🕵️♂️🔍 Based on S.S. Van Dine’s famous detective stories, The Canary Murder Case (1929) brings the sharp-witted sleuth Philo Vance to life in an early sound-era mystery classic. With intrigue, scandal, and a sensational crime, this stylish whodunit keeps you guessing until the very end.
📽️ Plot Summary:
When Broadway singer Margaret O’Dell, known as “The Canary,” is found murdered, suave detective Philo Vance (William Powell) is called in to solve the case. As he investigates her scandalous lifestyle and long list of admirers, Vance uncovers a tangle of lies, jealousy, and betrayal—leading to a shocking revelation.
🕰️ Year Released: 1929
🎭 Genre: Mystery, Crime, Drama
🎬 Directed by: Malcolm St. Clair, Frank Tuttle (uncredited)
🎞️ Starring: William Powell, Louise Brooks, James Hall, Jean Arthur
🎯 Why Watch It?
✔️ William Powell’s debut as detective Philo Vance
✔️ Early talkie blending silent film style with sound innovation
✔️ A gripping mystery based on S.S. Van Dine’s best-selling novel
✔️ Louise Brooks in a glamorous role during her Hollywood career peak
🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 | COMMENT 💬 | SUBSCRIBE 🔔 for more vintage mysteries & public domain gems!
👇 Explore More Classic Mysteries & Detective Films Here:
📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYSxyPafGbnT7hNTlq29mZQJKn7wrNglY
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🎞️ #TheCanaryMurderCase #WilliamPowell #LouiseBrooks #ClassicMystery #1920sCinema #PhiloVance #PublicDomainMovies
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🕵️ Who killed the Canary? Step into the glamorous shadows of 1920s New York and follow Philo Vance in this suspenseful classic!
________________________________________
📽️ Plot Summary:
When Broadway singer Margaret O’Dell, known as “The Canary,” is found murdered, suave detective Philo Vance (William Powell) is called in to solve the case. As he investigates her scandalous lifestyle and long list of admirers, Vance uncovers a tangle of lies, jealousy, and betrayal—leading to a shocking revelation.
🕰️ Year Released: 1929
🎭 Genre: Mystery, Crime, Drama
🎬 Directed by: Malcolm St. Clair, Frank Tuttle (uncredited)
🎞️ Starring: William Powell, Louise Brooks, James Hall, Jean Arthur
🎯 Why Watch It?
✔️ William Powell’s debut as detective Philo Vance
✔️ Early talkie blending silent film style with sound innovation
✔️ A gripping mystery based on S.S. Van Dine’s best-selling novel
✔️ Louise Brooks in a glamorous role during her Hollywood career peak
🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 | COMMENT 💬 | SUBSCRIBE 🔔 for more vintage mysteries & public domain gems!
👇 Explore More Classic Mysteries & Detective Films Here:
📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYSxyPafGbnT7hNTlq29mZQJKn7wrNglY
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🎞️ #TheCanaryMurderCase #WilliamPowell #LouiseBrooks #ClassicMystery #1920sCinema #PhiloVance #PublicDomainMovies
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕵️ Who killed the Canary? Step into the glamorous shadows of 1920s New York and follow Philo Vance in this suspenseful classic!
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Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:00The End
00:00:30The End
00:01:00The End
00:01:30Tell me, Van, what happened backstage?
00:01:52Were you able to see the canary?
00:01:54No luck, Charles.
00:01:56She's about as hard to get out in her dressing room as she is in that swing.
00:01:59If you want an idea of what I ran into back there, let me point out a few of her admirers.
00:02:25Do you see Van standing at the box opposite?
00:02:47Yeah.
00:02:56Well, that's Dr. Lindquist.
00:02:58Oh.
00:02:59He was outside her dressing room just now along with these other two.
00:03:02I understand that the canary has her claws in all three of them.
00:03:07Are they rich?
00:03:09Oh.
00:03:10Naturally.
00:03:10Well, then what does she want with my son?
00:03:12The allowance I give Jimmy is hardly tempting.
00:03:15No, my dear Charles.
00:03:17Our little feathered friend in the swing there has social ambitions.
00:03:21She wants to be Mrs. Jimmy Spotswood.
00:03:23Ah, impossible.
00:03:24I'd do anything in my power to prevent that, even if Jimmy still cared for her.
00:03:29And I still believe that she'll listen to dollars and cents.
00:03:34I wouldn't be too sure of that, Charles.
00:03:36As you know, I've more or less made a hobby of crime and a criminal.
00:03:39Well, that girl is no ordinary blackmailer.
00:03:44I'm firmly convinced that she'll start at nothing to marry Jimmy.
00:03:47But Jimmy won't have her.
00:03:48I tell you, he has really come to his senses.
00:03:53Another girl?
00:03:54Yes.
00:03:55Well, you know her.
00:03:56Alice.
00:03:58Oh, yes, of course.
00:04:00A very nice girl, too.
00:04:01Yes, she is.
00:04:04Vance, I'm afraid that I'll have to use my own judgment in this matter.
00:04:08Well, sir, I'm going to see this canary at her apartment as soon as possible.
00:04:16Well, very well, Charles.
00:04:18But, uh, act quickly.
00:04:22Oh, I know you'll smile, but...
00:04:24You know, I have a strange premonition
00:04:26that the canary is headed for disaster.
00:04:38Evening, Mr. Spotswood.
00:04:51Hello there.
00:04:52Shall I announce you to Miss Odell?
