Warner's The Kennel Murder Case in 1933, which would easily trump all his previous efforts, and ultimately be the best Philo Vance film. But, if you crave William Powell as a screen detective, add this rarity to your list - It's a solid, workman-like picture, lacking in style, but ample in entertainment for the classic mystery fan.
    helpful•20
    1
    • the_mysteriousx
    • Jul 17, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 13, 1930 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Benson-mysteriet
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

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