The Kennel Murder Case

Probably the best of all the Philo Vance mysteries (from the series by SS van Dine), with Powell as the super-suave private eye investigating a suicide that turns out to be murder. The plot is fairly preposterous, but Powell brings just enough credibility to the task to make the film at once ingenious and entertaining. In all there were a dozen Philo Vance novels, and many more films featuring the character (The Kennel Murder Case was remade only seven years later as Calling Philo Vance), but this one is vintage.