00:04:55No, don't bother.
00:04:56That's perfectly all right.
00:04:57In further.
00:05:03Jimmy!
00:05:04Alice.
00:05:10Jimmy, you were going to see the canary again.
00:05:13No, I wasn't, dear.
00:05:15In fact, I just started to put this note under the door to tell her so.
00:05:19Oh, Jimmy, I'm afraid of her.
00:05:23Oh, she's clever and cruel and unscrupulous.
00:05:27She'll hurt us again.
00:05:28I know she will.
00:05:29No, dear.
00:05:32She can't hurt us now.
00:05:40Boy, will you announce my name?
00:05:43Never mind.
00:05:43Yes, sir.
00:05:45Hello, Jimmy.
00:05:46Why, hello, Dad.
00:05:48Good evening, Alice.
00:05:49Good evening, Mr. Spotswood.
00:05:51You know, I'm delighted that you and Jimmy have made it up again.
00:05:54You know, I'm going to try to show you that all showgirls aren't like, well...
00:06:00Like the canary, eh?
00:06:01Yes.
00:06:03Yes, I want to talk to her.
00:06:06Do you suppose she's home yet?
00:06:09I suppose so.
00:06:13No, Dad, you're a regular guy for helping me on this thing.
00:06:16You know, if the canary ever came between Alice and me again, I don't know what I'd do.
00:06:24I don't know what I'd do.
00:06:29It's all right, Jimmy.
00:06:30I'll do everything I can.
00:06:34Shall I go along with you?
00:06:35No.
00:06:36I can handle this better alone.
00:06:38I'll send in my name now.
00:06:39No.
00:06:46Mr. Spotswood's calling.
00:07:14Send him in, please.
00:07:16Good evening, Odell.
00:07:36Good evening.
00:07:36Good evening.
00:07:46Shall we go over here?
00:07:49Why, yes.
00:07:54Will you sit down?
00:07:58Well, I don't think we need waste any time, Miss Odell.
00:08:01You know why I'm here.
00:08:04How much?
00:08:05Nothing doing, Mr. Spotswood.
00:08:07I've decided to marry Jimmy.
00:08:09I'm afraid that marriage is quite out of the question, Miss Odell.
00:08:16Oh, you're sure about that, are you?
00:08:18I'm positive.
00:08:19Well, how would you like me to tell the world about Jimmy's embezzling from your bank?
00:08:23What?
00:08:24You heard me.
00:08:25You know, Jimmy has a weakness for writing letters.
00:08:28And I have a weakness for using them.
00:08:30If Jimmy did write you a letter, you'll tear it up.
00:08:32Now, before I leave here.
00:08:34Sure, go ahead, tear it up yourself.
00:08:42My memory's still perfect.
00:08:46Oh, yes.
00:08:46Yes, I see.
00:08:47Yes.
00:08:48Very well.
00:08:50You win.
00:08:53Now, what do you really want?
00:08:55I've told you what I want.
00:08:57I want to be Mrs. James Spots, and that's that.
00:09:01Oh, haven't you any heart?
00:09:03Won't you give him up, Miss Odell?
00:09:05For the sake of his happiness.
00:09:06For the sake of the girl whom he really loves.
00:09:09Give him up.
00:09:11Now, what do you want me to do?
00:09:13Burst out crying?
00:09:14Listen, Mr. Spotswood, I know all about Jimmy and Alice.
00:09:17And if he marries her, I'll tell every newspaper in this country that he's a dirty thief.
00:09:24Oh, no, you wouldn't dare do that.
00:09:26That's blackmail.
00:09:27Sure it is.
00:09:28Call it anything you like.
00:09:29But get this into your head that that's what I'm going to do.
00:09:34Well, that remains to be seen.
00:09:37Good night.
00:09:37Good night.
00:09:43Good night.
00:09:58Good night.
00:09:59Good night.
00:09:59Good night.
00:09:59Good night.
00:10:03Oh, Mr. Cleaver, please.
00:10:12This is Mr. Cleaver speaking.
00:10:15Not thee, Mr. Cleaver, the great reformer.
00:10:18Yes.
00:10:19Well, this is your favorite weakness.
00:10:21Margaret!
00:10:22Don't get nervous, baby.
00:10:24I've got some news for you.
00:10:25Good news?
00:10:27Yes, darling.
00:10:28I'm going to marry young Spotswood.
00:10:30Well, well, well.
00:10:32May I send you my heartiest congratulations?
00:10:36You bet you can.
00:10:38But send them from Tiffany's.
00:10:40Okay.
00:10:41You heard me.
00:10:42And send me one of those fancy autographs of yours on a nice fat check.
00:10:47I'm very sorry.
00:10:48But I'm afraid I shall have to refuse.
00:10:51Ah, be yourself.
00:10:52Big reformers who lead double lives can't refuse.
00:10:56Now look here.
00:10:57I'll see you dead first.
00:11:00Listen.
00:11:01Listen, you'll be here after the theater with the dough and like it.
00:11:09The little rat.
00:11:10May I speak to Mr. Louie Mannix, please?
00:11:36Quiet.
00:11:37Quiet.
00:11:38My wife.
00:11:38Don't get excited.
00:11:40I just thought you'd like to know I've sold the body down the river.
00:11:44I'm going to marry young Spotswood.
00:11:48Splendid.
00:11:49Yes, darling.
00:11:50And I've decided that you're the best man.
