The Canary Murder Case (1929)

There was no shortage of suspects when conniving nightclub thrush Margaret "the Canary" O'Dell (Louise Brooks) was found throttled. When a jilting ex (James Hall) takes the fall, it's up to dapper amateur sleuth Philo Vance (William Powell) to save him from Death Row. Early Paramount talkie that served as the screen debut for S.S. Van Dine's popular literary detective also stars Jean Arthur, Eugene Pallette, Ned Sparks, Gustav von Seyffertitz. 82 min. BW/Rtg: NR

The Greene Murder Case (1929)

Though the wealthy Greene clan made no secret of their mutual contempt, their controlling patriarch made sure they spent a night together in the family manse--or get cut out of the will. The evening also found them being picked off one by one...and proving a worthy challenge to society detective Philo Vance (William Powell). Powell's second outing as Vance also stars Florence Eldridge, Jean Arthur, Eugene Pallette, E.H. Calvert. 69 min. BW/Rtg: NR

The Benson Murder Case (1930)

Having fleeced several now-poorer and angry clients, a corrupt stockbroker (Richard Tucker) was found murdered at his private hunting lodge. Can Philo Vance (William Powell) ferret out the killer from a menagerie of likely suspects? Crisp mystery from the S.S. Van Dine novel also stars Eugene Pallette, William ‘Stage’ Boyd, Natalie Moorhead, Mischa Auer, and future screen Vance Paul Lukas. 65 min. BW/Rtg: NR

Standard; Soundtrack: English; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; theatrical trailers.