The Kennel Murder Case (film)

The Kennel Murder Case is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery film adapted from the 1933 novel of the same name by S. S. Van Dine. Directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Bros. Pictures, it stars William Powell and Mary Astor. Powell's role as Philo Vance is not the actor's first performance as the aristocratic sleuth; he also portrays the character in three films produced by Paramount in 1929 and 1930.

In the film, dog show competitor and fine china collector, Archer Coe, is found murdered within his own bedroom. There is a long list of suspects, since the victim had antagonized members of his family, his lover, and his employees. The corpse of the victim's brother is soon found, hidden in a coat closet. One of the other suspects survives a surprise knife attack, and the dog of Coe's neighbor is found to be seriously injured in his own house. Vance has to deduce the motives behind the attacks in order to figure out who killed Coe.