00:11:54Best man?
00:11:55Yeah, the best man I know of to kick in with a nice, handsome present in cash.
00:12:01Now, see here, you know I can't afford...
00:12:04What you mean is, you can't afford to let the ball and chain know what a big-hearted Santa Claus you've been.
00:12:10Now look here.
00:12:11I've told you what I'd do to you if you ever got to... the wife.
00:12:14Forget that bunk, and be on my front porch after the show with that Jack, or I'll get to your wife all right.
00:12:21That's Dr. Lindquist speaking.
00:12:36Oh, yes, Dr. Lindquist.
00:12:38How would you like to do me a little favor?
00:12:41Why, certainly, Margaret.
00:12:42I'd do anything for you, you know.
00:12:45How would you like to go jump in the lake?
00:12:47Oh, Margaret, don't joke with me.
00:12:51I'm not in a mood for it.
00:12:53Ah, get wise to yourself.
00:12:55I'm through with you.
00:12:56You give me the willies.
00:12:57I warn you, Margaret.
00:13:00I'm desperate.
00:13:00If I can't have you, no other man shall ever have you alive.
00:13:10I'm not in a mood for you, but I'm not in a mood for you, but I'm not in a mood for you.
00:13:40I thought you were still in jail.
00:13:43Well, I got tired of the big house, Mrs. Skeel, so I dropped in to see my little wife.
00:13:50I'm not your wife.
00:13:51How come?
00:13:52I divorced you six months ago.
00:13:54Yeah?
00:13:55Yeah?
00:13:59Listen, baby.
00:14:00A little thing like a divorce don't mean anything to me.
00:14:04I heard you taking those suckers down over the phone.
00:14:07And I'm in and in on the works.
00:14:11Fifty-fifty.
00:14:12You big crook.
00:14:13You're not in on this one.
00:14:16Don't, you big heel.
00:14:22Say, I ought to bump you off.
00:14:25You're doing your swing for it.
00:14:27Yeah?
00:14:28Well, maybe it'd be worth it.
00:14:30Now, get this.
00:14:32I'm in on this racket.
00:14:34And I'll be back for my cut.
00:14:37Yeah?
00:14:38Try and get it.
00:14:45Say, baby.
00:14:47Don't bother changing the box on this door.
00:14:49The lock I can't pick is still in Yale.
00:15:23Miss Odell, may I see you for a few moments, please?
00:15:29It won't get you anything, but come ahead.
00:15:53I have something to say to you, Miss Odell, which I believe will make you change your mind
00:16:09about Jimmy.
00:17:09Paper, mister?
00:17:14Morning paper?
00:17:15No.
00:17:17No.
00:17:17No.
00:17:18No.
00:17:23Thanks, mister.
00:17:24Very well, Miss Odell.
00:17:41That suits me perfectly.
00:17:43Take it over tonight, and I'll come for your answer in the morning.
00:17:45Good night.
00:17:51Boy, will you call me a taxi, please?
00:17:53Yes, sir.
00:17:54Well, what's that?
00:18:04The...
00:18:05Miss Odell!
00:18:12Miss Odell!
00:18:14What's wrong?
00:18:15Something startled me, Mr. Spotswood, but I'm all right now.
00:18:19Are you sure you're all right?
00:18:21Yes, quite sure.
00:18:23Run along home and come back in the morning.
00:18:25Oh, very well, then.
00:18:27I'll see you in the morning.
00:18:28Good night.
00:18:37Stivens and Trump.
00:18:37Yes, sir.
00:18:38I don't know.
00:19:08Say, fella, what big idea is you coming in here late?
00:19:13Who, me late?
00:19:14Yes, you late.
00:19:15I've been here for an hour.
00:19:17I don't want that stuff.
00:19:19Well, I've been here...
00:19:20I beg your pardon.
00:19:23Mr. Spotsworth calling on Miss Odell by appointment.
00:19:32She don't answer.
00:19:35Has she gone out, do you think?
00:19:36I've been out all night.
00:19:39And you haven't seen her go out?
00:19:40No, sir.
00:19:42That's funny.
00:19:44Do you suppose she can be ill?
00:19:47But we may go and knock.
00:19:49Yes, yes, let's do that.
00:19:58Miss Odell.
00:19:59Miss Odell, are you ill?
00:20:05No.
00:20:05What's the matter?
00:20:07It's...
00:20:07Something that happened.
00:20:09Go get your passkey.
00:20:10Yes, yes.
00:20:17Say, fella, he's...
00:20:18He's running the good of the cop.
00:20:21And say, he gets...
00:20:23Get a...
00:20:24Oh, the big one, too.
00:20:32You'd better let me have that.
00:20:35What's the matter here?
00:20:42Something's happening there, officer.
00:20:43You'd better take that key and go in.
00:20:44He...
00:20:44He's dead.
00:20:57Police headquarters, please.
00:21:09Police headquarters, please.
00:21:13Trowman Cassidy speaking.
00:21:15There's a woman dead at 184 West 71st Street.
00:21:19It looks like murder.
00:21:20Okay, Cassidy.
00:21:33She's been dead since midnight, sergeant.
00:21:36Strangled to death.
00:21:37That long, eh?
00:21:40Sergeant.
00:21:41The district attorney just pulled up and he's coming right in.
00:21:45That's great.
00:21:47He's got that Mr. Philo Vance with him.
00:21:50Well, that'll be just dandy.
00:21:52Sherlock Holmes on the job again, huh?
