William Powell vào vai Philo Vance trong "The Kennel Murder Case" (Vụ án giết người tại chuồng chó), một bộ phim năm 1933 còn có sự tham gia của Mary Astor, Paul Cavanagh, Eugene Palette, Helen Vinson và Ralph Morgan. Một cuộc thi chó mà Philo tham gia cùng chú chó terrier Scotland của mình mang tên Captain là bối cảnh cho một vụ án bí ẩn trong phòng khóa kín với quá nhiều nghi phạm. Bí ẩn trong phim rất thông minh và sự giải thích về sau vừa phức tạp vừa thú vị. Vì thời kỳ phim nói còn khá non trẻ, nên công việc quay phim có phần tĩnh lặng, nhưng Michael Curtiz đã làm tốt công việc chỉ đạo hành động.
William Powell is Philo Vance in "The Kennel Murder Case," a 1933 film also starring Mary Astor, Paul Cavanagh, Eugene Palette, Helen Vinson and Ralph Morgan. A dog show in which Philo has entered his Scottish terrier Captain serves as the background for a locked room mystery with too many suspects. The mystery is very clever and the denouement both complicated and interesting. Since the talkies are still quite young, the camera work is a little static, but Michael Curtiz does a good job directing the action.<br /><br />The supporting cast is excellent; the entire cast brings the film up a notch. Lots of actors have played Philo Vance, including Paul Lukas, Basil Rathbone, Wilford Hyde-White, Edmund Lowe, James Stephenson, Alan Curtis, Warren William and others. Powell played it the most (five times) and is the best fit for the role - very relaxed but serious at the same time. This was made before "The Thin Man" catapulted him to big stardom - he had spent about 12 years in film by then, beginning his career on stage in 1912 at the age of 20. A remarkable man, a remarkable screen presence and a remarkable actor who lived to be nearly 92. We're so lucky to have his films available on DVD and on TCM today. "The Kennel Murder Case" is a great story and a fun film - don't miss it.