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194062 minCrime, Mystery

Calling Philo Vance

Is Calling Philo Vance a Hit or Flop?

FLOP

Is Calling Philo Vance worth watching? With a rating of 5.9/10, this Crime, Mystery film is a mixed-bag for fans of the genre. Read on for our detailed analysis and user reviews.

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Calling Philo Vance Synopsis

Philo is in Vienna working for the US Government to see if Archer Coe is selling aircraft designs to foreign powers. He grabs the plans with Archer's signature, but is captured by police before he can escape. Deported he comes back to America and plans to confront Archer, but Archer is found dead in his locked bedroom with a gun in his hand. While it looks like a suicide, Vance knows better and the coroner finds that Archer has been shot, hit with a blunt instrument and stabbed - making suicide unlikely. But Vance is on the case and is looking to see if government secrets have been sold and who has murdered Coe. This is a remake of "The Kennel Murder Case" using aircraft designs and espionage instead of Chinese porcelain and dog shows.

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Top Cast

James Stephenson
James StephensonPhilo Vance
Margot Stevenson
Margot StevensonHilda Lake
Henry O'Neill
Henry O'NeillMarkham
Edward Brophy
Edward BrophyRyan
Sheila Bromley
Sheila BromleyDoris Delafield
Ralph Forbes
Ralph ForbesTom McDonald
Donald Douglas
Donald DouglasPhilip Wrede
Martin Kosleck
Martin KosleckGamble
Jimmy Conlin
Jimmy ConlinDr. Doremus - Coroner
Edward Raquello
Edward RaquelloEduardo Grassi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Calling Philo Vance worth watching?

Calling Philo Vance has received mixed reviews with a 5.9/10 rating. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Crime, Mystery movies.

Is Calling Philo Vance hit or flop?

Calling Philo Vance has received average ratings (5.9/10), performing moderately with audiences.

What genre is Calling Philo Vance?

Calling Philo Vance is a Crime, Mystery movie that Philo is in Vienna working for the US Government to see if Archer Coe is selling aircraft designs to foreign powers. He grabs the plans with Archer's ...

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Critic Reviews

CinemaSerfApr 1, 2023
★ 6

This is an adequate afternoon B-feature that probably served more as a warning against fifth-columnists than it actually entertained anyone. It all centres around attempts by the Axis powers to obtain access to the designs of "Archer Coe" (the briefest of appearances from Richard Kipling). Now he has an exclusive arrangement with the Americans so when he is found murdered, it falls to the wily, suspicions and tenacious "Vance" (James Stephenson) to find out who the killers were and on whose malevolent behalf they were working? Did they manage to steal his secret plans? Now this is just a substantial reworking of "The Kennel Murder Case" (1933) - even down to whopping great chunks of the script being transferred, albeit updated, to allow for it's WWII scenario. Although all pretty lightweight and devoid of any real sense of jeopardy, Stephenson is actually quite engaging and there is a decent supporting effort from Edward Trophy ("Ryan") delivering some fun to this rather dry, procedural, crime drama. It's only an hour, and if you like the genre then there isn't really anything not to like - or memorable - about this.