00:21:54Heads up, boy.
00:21:55Good morning, sergeant.
00:21:56Good morning, Mr. Markham.
00:21:59Well, hello, Mr. Vance.
00:22:00How are you, sergeant?
00:22:01Fine.
00:22:01Haven't seen you since the Green murder case.
00:22:03Quite right.
00:22:04Oh, good morning, Mrs. Spotswood.
00:22:06Good morning, Mr. Markham.
00:22:09Well, sergeant, what does it look like?
00:22:11Well, chief, it's just another clear case of robbery.
00:22:14All I can make out of it.
00:22:15Nasty business, Charles, huh?
00:22:16Oh, terrible.
00:22:18As you know, I was here last night to make my final appeal to her for Jimmy.
00:22:24And when I came back this morning for her answer, this had happened.
00:22:28Yes.
00:22:30They'll probably want to keep you here for a few moments, Charles.
00:22:33Yes, I suppose they will.
00:22:34And by the way, I explained to the district attorney on the way down about Jimmy and the girl here.
00:22:40Oh, that's good.
00:22:41I'm glad you did that, Philo.
00:22:42Oh, you know, if I can tell you anything that will help...
00:22:46Well, perhaps later, Charles.
00:22:48Meanwhile, I'll have a bit of a look about.
00:22:51I don't think there's anything worth you looking at, Mr. Vance.
00:22:55It's a clear case.
00:22:57Robbery.
00:22:58She put up a battle and they wrecked the joint.
00:23:01I see.
00:23:01As simple as that, eh?
00:23:03That's it.
00:23:04Well, just the same, sergeant.
00:23:05If you don't mind, I think I'll have just one little look.
00:23:08Surely, Mr. Vance.
00:23:08Go right ahead.
00:23:10Make yourself perfectly at home.
00:23:11Thank you, sergeant.
00:23:14Excuse me, Mr. Leesman.
00:23:19When do we sleep?
00:23:22You get this, sonny boy.
00:23:24You'll go for a long sleep unless you button up that big trap of yours.
00:23:29Yes, sir.
00:23:30Sergeant.
00:23:31Yes, chief?
00:23:32Any fingerprints?
00:23:33Well, so far, no.
00:23:35I'll tell you this job was done by an expert.
00:23:38It's perfect.
00:23:39Yes, that's just the trouble.
00:23:42What's that?
00:23:43It's too perfect.
00:23:45Well, that's a little over my head, Mr. Vance.
00:23:47Just what do you mean by...
00:23:49Too perfect.
00:23:51Well, sergeant, what usually happens when a heavy lamp like that is knocked off a table?
00:23:56Well, I don't know, but I'll bite.
00:24:00What does happen?
00:24:02It usually smashes, doesn't it?
00:24:04It might.
00:24:05Well, look at that one.
00:24:09Well, what about it?
00:24:11Well, simply that that lamp was placed there to give the effect of a struggle.
00:24:16Maybe.
00:24:17Let me see, sergeant.
00:24:19It does look a little obvious, doesn't it, Vance?
00:24:21I should say so.
00:24:23Hey, boy.
00:24:24What happened here last night after you heard Miss O'Dell scream and you and Mr. Spotswood ran down the hall to her door?
00:24:32Well, she said she was all right.
00:24:35And I called Mr. Spotswood a taxi cab.
00:24:39And you got away with it?
00:24:41Yes, sir.
00:24:43That's right.
00:24:43What time was this?
00:24:44It's on the call sheet there I gave you.
00:24:47About two, two, two, two, two, two, two, two, two, two, two, two.
00:24:51Never mind.
00:24:51I can read it.
00:24:56Twelve ten.
00:24:59Now, Mr. Spotswood, where did you go last evening after you left here?
00:25:04I went directly to the Stuyvesant Club.
00:25:06That's right, sergeant.
00:25:07I met Mr. Spotswood at the club shortly after twelve.
00:25:10We played poker until almost daylight, I believe, wasn't it?
00:25:14It must have been.
00:25:15I know it was long after four.
00:25:17Oh, yeah.
00:25:17You mentioned that coming down here, Vance.
00:25:19Right.
00:25:19And that'll be all for the present, Mr. Spotswood.
00:25:21Thank you, Markham.
00:25:22But if you do want me later on, Mr. Vance has my number.
00:25:25Went right.
00:25:25Goodbye.
00:25:26Goodbye.
00:25:26Goodbye, Charles.
00:25:27I'll phone you.
00:25:28Go right ahead, boys.
00:25:32Joe.
00:25:32Very easy.
00:25:34Amen.
00:25:35Goodbye.
00:25:57Amen.
00:26:04Oh, Sergeant, would you step over here for a moment, please?
00:26:23All right, Mr. Vance.
00:26:24What is it now?
00:26:26Do you observe anything peculiar here?
00:26:33Why, surely.
00:26:34The key is on the inside.
00:26:38Excellent, Sergeant.
00:26:39Don't you think we might go over that knob for fingerprints?
00:26:43Well, now, uh...
00:26:45Oh, I get you, Mr. Vance.
00:26:51The murderer locked himself in this closet.
00:26:55When Spotswood left, he came out and croaked the canary.
00:27:01No, I hardly think so, Sergeant.
00:27:04If you will observe, this is the one place in the entire apartment that hasn't been disturbed.
00:27:13Now, what does that signify?
00:27:15That and the fact of the key being found on the inside.
