Murder Mysteries
An unpleasant (or rich , or a troublemaker ) person , various people he annoys who become suspects , a detective - police or amateur , who brings all the suspects together at the end - with or without saying "I bet you're wondering why I brought you all here " .
Not all murder films fit the formula , these are ones that do .
Not all murder films fit the formula , these are ones that do .
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- DirectorMalcolm St. ClairFrank TuttleStarsWilliam PowellJean ArthurJames HallA beautiful showgirl, nicknamed 'the Canary', is a scheming nightclub singer. Blackmailing is her game and soon ends up dead. But who killed 'the Canary'. All the suspects who knew her had been used by her. The only witness to the crime was also killed. Only one man, debonair detective, Philo Vance, might be able to figure out who silenced 'the Canary'.
- DirectorFrank TuttleStarsWilliam PowellFlorence EldridgeUllrich HauptAt the end of each year, the extremely wealthy but odious Greene family gets together at the spooky old family castle to establish terms of a will, though they despise each other. This year, they start being mysteriously murdered one by one, and the police use Philo Vance to examine the clues and suspects.
- DirectorFrank TuttleStarsWilliam PowellWilliam 'Stage' BoydEugene PalletteA ruthless, crooked stockbroker is murdered at his luxurious country estate, and detective Philo Vance just happens to be there. He decides to find out who killed him.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsWilliam PowellMary AstorEugene PallettePhilo Vance, accompanied by his prize-losing Scottish terrier, investigates the locked-room murder of a prominent and much-hated collector whose broken Chinese vase provides an important clue.
- DirectorH. Bruce HumberstoneStarsWarren WilliamMargaret LindsayLyle TalbotThe Stamm family gives a small party prior to daughter Bernice's marriage to socialite Monty, but all of the guests seem to be against the match.
- DirectorEdwin L. MarinStarsEdmund LoweVirginia BruceBenita HumeTwo people with ties to rich murdered socialite Lowe Hammle die from unusual suicides but Vance suspects hypnosis and foul play.
- DirectorMichael HankinsonStarsWilfrid Hyde-WhiteWally PatchKathleen KellyPhilo Vance comes to England to investigate the murder of a millionaire.
- DirectorEwald André DupontStarsGrant RichardsRoscoe KarnsHelen BurgessPhilo Vance investigates a series of murders among members of the Greene family, in this remake.
- DirectorAlfred E. GreenStarsGracie AllenWarren WilliamEllen DrewThe zany plot follows nitwit Gracie Allen trying to help master sleuth Philo Vance solve a murder. Allen's uncle fixes her up with Bill at a company picnic. When the two go out to a nightclub that night, Gracie inadvertently links Bill to the murder of a thug after finding the dead body and Bill's cigarette case at the scene of the crime. While being questioned at the club, she meets Vance who's investigating the homicide. After Gracie's bungled attempts to solve the case, Vance decides it might be easier to have her working with him. Despite Gracie's "help," the two eventually find the real killer.
- DirectorWilliam ClemensStarsJames StephensonMargot StevensonHenry O'NeillDespite an exclusive contract with the U.S. government, designer Archer Coe's design is being bid on by German, Japanese, and Italian agents - until he's murdered.
- DirectorWilliam BeaudineStarsWilliam WrightVivian AustinLeon BelascoPlayboy Larry Blendon (Damian O'Flynn) introduces his grandmother Stella Blendon (Clara Blandick) to his fiancee, radio singer Virginia Berneaux (Ramsay Ames). Despite Larry's record of broken romances and divorces, Virginia decides she will marry him. Virginia is slain that night and Blandon telephones his friend Philo Vance (William Wright) to help find the killer. Even as they talk, the killer strikes again and Philo hears Larry fall dead. Philo begins his investigation with Alexis Karnoff (Leon Belasco), Virginia's manager, and the two go to Larry's home, where Stella tells them that the motive for the killing might be Larry's will that names the six women in his life as heirs and if any die before the will is probated, the others will divide the shares. They also learn that Katherine Corbett (Phyllis Planchard), the first of Larry's wives, has been murdered. Suspicion now falls on Lorena Sims (Vivian Austin), a former wife who has been a patient at a sanitarium suffering from a nervous ailment. All of the deaths have been by poison and Lorena had access to it at the sanitarium. Philo uncovers another piece of information that leads him to break into the Blandon home just as Stella is about to give Lorena a glass of warm milk.
