After four movies the role of Philo Vance had been given to Warren William in place of the incomparable William Powell. William Powell wasn't done solving crimes (he'd do so in other movies), he was just done as Philo Vance.
In "The Dragon Murder Case," a man named Monty Montagu (George Meeker) was murdered in a pool at the Stamm's estate. There were myths about the possibility of him being killed by a dragon, but that was hardly likely. The absurd hypothesis was supported a bit by the presence of three-toed footprints at the bottom of the pool Monty was killed in. Like all murder mysteries that occur on an estate with several guests, there were several suspects.
The most obvious suspects were Greef (William B. Davidson) and Dale Leland (Lyle Talbot). Both of them were underwater in the pool after Monty dove in. Truly strange was that Greef went underwater, swimming in Monty's direction, immediately after Monty dove in. When Monty didn't resurface after his dive Dale called the police.
Also present at the Stamm estate were Bernice (Margaret Lindsay), who was engaged to Monty; Mrs. Stamm (Helen Lowell), who was deemed crazy; Rudolph Stamm (Robert Barrat), who was drunk; Ruby Steele (Dorothy Tree), and Ken Tatum (George E. Stone).
As the Philo Vance movies go, either D. A. Markham (Robert McWade) or Sgt. Heath (Eugene Pallette) drag Philo Vance into the criminal investigation (except in "The Benson Murder Case" when Philo was present at the time of a murder). Eugene Pallette is the only holdover from the very first Philo Vance movie: "The Canary Murder Case."
It was a bit weird seeing Warren William as Philo Vance. I like Warren William, but I was so used to William Powell in the role. I don't think his presence detracted from my enjoyment of the movie, I just wish the murder mystery itself was better. We knew that no "dragon" had killed Monty, therefore I think it would've been better had all clues been of the obvious human variety all along.
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In "The Dragon Murder Case," a man named Monty Montagu (George Meeker) was murdered in a pool at the Stamm's estate. There were myths about the possibility of him being killed by a dragon, but that was hardly likely. The absurd hypothesis was supported a bit by the presence of three-toed footprints at the bottom of the pool Monty was killed in. Like all murder mysteries that occur on an estate with several guests, there were several suspects.
The most obvious suspects were Greef (William B. Davidson) and Dale Leland (Lyle Talbot). Both of them were underwater in the pool after Monty dove in. Truly strange was that Greef went underwater, swimming in Monty's direction, immediately after Monty dove in. When Monty didn't resurface after his dive Dale called the police.
Also present at the Stamm estate were Bernice (Margaret Lindsay), who was engaged to Monty; Mrs. Stamm (Helen Lowell), who was deemed crazy; Rudolph Stamm (Robert Barrat), who was drunk; Ruby Steele (Dorothy Tree), and Ken Tatum (George E. Stone).
As the Philo Vance movies go, either D. A. Markham (Robert McWade) or Sgt. Heath (Eugene Pallette) drag Philo Vance into the criminal investigation (except in "The Benson Murder Case" when Philo was present at the time of a murder). Eugene Pallette is the only holdover from the very first Philo Vance movie: "The Canary Murder Case."
It was a bit weird seeing Warren William as Philo Vance. I like Warren William, but I was so used to William Powell in the role. I don't think his presence detracted from my enjoyment of the movie, I just wish the murder mystery itself was better. We knew that no "dragon" had killed Monty, therefore I think it would've been better had all clues been of the obvious human variety all along.
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