00:27:17Just as I told you.
00:27:20The murderer was in this closet and came out when Spotswood left.
00:27:24I don't think you quite get my point, Sergeant.
00:27:26If the murderer had been in here, he would have upset this closet as he did the rest of the apartment, wouldn't he?
00:27:35Well, yes.
00:27:37I guess he would.
00:27:38Precisely.
00:27:39Gentlemen, it was someone else who was in that closet while the apartment was being ransacked.
00:27:46And that someone witnessed the murder.
00:27:49Through the keyhole.
00:27:50Splendid, Sergeant.
00:27:52And if you'll find who was in that closet, I think you'll learn from him or her who it was that killed the canary.
00:27:59Sergeant, get the fingerprints, will you?
00:28:01Mr. Vance and I are going outside.
00:28:20You, come here.
00:28:22Yes, sir.
00:28:23Who lives in that apartment there?
00:28:29Miss Alice LaFosse.
00:28:32Isn't she the dame that had the battle with the canary the other night over young Spotswood?
00:28:40All right, all right.
00:28:53Impossible to get in here.
00:28:54I'd say so.
00:28:57Hmm.
00:29:00I wonder what's this.
00:29:01That's odd.
00:29:08May prove that he was distinct.
00:29:09What do you think?
00:29:10I see, Miss LaFosse.
00:29:12I see.
00:29:14But you and the canary had a fight over young Spotswood, didn't you?
00:29:18Why, yes.
00:29:19We did have a fight.
00:29:21You see, she took Jimmy away from me and got him into trouble.
00:29:24But that's all over now.
00:29:26Jimmy and I made it up just the day before yesterday.
00:29:29You didn't see young Spotswood last night, did you?
00:29:32Why, yes.
00:29:33He brought me home from the theater.
00:29:35Uh-huh.
00:29:35Well, so he was hanging around here last night, was he?
00:29:40Yes, but he was with me until after one-
00:29:42Now, wait a minute, lady.
00:29:43Wait a minute.
00:29:45You save your alibis till we get you down to headquarters.
00:29:48Go slip on your things.
00:29:49Why, look, you don't think that I...
00:29:51What, I'm on.
00:29:55Oh, Mr. Vance, I'm frightened.
00:29:58All right, now, don't you be worried, Alice.
00:30:01Just you do as the sergeant says.
00:30:03All right.
00:30:09You know, I'm beginning to question this robbery theory, Mr. Vance.
00:30:14You and I were right.
00:30:19Oh, yes.
00:30:22Why, I can see plainly that this murder is all mixed up in a love pact.
00:30:29You know, Chief, I think we'd better round up this young Spotswood and give him the works.
00:30:34What do you say?
00:30:35Quite right, Sergeant.
00:30:36Markham, I'd like you to add a few names to that list, if you don't mind.
00:30:39The men I mentioned on the way up here.
00:30:41Dr. Ambrose Lindquist.
00:30:43John Cleaver and Louis Manix.
00:31:13Well, young man, what do you know about what happened at the Canary's apartment last night?
00:31:29Oh, nothing.
00:31:32But look here, sir.
00:31:33That has nothing to do with Alice.
00:31:36Uh, I mean, Miss LaFosse.
00:31:38The papers say the Canary was murdered before midnight.
00:31:41And I tell you we were together the whole time.
00:31:44And it isn't fair to hold her.
00:31:46You haven't the right.
00:31:49Now, Jimmy, don't get worked up.
00:31:52Everything's going to be all right.
00:31:52Why not interview the others first, Markham?
00:31:59Very well.
00:32:00Gordon, take Mr. Spotswood out in the other room and hold him there.
00:32:05I'll talk to you a little later, young man.
00:32:07Well, who's next on the list?
00:32:25Manix.
00:32:25I'd like to make a bit of an experiment, Markham.
00:32:32Have you a pad and penciled up?
00:32:36Yes.
00:32:41There you are.
00:32:43You have that newspaper handy?
00:32:45Yes, right here.
00:32:50All ready?
00:32:51All right.
00:32:51All right.
00:32:55Good morning, Mr. Vance.
00:32:58Good morning.
00:32:58Mr. Markham.
00:32:59Good morning.
00:33:00Will you please take a seat?
00:33:14Sorry.
00:33:15Mr. Manix.
00:33:17There are a few questions I'd like to ask you.
00:33:20Questions?
00:33:21What about?
00:33:23I don't know anything about this.
00:33:25It was a great shock to me.
00:33:27What was a great shock to you?
00:33:29Well, I...
00:33:30I thought perhaps you were going to...
00:33:33ask me about the canary.
00:33:36Exactly.
00:33:36You read my thoughts, Mr. Manix.
00:33:40Did you ever see that necklace before?
00:33:46Why?
00:33:47Why, yes.
00:33:48The fact is, I gave that to the canary.
00:33:53A little token of esteem.
00:33:55Nice girl, the canary.
00:33:58I'd met her once or twice.
00:34:01A casual acquaintance.
00:34:03Rather an expensive gift to give to a casual acquaintance, isn't it?
00:34:08Do you know that the canary was strangled with that necklace?
00:34:11Yes.
00:34:12Yes.
00:34:17Most remarkable.
00:34:20Unfortunate, I should say.
00:34:22Where were you last night between eleven and one o'clock?
00:34:29Between eleven and one?
00:34:32Yes.
00:34:33Let me see.
00:34:34Why, I was home.
