Calling Philo Vance
| Calling Philo Vance | |
|---|---|
Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | William Clemens |
| Screenplay by | Tom Reed |
| Based on | The Kennel Murder Case 1933 novel by S.S. Van Dine |
| Produced by | Brian Foy (assoc. prod; uncredited |
| Starring | James Stephenson Margot Stevenson |
| Cinematography | L. William O'Connell |
| Edited by | Benjamin Liss Louis Lindsay |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 62 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Calling Philo Vance is a 1940 American mystery/comedy film produced by Warner Bros. starring James Stephenson as the dilettante detective Philo Vance, his only appearance as the character; Margot Stevenson, Henry O'Neill, Edward Brophy, Sheila Bromley and Ralph Forbes appear in support. It was directed by William Clemens from a screenplay by Tom Reed, based on the 1933 novel The Kennel Murder Case by S.S. Van Dine, which had been made into a film in 1933, starring William Powell and Mary Astor.
For this adaptation of the story, Vance is on an international assignment with the United States government to investigate traffic in wartime aircraft designs. The original story dealt with art world double-dealing, but the solution to the mystery is the same in both films. Sgt. Heath, Vance's usual police irritant, is renamed Ryan.