philo vance ( william powell ) help solve multiple murder among the wealthy after a dog show . usually i hate overly convolute mystery ( like this ) but i love this movie . it move very quickly ( only 72 minute ) and be beautifully direct by michael curtiz ( he use ton of camera trick that just speed the narrative along ) and have a very ingenious story line ( include a solution to a locked room murder that be just incredible ) and have a very good cast . powell be very suave and great a vance he doesn not seem to be act he be vance . mary astor isn not give much to do but she add class and beauty to the production . everybody else be very good too and but best of all be eugene pallette a detective heath . he a very good actor with a very distinctive voice and some of his line be hilarious . basically and an excellent 1930s hollywood murder mystery . well worth see .