00:34:38I went to bed about ten o'clock.
00:34:40Oh, tired out.
00:34:42You understand.
00:34:44Pardon me, Mr. Manix.
00:34:45Any comment to make, Mr. Manix?
00:35:00Hard habit of mine drawing triangles.
00:35:04Now, Mr. Manix.
00:35:05If you were in your bed last night at ten o'clock,
00:35:08how did you manage to drop that newspaper just outside the canary's apartment?
00:35:13And that edition isn't on the streets until eleven.
00:35:21Well, you've caught me.
00:35:22I'll tell the truth.
00:35:25It's always best to tell the truth,
00:35:27especially when there's no reason to lie.
00:35:31It was like this.
00:35:33The canary called my home at dinner time last night.
00:35:37Most embarrassing.
00:35:39Mrs. Manix was with me.
00:35:42I had omitted to tell my wife about the canary.
00:35:45She wouldn't have understood.
00:35:48The canary told me that she was going to be married.
00:35:51and wanted to see me.
00:35:54Said that I should come to her apartment at eleven o'clock.
00:35:58Well, I...
00:36:00I couldn't argue over the phone.
00:36:04The missus was listening.
00:36:08So I said, all right.
00:36:10So at eleven o'clock,
00:36:11I went to the canary's apartment.
00:36:14I entered the hall by a side door
00:36:16and went directly to her apartment.
00:36:18I was about to winter
00:36:19when I heard voices inside.
00:36:22I listened.
00:36:24There was a man in there
00:36:25and he was arguing.
00:36:27Of course.
00:36:28Well, there was no place for me.
00:36:31So I returned home
00:36:32without seeing the canary
00:36:34or entering her apartment.
00:36:38Well, uh,
00:36:39that'll be all the questioning for the present,
00:36:41Mr. Manix,
00:36:41but I'll have to ask you to wait in the outer office.
00:36:44I may want to speak to you later on.
00:36:46Oh, won't you let me go home?
00:36:50I'll get in an awful mess with my wife.
00:36:54I'm sorry.
00:36:54You'll have to wait.
00:36:55Oh, Mr. Markham,
00:36:57I wouldn't run away.
00:36:59Uh, Nellfield,
00:37:01tell me all.
00:37:01Mr. Markham,
00:37:14you've got to help me square this with my wife.
00:37:24We will now have, uh, Mr. Cleaver.
00:37:26Good morning, Mr. Cleaver.
00:37:35Good morning, Mr. Markham.
00:37:37Can I do anything for you?
00:37:39Would you, uh, please have a seat?
00:37:42Mind if I smoke a cigar?
00:37:43Oh, please do.
00:37:44Uh, Mr. Cleaver.
00:37:54Do you mind if I ask you some questions?
00:37:58Why, of course,
00:38:00if I can be of any help.
00:38:02Where were you last night
00:38:04between eleven and one, O'Flaught?
00:38:09Motoring
00:38:09up for Hudson
00:38:11in the moonlight
00:38:14alone.
00:38:19Though I don't see what that has to do
00:38:21with the district attorney's office.
00:38:25Well, only this, Mr. Cleaver.
00:38:29If you were indulging
00:38:30in the nocturnal beauties of nature
00:38:32along the Hudson last evening,
00:38:34how does it happen
00:38:35that this cigar band
00:38:36bearing your initials
00:38:39was found just outside
00:38:41the Canary's window
00:38:42at an early hour this morning?
00:38:49Well, if I was
00:38:50passing the Canary's apartment,
00:38:52you can't twist that
00:38:54into a crime.
00:38:55Oh, then you did
00:38:56pass her apartment.
00:38:58Why, yes.
00:38:58I've...
00:38:59I've nothing to hide.
00:39:02It was about, uh,
00:39:03dinner time last night.
00:39:05The Canary
00:39:07phoned to me.
00:39:08Oh, of course,
00:39:08my acquaintance with her
00:39:10was wholly in my line
00:39:12as social reformer.
00:39:15I'd hoped that she was going
00:39:16to leave her immoral life
00:39:18and marry
00:39:20and settle down
00:39:21and be a good woman.
00:39:24And, uh,
00:39:25you kept the appointment?
00:39:27Yes.
00:39:28Yes and no.
00:39:30I was a little late.
00:39:32I arrived at her apartment
00:39:35to about, uh,
00:39:36a quarter to twelve
00:39:38or thereabouts.
00:39:40I waited for a minute
00:39:41outside her window
00:39:42to light a cigar.
00:39:45Then I, uh,
00:39:47glanced down
00:39:48to the side entrance
00:39:49to the building.
00:39:52And who should I
00:39:53chance to see
00:39:54but Dr. Lindquist?
00:39:58He was behaving
00:40:00in a very peculiar manner.
00:40:02Seemed to me
00:40:03very queer,
00:40:05very mysterious.
00:40:08I didn't like it.
00:40:10So I made up my mind
00:40:11not to see
00:40:12the Canary again.
00:40:14And I turned
00:40:15and walked back home.
00:40:19Now that's all
00:40:19I can tell you.
00:40:21I'm a busy man
00:40:22and, uh,
00:40:23I hope you'll excuse me.
00:40:24I'm very sorry,
00:40:25Mr. Cleaver,
00:40:26but I'll have to ask you
00:40:27to wait in the outer office.
00:40:28I might want to
00:40:29question you again.
00:40:31You mark my words,
00:40:32Markham.
