The Kennel Murder Case -- October 8, 2026

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Tuesday night we watched a favorite movie, The Kennel Murder Case. I was surprised to notice that I never wrote about it, or the main character, Philo Vance, in this blog. I am probably one of the few people alive who has read any of S S Van Dine's Philo Vance novels. I did not read The Kennel Murder Case. 

Director Michael Curtiz made The Kennel Murder Case in 1933. It was shot with many unusual angles. My wife loves the dogs, but the cat had no comment. 

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I liked the way Vance explained the murder by using two beautifully detailed models of the Archer house and the apartment house next door. Using diagrams or models was a regular feature in Van Dine's Vance novels.

Tracy and Loy -- 05-October-2026

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We dialed by TCM and they were showing Libeled Lady. My wife liked the way Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy worked together. She asked if they had been in another movies together. I thought there was at least one, but I could not remember the title. The imdb told me they included Test Pilot, which I have seen and Whipsaw, which I don't think I have seen.

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Life With Father -- May 10, 2020

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Happy Mothers' Day, everyone. I'm grateful for my mother and my wife and my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law and cousins and friends. All excellent mothers.

I always enjoy watching Life With Father.  Father, played by William Powell, thought he was in charge, but Mother, played by Irene Dunne, was really in charge.

Diana Lewis 100 -- September 18, 2019

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Actress and singer Diana Lewis was born 100 years ago today, on 18-September-1919.  In 1940, she married William Powell and they stayed married until his death in 1984.

Grauman's Chinese -- William Powell and Myrna Loy -- March 1, 2017

In July, 2012 we paid a return visit to Hollywood and Grauman's Chinese Theater.  Sid Grauman was a San Francisco showman who came to Los Angeles and built three major houses, the Million Dollar, the Egyptian, and the Chinese. The theater has hosted many film premieres, but is most famous for the hand and footprints (and hoofprints and nose prints and other types of prints) in the forecourt.

William Powell and Myrna Loy played together in many movies, including the Thin Man series.   They both left their hand and foot prints on 20-October-1936.  This was around the time of the release of Libeled Lady with Powell, Loy and Jean Harlow.

Powell's "Sid old boy, I am happy to put my foot into it for you" sounds very much like something he would say in a movie.  Loy's "To Sid who gave me my first job" remembers her time performing in live action prologues at Grauman's Egyptian up the street.

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William Powell 125 -- January 29, 2017

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Actor William Powell, who has always been a favorite of mine, was born 125 years ago today, on 29-January-1892.

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He was married to Carole Lombard for a while.  After the divorce, they remained friendly and starred together in My Man Godfrey.

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Many people thought he was married to Myrna Loy.  They made many movies together.  The Thin Man movies are my favorites.  Nick and Nora really loved each other.

New Movie, March, 1930

I also enjoyed the movies where he played snooty detective Philo Vance. 

Nick Charles -- June 19, 2016

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Happy Fathers' Day to all my fellow fathers. I miss my dad.  And I miss my father-in-law. I haven't had anyone to buy a card for for a long time. 

I think my favorite movie dad is William Powell's Nick Charles in the Thin Man series, inspired by Dashiell Hammett's novel. Nick and Nora really loved each other. Nick had some points in common with my dad: He was very smart, he could be very sarcastic, and he always enjoyed a martini.

Nick and Nora -- May 10, 2015

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Happy Mothers' Day, everyone.  I'm grateful for my mother and my wife and my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law and cousins and friends. All excellent mothers.
One of my favorite movie moms was Myrna Loy  in the Thin Man series, inspired by Dashiell Hammett's novel. Nick and Nora really loved each other.