We'll go out on a limb and suggest that The Kennel Murder Case, the fifth Philo Vance novel to be filmed, is one of the very best films of its genre, and that Powell, flawlessly cast, was by far the most satisfactory of the ten players who took on the role between 1929 and 1947.... For a start, Van Dine's novel is beautifully worked out, and unlike many movie adaptations, this one follows it to the letter.... From its impressive opening titles, The Kennel Murder Case has real zip and pace. Potentially slow scenes are broken up via camera movement, interesting lighting and a stress on low angles which seem to put the audience in the position of being an eavesdropper.... The foreground dialogue is suave, polished and informative, as it should be in these mystery circles, while the background dialogue, often all but thrown away, is both naturalistic and crackling. The first reel, with its marvelous collection of suspects, positively works overtime in setting up motives for the murder, since the victim-to-be never seems to open his mouth unless it is to renege on a deal, issue a racial insult...or befoul the path of young love. William K. Everson