00:40:34You'll be sorry for this.
00:40:37Well, I think
00:40:37my chance is,
00:40:38Mr. Cleaver.
00:40:45Charming fellow, Cleaver.
00:40:46Yeah, Robert.
00:40:48By the way, Vance,
00:40:50I didn't see you
00:40:51pick up this cigar band
00:40:52in front of
00:40:52the Canary's apartment
00:40:53this morning.
00:40:54I didn't know.
00:40:57Where did you get it?
00:40:59From your wastebasket.
00:41:01Wastebasket?
00:41:03Cleaver dropped it
00:41:03there when he entered.
00:41:05I took a chance
00:41:06on his not remembering that.
00:41:08It seemed to work.
00:41:11Well, I'll be...
00:41:13Hmm.
00:41:16Very good.
00:41:16Dr. Lindquist.
00:41:23The ghost.
00:41:24Come on, doctor.
00:41:26Take your hand.
00:41:27Take your hand.
00:41:29We caught Dr. Lindquist
00:41:31just as he was
00:41:32leaving town.
00:41:33It's alive.
00:41:35I was on the way
00:41:36to a patient.
00:41:37Would you please
00:41:37sit down, doctor?
00:41:39I'd like to ask you
00:41:40a few questions.
00:41:40Dr. Lindquist.
00:41:46Doctor?
00:41:48Where were you
00:41:48last night
00:41:49between eleven
00:41:51and one o'clock?
00:41:54None of your business.
00:41:56It is some of my business.
00:41:58You were seen
00:41:59coming out
00:41:59of the Canary's apartment
00:42:00at midnight.
00:42:02Not so fast, doctor.
00:42:06Calm yourself, doctor.
00:42:10I'm sorry.
00:42:18I lost my temper.
00:42:25I'm under a terrible strain.
00:42:31I loved the Canary
00:42:34dearly.
00:42:37And I'm terribly upset.
00:42:40Do you know
00:42:44that the Canary
00:42:46was strangled
00:42:47with that necklace?
00:42:52Good part.
00:42:54You...
00:42:55you don't
00:42:57accuse me.
00:42:59But, Dr. Lindquist,
00:43:00there's really no need
00:43:02for you to be excited.
00:43:04Now, Mr. Markham here
00:43:05is merely trying
00:43:06to find out
00:43:07what you know.
00:43:08I don't know.
00:43:10No.
00:43:11No.
00:43:12I know.
00:43:12I know nothing.
00:43:15Markham,
00:43:16don't you think
00:43:17that we might postpone
00:43:18the interview
00:43:18with Dr. Lindquist
00:43:19for a while?
00:43:20Why, what?
00:43:25Very well.
00:43:27That'll be all
00:43:27for the present, doctor.
00:43:29I'd like to have you
00:43:30remain in the outer office.
00:43:31Come on, doctor.
00:43:48What was the idea, Vance?
00:43:49We had him
00:43:50where he was about
00:43:51to tell us everything.
00:43:53Well, on the contrary,
00:43:54Markham,
00:43:55in his present
00:43:56extremely excited condition,
00:43:58I very much doubt
00:43:58if he would have
00:43:59told us anything.
00:44:00I do think, however,
00:44:01that if we give him
00:44:02a chance to cool off a bit,
00:44:04he's very likely
00:44:05to tell us the truth.
00:44:05Well, perhaps you're right.
00:44:08Good morning, sergeant.
00:44:09How are you, sergeant?
00:44:10Good morning, chief.
00:44:12Hello, Mr. Vance.
00:44:15Take a slant at those.
00:44:20There is the canary's jewels.
00:44:24They were found
00:44:25in an ash can
00:44:26about a block
00:44:27from her apartment
00:44:27this morning.
00:44:29I guess that kind of
00:44:30disproves the robbery theory.
00:44:36We were right, Mr. Vance.
00:44:39Hmm?
00:44:40I say we were right.
00:44:42Oh.
00:44:44Oh, yes.
00:44:45Yes, apparently we were, sergeant.
00:44:47Now it's up to us
00:44:48to find another motive.
00:44:50Yes, quite right, sergeant.
00:44:53You know, Markham,
00:44:54I've been thinking this
00:44:55over all morning.
00:44:57And I believe
00:44:58that I can come
00:44:59pretty close
00:45:00to the psychology
00:45:01of the man
00:45:02who committed this murder.
00:45:03I believe that
00:45:04I can pick him out
00:45:05from that list of suspects
00:45:06if he's among them.
00:45:08However, it will require
00:45:09a bit of an experiment.
00:45:10Now, what is in your mind?
00:45:12Well, I'd like to use
00:45:13that conference room
00:45:14of yours there
00:45:15for a friendly little game
00:45:17of poker
00:45:17with your suspects.
00:45:19Well, now,
00:45:20that's a cute idea.
00:45:22Now, just what is
00:45:23your idea, Vance?
00:45:24Well, just this, Markham.
00:45:25A man's true nature
00:45:26always comes out
00:45:27in a game of poker.
00:45:29Now, I know the type
00:45:30and the temperament
00:45:32of the man
00:45:33who murdered the canary.
00:45:34And in a game of poker,
00:45:36I believe that I can
00:45:37come pretty close
00:45:38to putting my finger
00:45:39on him.
00:45:41That's a new way
00:45:42of catching crooks.
00:45:44Take it easy, sergeant,
00:45:45will you please?
00:45:47Well, go ahead, Vance.
