Calling Philo Vance

Calling Philo Vance
theatrical poster
Directed by	William Clemens
Produced by	Brian Foy (assoc. prod; uncredited)'
Screenplay by	Tom Reed
Based on	The Kennel Murder Case (1933 novel) by S. S. Van Dine
Starring	James Stephenson Margot Stevenson
Cinematography	L. Wm. O'Connell
Edited by	Benjamin Liss Louis Lindsay
Production company	Warner Bros.
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release dates	February 3, 1940 (US)
Running time	62 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Calling Philo Vance is a 1940 American mystery/comedy released by Warner Bros. and starring James Stephenson as the dilettante detective Philo Vance, his only appearance as the character; Margot Stevenson co-stars. The film also features Henry O'Neill, Edward Brophy, Sheila Bromley and Ralph Forbes. It was directed by William Clemens from a screeenplay by Tom Reed, based on the 1933 novel The Kennel Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine, which had previously been made into a film in 1933, starring William Powell and Mary Astor.

For this adaptation of the story, Vance is on international assignment from 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 each film.

Cast

James Stephenson as Philo Vance Margot Stevenson as Hilda Lake Henry O'Neill as J.P. Markham Edward Brophy as Ryan Sheila Bromley as Doris Delafield Ralph Forbes as Tom McDonald Don Douglas as Philip Wrede Martin Kosleck as Gamble

Jimmy Conlin as Dr. Doremus Edward Raquello as Eduardo Grassi Creighton Hale as Du Bois Harry Strang as Markham's assistant Richard Kipling as Archer Coe Wedgwood Nowell as Brisbane Coe Bo Ling as Ling Toy

Cast notes:

• Warner Bros. intended to revitalize the Philo Vance series with British stage actor James Stephenson, but Stephenson never played the part again – he died of a heart attack in 1941.^[1]
• Actors George Reeves, known for playing "Superman" on television in the 1950s, and William Hopper, noted for playing "Paul Drake" on the Perry Mason TV series in the 1950s-60s, both played small roles in the film.^[1]
• Vance's dog, "McTavish", was played by Terry, who also played "Toto" in The Wizard of Oz.^[2]

Production

Calling Philo Vance had the working titles "Philo Vance Comes Back" and "Philo Vance Returns".^[3]

References

Notes

1. Smith, Richard Harland. "Calling Philo Vance" (article) on TCM.com
2. "Terry (III)" on IMDB.com
3. "Notes" on TCM.com

External links

• Calling Philo Vance at the Internet Movie Database
• Calling Philo Vance at the TCM Movie Database