This is a well above average murder mystery that finds amateur detective "Philo Vance" (William Powell), and his Scots terrier, called in to investigate the curious case of a wealthy man who has apparently shot himself whilst locked in his study. The coroner, however, casts doubt on the simplicity of the suicide theory, and when the man's brother is found dead too - we have a cracking little enigma to solve. There are a few twists and turns as many of the characters seem quite likely suspects and Eugene Pallette ("Detective Heath") adds well to the pace of this quite quirky whodunit as a policeman in the ("Lestrade") vein. The ending is a bit contrived, but it's still a good watch.

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