On G List of Movie Reviews

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The Greene Murder Case (1929)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 7/25

7/25: The Greene Murder Case is the second picture of the Philo Vance franchise.

However, the case is impossible to solve because the amateur sleuth withheld a lot of clues until the end, so it's disappointing this way. I wasn't sure if he understood spoken German. Also, if I could read the crime books on the shelf, that would help, too.

At first, I suspected the mother and Ada but had no idea of the true nature of the former's legs. Eventually, it was confirmed during autopsy. Gee, thanks for the easy way out. I wonder what everybody would do if she were still alive. That left Ada, and I had to wait to hear the rest of the evidence implicating her from Philo Vance.

I like the last fifteen minutes because of the strong black-and-white photography. The mood is certainly spooky, thanks to the murders that kept happening in the house. Jean Arthur is better this time, but William Powell is less of Philo Vance compared to how he was in The Canary Murder Case. At least, he has a good working relationship with Eugene Pallette who plays Heath.

All in all, although not as excellent as The Canary Murder Case, The Greene Murder Case is a nice, fun murder mystery film.

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