The Greene Murder Case (film)

The Greene Murder Case is a 1929 talking film produced and released by Paramount Pictures and based on the novel The Greene Murder Case, by S.S. Van Dine (Willard Huntington Wright). The novel had been published a year before this film was made. It stars William Powell in his second Philo Vance outing. Florence Eldridge and Jean Arthur costar.

The Greene Murder Case
Directed by	Frank Tuttle
Written by	Louise Long (screenplay) Richard H. Digges Jr. (intertitles,silent version)
Based on	The Greene Murder Case 1928 novel by S.S. Dine
Produced by	B. P. Schulberg
Starring	William Powell Florence Eldridge Jean Arthur
Cinematography	Henry Gerrard
Edited by	Verna Willis
Music by	Karl Hajos
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	August 11, 1929 (1929-08-11)
Running time	69 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

In 1937, the film was remade as Night of Mystery.

Plot

The Greene Murder Case is a murder mystery centred around the wealthy and dysfunctional Greene family, who are forced to gather annually to fulfil the stipulations of the late patriarch's will. The family is ruled by the resentful and ailing Mrs Tobias Greene (Gertrude Norman), who holds little affection for her children, Rex (Morgan Farley), Chester (Lowell Drew), and daughter Sibella (Florence Eldridge). The children despise each other, while adopted daughter Ada (Jean Arthur) is excluded from the inheritance due to her non-blood relation. The tension within the household is palpable, with suspicions surrounding Sibella's indiscreet affair with the family's doctor, Arthur Von Blon (Ullrich Haupt Sr), and rumours that Mrs Greene's infirmity may not be as severe as it seems. The Greene family's servants, including butler Sproot (Brandon Hurst), housekeeper Gertrude Mannheim (Augusta Burmeister), and devout Hemming (Marcia Harris), also harbour their own doubts. When members of the family start being murdered, District Attorney John Markham (EH Calvert) enlists the help of amateur detective Philo Vance (William Powell), who, alongside Sergeant Ernest Heath (Eugene Pallette), must sift through the animosity and hidden motives to unmask the killer.

Cast

• William Powell - Philo Vance
• Florence Eldridge - Sibella Greene
• Ullrich Haupt, Sr. - Dr. Arthur Von Blon
• Jean Arthur - Ada Greene
• Eugene Pallette - Sgt. Ernest Heath
• E. H. Calvert - District Attorney John F. x. Markham
• Gertrude Norman - Mrs. Tobias Greene
• Lowell Drew - Chester Greene
• Morgan Farley - Rex Greene
• Brandon Hurst - Sproot
• Augusta Burmeister - Mrs. Gertrude Mannheim
• Marcia Harris - Hemming

See also

• List of early sound feature films (1926–1929)

External links

• The Greene Murder Case at IMDb.com
• The Greene Murder Case at the TCM Movie Database
• The Greene Murder Case at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
• The Greene Murder Case is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive