THE GREENE MURDER CASE

US, 1929, 68 Minutes, Black and white.
William Powell, Florence Eldridge, Jean Arthur.
Directed by Frank Tuttle.

The Greene Murder Case is based on a Philo Vance novel by S.S.Vine. There were several films based on the series, four with William Powell: The Canary Murder Case, The Greene Murder Case, The Benson Murder Case, The Kennel Murder Case. Other actors have taken on the role including James Stephenson in 1940, Calling Philo Vance, as well as Warren William and Paul Lukas.

This is an early silent film. It creaks more than a little in its style, drawing on theatrical and stage conventions rather than cinema style. It is an interesting murder mystery, murder in a locked room. There are several suspects, brothers and sisters (with secret paternity issues), a harridan of a bed-ridden mother, all members of a family, but also a doctor, a lawyer and maid with the German background. And then further members of the family are murdered. The least likely of the suspects is found to be the villain, cold and calculating while putting on a front of innocence. It is an early role for Jean Arthur who was to be a strong screen presence in the 1930s and 40s as well as in Shane. Of interest, Frederick March’s wife, Florence Eldridge plays one of the sisters in the film.

However, this is an early role in talky films for silent film actor, William Powell. He was to become one of the most prominent stars of the 1930s, always suave, well-mannered, excellent as a rather aristocratic sleuth. His manner and style of acting in this film continued right to the 1950s, his final films, How to Marry a Millionaire, and Mr Roberts. He is the main reason for seeing this film.

Comic star, Eugene palate, appears, as he does in other Philo Vance mysteries as the rather obtuse police detective.

Director Frank Tuttle was a standard film director at Paramount from the 1920s to the 1950s. He directed such successes as Waikiki Wedding, and the Alan Ladd vehicles, This Gun for Hire and Lucky Jordan.