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IMDbPro

Calling Philo Vance

  • 19401940
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 2m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
416
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
102,568
50,633
Sheila Bromley, Edward Brophy, Jimmy Conlin, Donald Douglas, Ralph Forbes, Martin Kosleck, Henry O'Neill, James Stephenson, and Margot Stevenson in Calling Philo Vance (1940)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer0:53
1 Video
14 Photos
CrimeMysteryThriller
Despite an exclusive contract with the U.S. government, designer Archer Coe's design is being bid on by German, Japanese, and Italian agents - until he's murdered.Despite an exclusive contract with the U.S. government, designer Archer Coe's design is being bid on by German, Japanese, and Italian agents - until he's murdered.Despite an exclusive contract with the U.S. government, designer Archer Coe's design is being bid on by German, Japanese, and Italian agents - until he's murdered.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
416
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
102,568
50,633
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • William Clemens
    • Writers
      • Tom Reed(screenplay)
      • S.S. Van Dine(novel "The Kennel Murder Case")
    • Stars
      • James Stephenson
      • Margot Stevenson
      • Henry O'Neill
    Top credits
    • Director
      • William Clemens
    • Writers
      • Tom Reed(screenplay)
      • S.S. Van Dine(novel "The Kennel Murder Case")
    • Stars
      • James Stephenson
      • Margot Stevenson
      • Henry O'Neill
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:53
    Official Trailer

    Photos14

    Ralph Forbes, James Stephenson, and Margot Stevenson in Calling Philo Vance (1940)
    Edward Brophy, Henry O'Neill, and James Stephenson in Calling Philo Vance (1940)
    Donald Douglas and Ralph Forbes in Calling Philo Vance (1940)
    Calling Philo Vance (1940)
    Sheila Bromley and Edward Brophy in Calling Philo Vance (1940)
    James Stephenson in Calling Philo Vance (1940)
    Edward Brophy, Henry O'Neill, and James Stephenson in Calling Philo Vance (1940)
    Sheila Bromley and James Stephenson in Calling Philo Vance (1940)
    Edward Brophy, Henry O'Neill, James Stephenson, and Margot Stevenson in Calling Philo Vance (1940)
    Jimmy Conlin and Henry O'Neill in Calling Philo Vance (1940)
    Sheila Bromley, Edward Brophy, Jimmy Conlin, Donald Douglas, Ralph Forbes, Henry O'Neill, James Stephenson, and Margot Stevenson in Calling Philo Vance (1940)
    The Bishop Murder Case (1929)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Stephenson
    James Stephenson
    • Philo Vance
    Margot Stevenson
    Margot Stevenson
    • Hilda Lake
    Henry O'Neill
    Henry O'Neill
    • Markham
    Edward Brophy
    Edward Brophy
    • Ryan
    Sheila Bromley
    Sheila Bromley
    • Doris
    Ralph Forbes
    Ralph Forbes
    • Tom McDonald
    Donald Douglas
    Donald Douglas
    • Philip Wrede
    Martin Kosleck
    Martin Kosleck
    • Gamble
    Jimmy Conlin
    Jimmy Conlin
    • Dr. Doremus - Coroner
    • (as Jimmy Conlon)
    Edward Raquello
    Edward Raquello
    • Eduardo Grassi
    Creighton Hale
    Creighton Hale
    • Du Bois - Fingerprint Man
    Harry Strang
    Harry Strang
    • Hennessey - Markham's Assistant
    Richard Kipling
    • Archer Coe
    Wedgwood Nowell
    Wedgwood Nowell
    • Brisbane Coe
    Bo Ling
    • Ling Toy
    Herbert Anderson
    Herbert Anderson
    • First Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Henry Blair
    Henry Blair
    • Hans Snauble
    • (uncredited)
    Egon Brecher
    • Austrian Judge
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Clemens
    • Writers
      • Tom Reed(screenplay)
      • S.S. Van Dine(novel "The Kennel Murder Case")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All the scenes involving the two murdered men are taken directly from the 1933 mystery called "The Kennel Murder Case", in which William Powell played Philo Vance. In both movies, most of the dialog in the scenes pertaining to the murders and the investigation is exactly the same, word-for-word, which clearly indicates that the script from the 1933 film was adapted to the story for this film, which focuses on the thief of secret aircraft plans. However, in "The Kennel Murder Case", the plot pertains to stolen Chinese art objects.
    • Goofs
      Ralph Forbes is credited onscreen as "Tom MacDonald," but throughout the film, he is called Taylor MacDonald.
    • Quotes

      Philo Vance: You see, Markham, we have all of the parts of the puzzle, but none of them seems to fit.

    • Connections
      Featured in Inside the Dream Factory (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      I'm Happy About the Whole Thing
      (uncredited)

      Music by Harry Warren

      Played when Vance and Ryan meet Grassi in the bar

    User reviews16

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Warner Bros. programmer gives Philo Vance role to James Stephenson...
    While I do like JAMES STEPHENSON as an actor (he was excellent in THE LETTER with Bette Davis), he lacks the sort of debonair charm needed for the role of Philo Vance in CALLING PHILO VANCE. However, that's not integral to your enjoyment of this updating of "The Kennel Murder Case" which was made in '40 when the Nazis were making big strides during World War II.

    Secret stolen plans for a bomber falling into the hands of German agents is the crux of the matter here, to the tune of $250,000. The story begins with Vance accepting an assignment in Vienna where he is trying to find out whether Archer Coe is selling aircraft plans to a foreign country. But the main story begins when he's deported to the U.S., escapes authorities and returns to investigate the case for Chief Investigator Markham (HENRY O'NEILL).

    The wealthy household where Coe died in a locked room, is at first ruled as the scene of a suicide but soon evidence proves it to be a murder and there are several suspects--among them, RALPH FORBES, DONALD DOUGLAS and MARTIN KOSLECK, in an unusual role as a butler. Kosleck usually played German spies in all the Warner war films.

    Under Stanely Clements' direction, the tale moves quickly to an all too abrupt conclusion with very little explanation given for the intricate murder plot. While not exactly plausible, it does make an interesting mystery for who-dun-it fans with some clever touches in the script.

    But the main disappointment lies in not having a satisfactory actor in the Philo Vance role.
    helpful•8
    3
    • Doylenf
    • Nov 8, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 3, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Philo Vance Comes Back
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 2 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Sheila Bromley, Edward Brophy, Jimmy Conlin, Donald Douglas, Ralph Forbes, Martin Kosleck, Henry O'Neill, James Stephenson, and Margot Stevenson in Calling Philo Vance (1940)
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