Calling Philo Vance

The story

Philo is in Vienna working for the US Government to see if Archer Coe is selling aircraft designs to foreign powers. He grabs the plans with Archer's signature, but is captured by police before he can escape. Deported he comes back to America and plans to confront Archer, but Archer is found dead in his locked bedroom with a gun in his hand. While it looks like a suicide, Vance knows better and the coroner finds that Archer has been shot, hit with a blunt instrument and stabbed - making suicide unlikely. But Vance is on the case and is looking to see if government secrets have been sold and who has murdered Coe. This is a remake of "The Kennel Murder Case" using aircraft designs and espionage instead of Chinese porcelain and dog shows.

In the same saga

Philo Vance Collection

In release order

The Canary Murder Case

1929

The Greene Murder Case

1929

The Bishop Murder Case

1929

The Benson Murder Case

1930

See all films (15)

The Kennel Murder Case

1933

The Dragon Murder Case

1934

The Casino Murder Case

1935

The Garden Murder Case

1936

The Scarab Murder Case

1936

Night of Mystery

1937

The Gracie Allen Murder Case

1939

This film

Calling Philo Vance

1940

Philo Vance's Gamble

1947

Philo Vance Returns

1947

Philo Vance's Secret Mission

1947

Cast

J James StephensonPhilo Vance M Margot StevensonHilda Lake H Henry O'NeillMarkham E Edward BrophyRyan S Sheila BromleyDoris Delafield R Ralph ForbesTom McDonald D Donald DouglasPhilip Wrede M Martin KosleckGamble J Jimmy ConlinDr. Doremus - Coroner E Edward RaquelloEduardo Grassi C Creighton HaleDu Bois - Fingerprint Man H Harry StrangHennessey - Markham's Assistant

See more cast

R Richard KiplingArcher Coe W Wedgwood NowellBrisbane Coe B Bo LingLing Toy T TerryMacTavish (uncredited) H Herbert AndersonFirst Reporter (uncredited) H Henry BlairHans Snauble (uncredited) E Egon BrecherAustrian Judge (uncredited) H Harry BurnsCapt. Lugo (uncredited) Y Yakima CanuttSorrento Sailor (uncredited) N Nat Carr2nd Photographer (uncredited) G Glen CavenderTrain Porter Asked to Send Telegram (uncredited) L Loia CheaneyMarkham's Secretary (uncredited) F Frederick GiermannAustrian Sergeant (uncredited) E Eddie GrahamCoroner's Assistant (uncredited) J John HarronThird Reporter (uncredited) S Stuart HolmesHertz (uncredited) W William HopperClerk at Hotel Nino in Chicago (uncredited) O Olaf HyttenCharles (uncredited) G George IrvingAvery (uncredited) M Marion LessingMrs. Fritz Snauble (uncredited) R Rolf LindauAeronautics Department Sentry (uncredited) F Frank MayoDoorman (uncredited) G George ReevesSteamship Clerk (uncredited) J John J. Richardson4h Reporter (uncredited) C Cliff SaumInvestigator Snitken (uncredited) H Hans SchummNazi Officer at Dock (uncredited) F Frank Wilcox2nd Reporter (uncredited) J Jack Wise1st Photographer (uncredited) M Maris WrixonLong-Distance Operator (uncredited) H Henry ZyndaAustrian Lieutenant (uncredited)