- DirectorBasil WrangellStarsAlan CurtisVivian AustinFrank JenksPhilo goes after a gang of murderous jewel thieves.
- DirectorReginald Le BorgStarsAlan CurtisSheila RyanTala BirellPublisher Martin Jamison sends for Philo Vance as he wants to hire him as a technical advisor on the crime stories he publishes. Paul Morgan, Jamison's partner, regards the plan as foolish. Jamison tells his secretary Mona Bannister to bring Vance to his home that night and he will reveal the solution to the seven-year mystery of the killing of Haddon Phillips, former partner in the firm. Phillips ex-wife, now a receptionist for the company, is alarmed when she overhears. As Vance and Mona drive up, two shots are heard and Jamison's body is later found in the trunk of Vance's car.
- DirectorHamilton MacFaddenStarsWarner OlandJohn GarrickMarguerite ChurchillCharlie steps in to solve the murder of a wealthy American found dead in a London hotel. Settings include London, Nice, San Remo, Honolulu, and Hong Kong. Fast-paced with lots of wisecracking.
- DirectorHamilton MacFaddenStarsWarner OlandSally EilersBela LugosiThe unsolved murder of a Hollywood actor several years earlier and an enigmatic psychic are the keys to help Charlie solve the Honolulu stabbing death of a beautiful actress.
- DirectorJohn G. BlystoneStarsWarner OlandAlexander KirklandH.B. WarnerCharlie is the intended murder victim here, and he avoids death only by chance. To find the murderer (since, of course, murder does occur), Charlie must outguess Scotland Yard and New York City police.
- DirectorHamilton MacFaddenStarsWarner OlandHeather AngelRoger ImhofWhen a good-for-nothing man named Dan is stabbed to death and his arm broken, Charlie Chan is on the case. His first clue comes from the victim's sister, who noticed a prowler wearing a glow-in-the-dark wristwatch.
- DirectorEugene FordeGeorge HaddenStarsWarner OlandDrue LeytonDonald WoodsCharlie is hired to deliver a pearl necklace to a millionaire at his ranch. When murder intervenes he disguises himself as a Chinese servant and begins sleuthing.
- DirectorEugene FordeStarsWarner OlandDrue LeytonRay MillandCharlie visits a wealthy country home in England. Suspects in the murder range from a housekeeper, to a stableman, to a lawyer.
- DirectorLewis SeilerHamilton MacFaddenStarsWarner OlandMary BrianThomas BeckHired to investigate forged bonds, Charlie is thwarted by the murder of his undercover agent, but the arrival of son Lee helps him uncover the true culprits.
- DirectorLouis KingStarsWarner OlandPat PatersonThomas BeckWhile investigating the theft of antiquities from an ancient tomb excavation, Charlie discovers the body of the expedition's leader concealed inside the mummy's wrappings.
- DirectorJames TinlingStarsWarner OlandIrene HerveyJon HallWhen a prominent official is murdered at a banquet honoring Charle Chan, the detective and son Lee team up to expose an opium-smuggling ring.
- DirectorGordon WilesStarsWarner OlandRosina LawrenceCharles QuigleyThe heir to a huge fortune is presumed drowned, then shows up, is then murdered.
- DirectorHarry LachmanStarsWarner OlandKeye LukeGeorge BrasnoWhile visiting the circus with his family, Charlie is recruited by the big top's co-owner to investigate threatening letters that he's received.
- DirectorH. Bruce HumberstoneStarsWarner OlandKeye LukeHelen WoodWhen a friend of Charlie's is found kicked to death by his own race horse on board a Honolulu-bound liner, the detective discovers foul play and uncovers an international gambling ring.