William Powell brings detective Philo Vance--the dashing and witty protagonist of a series of popular mystery novels by S.S. Van Dine--to full and vibrant life onscreen in Michael Curtiz's THE KENNEL MURDER CASE. Vance senses foul play at a Long Island kennel club, where two brothers with membership in the club have been killed. The worldly detective's partner in the quest to solve the mystery is the humorously zealous Sergeant Ernest Health (Eugene Pallette). The ever-adaptable Vance manages to indulge his love for canines while trying to deduce who the killer is before he or she strikes again.

Mary Astor and Paul Cavanaugh give enjoyable performances as young lovers who are blissfully oblivious to their potential involvement in the crimes. Powell's Philo Vance is as smooth as vintage cognac, and Curtiz (THE SEA HAWK) flawlessly weaves sophisticated comedy into the thrilling tale of murder and intrigue.