Philo Vance's Gamble

I thought Philo Vance's Gamble was a very solid effort, especially for a movie that is a long way down the list of Philo Vance films done. It was a solid mystery, with a little comic relief, good acting and a better than average cast.

I have seen almost all of the Philo Vance films, and besides two or three of the early ones (Kennel Murder Case is a classic), this is one of the better films in the long running series.

Tiny, ultra-low budget PRC made three Philo Vance movies in 1947. While "Philo Vance's Gamble" was the third one released, it was the second one they made....which must have confused a few folks since the final installment (which appeared second) starred a different actor. Now considering they were made by PRC, they aren't that bad...I certainly expected much worse!

The story concerns a stolen emerald and folks who are associated with it suddenly dying. Vance is pulled into the story when the low-life trying to sell it tries to hire him and ultimately he's able to figure out who's killed who.

While this film is very simple and far from great, it is mildly interesting and reasonably well written. For fans of B-mysteries, it's worth seeing. For everyone else, it's a time-passer at best.

This is one of the two Philo Vance films starring Alan Curtis made during the waning days of PRC Pictures (see my review of the other one, PHILO VANCE'S SECRET MISSION). During this period, PRC was also making a series of Michael Shayne films starring Hugh Beaumont, and the Vance films are not unlike those (neither the Vance nor Shayne characters are much like their literary versions, but forget about that and just accept the films on their own terms and you'll enjoy them much more). Alan Curtis played both comedy (Buck Privates, Sue My Lawyer, etc.) and drama (High Sierra, Hitler's Madmen) equally well in his other work, and that skill allows him to be both convincingly tough and effortlessly witty, as this detective character requires. Terry Austin is a seductive but dangerous femme fetale, And PRC regular Frank Jenks is once again the lovable sidekick. The mystery has some clever angles (I like the cold cream and candy dispenser elements... you'll see what I mean in the actual film), there are a number of red herrings thrown in along the way to make things more interesting, and the climax is exciting. Curtis is an excellent Vance and I'm sorry he did not make more Philo Vance films. Still, the two we have are both very good for fans of gritty but witty low-budget, post-World War II detective films and are worth finding.

Dan Seymour has set up a syndicate to fence a stolen emerald. He plans to cheat them all -- investors and girlfriend and fly off to South America. Alan Curtis as Philo Vance takes an interest; Seymour told theres of the syndicate he had hired Curtis to guard the emerald. Curtis meets him in Seymour's study. While they speak, the lights go out, two shots are fired and Seymour is dead.

As with the other two PRC Philo Vances, it's a well-constructed mystery if not exquisitely produced. Curtis still doesn't look or act anything like the Philo Vance of S.S. Van Dyne's books. He's a middle-class PI who knows all sorts of interesting people. Basil Wrangell directs for speed and efficiency, and the number of interesting performers is kept to a mimmum : Grady Sutton as a secretary, Joseph Crehan as the District Attorney, and Tala Birell as a suspect. At an hour's length, it does what a mystery movie is supposed to do, but no more.

1947's "Philo Vance's Gamble" came second in PRC's brief three picture series (shot Nov 1946), but was issued first (Apr 13 '47), again with Alan Curtis as Vance, and Frank Jenks as comic sidekick Ernie Clark, more helpful this time. Almost as good as "Philo Vance's Secret Mission," particularly in its well thought out solution, Vance calls upon smuggler Jeffrey Connor (Dan Seymour) to learn why Connor has been spreading the word that he's hired the great detective as a bodyguard. Right after Connor signs a check for 'pain and suffering,' he is shot dead by an unseen assailant, who swiftly kayos Vance while he's still on the floor. Just like the first feature, Vance must clear himself by solving the mystery, supported by a veteran cast that 'B' movie lovers will appreciate. Returning from "Secret Mission" are Tala Birell (criminally wasted here) and Toni Todd, while Vivian Austin would be back for the third entry, "Philo Vance Returns." Joseph Crehan plays the District Attorney, who actually mentions D. A. Markham, a fixture from all earlier Vance features. Other capable performers include Cliff Clark, James Burke, Gavin Gordon, Francis Pierlot, Grady Sutton, and especially Karolyn Grimes, coming off her iconic role as little Zuzu in "It's a Wonderful Life." William Wright would take over the title role in the PRC finale, "Philo Vance Returns," making one regret the absence of Alan Curtis, the only actor other than William Powell to play Philo Vance on screen more than once.