The Philo Vance Pre-Code Mystery Collection
Step into the golden age of cinematic sleuthing with this definitive 3-film digital archive featuring William Powell (The Thin Man) as the suave, debonair detective Philo Vance. Based on the bestselling novels by S.S. Van Dine, these essential Pre-Code murder mysteries combine aristocratic wit with dark, atmospheric suspense.
Perfect for classic film collectors, Film Noir enthusiasts, and vintage mystery lovers, this curated set has been meticulously prepared for seamless integration into your premium home media library (such as Plex or Jellyfin).
What’s Included in This Collection:
THE CANARY MURDER CASE (1929)
The Plot: A scheming Broadway showgirl known as "The Canary" turns up dead, and the only witness is silenced shortly after. Only Philo Vance stands a chance at cracking the case.
Cast & Crew: Directed by Malcolm St. Clair; co-starring screen legends Jean Arthur and Louise Brooks as the conniving Canary.
THE GREENE MURDER CASE (1929)
The Plot: Members of the wealthy but loathsome Greene family gather at a spooky, isolated castle to settle a will, only to be systematically murdered one-by-one.
Cast & Crew: Directed by Frank Tuttle; co-starring Jean Arthur and Florence Eldridge.
THE BENSON MURDER CASE (1930)
The Plot: When a ruthless, crooked stockbroker croaks at his luxurious country estate, Philo Vance happens to be on the scene to investigate a house full of suspects.
Cast & Crew: Directed by Frank Tuttle; co-starring Paul Lukas, William “Stage” Boyd, and Natalie Moorhead.
Premium Archival Technical Specifications:
This collection has been mastered with a focus on high-fidelity visual preservation, ensuring beautiful playback on modern home theaters without sacrificing the vintage grain and texture of the original films.
Video Codec: H.264 / AVC
Video Bitrate: 10000 kbps (High-bitrate archival preservation)
Audio Codec: AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)
Source Material: Mastered directly from brand-new 4K restorations (The Canary Murder Case, The Greene Murder Case) and a 2K restoration (The Benson Murder Case).
Subtitles: Optional English Subtitles included.
Special Features & Digital Extras Included:
Audio Commentary for The Canary Murder Case & The Greene Murder Case by acclaimed novelist/critic Kim Newman and writer/journalist Barry Forshaw.
Audio Commentary for The Benson Murder Case by professor and film scholar Jason A. Ney.
Delivery & Compatibility Note:
This is a premium digital media archive bundle. Files are delivered clean, meticulously tagged, and formatted to instantly match standard media server naming conventions. Compatible with Plex, Apple Devices, Android, PC, Mac, and smart TVs.
If you have any specific formatting or file container requests (such as MKV or MP4 preferences), feel free to drop a note with your order!