00:45:49The experiment
00:45:49can do no harm.
00:45:50Quite right.
00:45:52Now, I'd like to have
00:45:52the sergeant's help.
00:45:54Well, I'd be very glad
00:45:55to help you, Mr. Vance.
00:45:57As long as you don't
00:45:58try to hang
00:45:59the murder on me.
00:46:01Sergeant,
00:46:02will you take
00:46:02Mr. Vance's orders, please?
00:46:04Okay, chief.
00:46:05Will you get me
00:46:15a deck of cards
00:46:16and have some poker chips
00:46:18handy just outside there?
00:46:20That's easy.
00:46:21Then bring in the suspects
00:46:22and impress upon them
00:46:24that they may be detained
00:46:26here for quite a while,
00:46:27possibly two
00:46:28or even three hours.
00:46:30Well, that's okay,
00:46:31Mr. Vance,
00:46:32but how are you
00:46:33going to get
00:46:34these suspects
00:46:35into this poker game
00:46:37without it appearing
00:46:38phony to them?
00:46:41Well, sergeant,
00:46:42I rather think
00:46:42that the power
00:46:43of suggestion
00:46:44will take care of that.
00:46:46Oh, power of suggestion.
00:46:48Exactly.
00:46:49Now, sergeant,
00:46:50look in from time to time
00:46:51and when I pull
00:46:54my handkerchief
00:46:55from my pocket,
00:46:56so,
00:46:57break up the game
00:46:58by telling them
00:46:59that they are all
00:46:59free to go home.
00:47:00Understand?
00:47:02I get you.
00:47:03But when you release them,
00:47:04I'll have my boys
00:47:05tail them.
00:47:06Very good, sergeant.
00:47:07And, Mr. Vance,
00:47:08here's to the power
00:47:09of suggestion.
00:47:22Jimmy?
00:47:28Now, gentlemen,
00:47:29you're liable to be here
00:47:30for two or three hours.
00:47:32Perhaps longer.
00:47:33That's outrageous.
00:47:35Just make yourselves
00:47:36at home.
00:47:38Say, you know,
00:47:39this is going to get me
00:47:39in an awful mess
00:47:40with my wife.
00:47:41That is of no interest
00:47:43to me, sir.
00:47:44I'm sorry.
00:47:46What's the idea,
00:47:46Mr. Vance?
00:47:48Well,
00:47:48what are they going
00:47:49to do with Alice?
00:47:50Now, Jimmy,
00:47:51don't you worry.
00:47:52Nothing's going to happen
00:47:53to Alice.
00:47:54Say, Mr. Vance,
00:47:55you know,
00:47:56this is going to get me
00:47:56in an awful mess
00:47:58with my wife.
00:47:59Martha's a wonderful woman
00:48:00and all that,
00:48:03but sometimes she just
00:48:04doesn't understand me.
00:48:07The last time
00:48:07I was a little
00:48:08indiscreet,
00:48:10it cost me a fur coat.
00:48:12I hate to think
00:48:14what this is going to cost.
00:48:16So don't you think
00:48:17if you put...
00:48:19Oh, I beg your pardon.
00:48:21I'm sorry.
00:48:23Mr. Vance,
00:48:23you haven't got
00:48:24an extra pack of cards,
00:48:26have you?
00:48:26I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix,
00:48:27but you're welcome
00:48:28to these.
00:48:28Oh, no.
00:48:29Oh, no, no.
00:48:30Thanks.
00:48:30Just the same.
00:48:32I wish we could
00:48:34play a little cards.
00:48:37Say, that's a good idea.
00:48:38How about poker?
00:48:39I'm agreeable.
00:48:42What about the others?
00:48:43Dr. Lindquist?
00:48:44Oh, anything
00:48:45to pass the time.
00:48:47Mr. Cleaver?
00:48:48Well,
00:48:49as a rule,
00:48:51it's against my principles,
00:48:53but I suppose
00:48:53on an occasion
00:48:54like this one,
00:48:55one can relax.
00:49:00Just draw up chairs,
00:49:01gentlemen.
00:49:04Sergeant,
00:49:05how about some poker chips?
00:49:08Surely.
00:49:09Mr. Spotswood is here.
00:49:20Have him in.
00:49:22Come in, Mr. Spotswood.
00:49:23Good morning, Mr. Spotswood.
00:49:24Good morning, Markham.
00:49:25Good morning.
00:49:27I see, Markham,
00:49:28what are you holding Jimmy for?
00:49:31Surely you're not accusing him.
00:49:33No, no, of course not.
00:49:35We'll simply try to find out
00:49:36what he knows,
00:49:37that's all.
00:49:37Oh, yes, yes.
00:49:39Where is he now?
00:49:40Why, in the other room
00:49:41there with Vance.
00:49:43May I see him?
00:49:44Why, certainly.
00:49:45Of course you could.
00:49:48Vance,
00:49:49Mr. Spotswood is here.
00:49:51Oh.
00:49:52Hello, Dad.
00:49:53Oh, hello, Jimmy.
00:49:54Good morning, Charles.
00:49:55Good morning, Philo.
00:49:57Dad, what are you doing here?
00:49:58I came to be with you, Jimmy.
00:50:00Why are you detained?
00:50:01Oh, by all means.
00:50:03We've just started
00:50:04a little game of poker here, Charles.
00:50:06Would you like to join?
00:50:07Come on, Dad.
00:50:08Sit and take a hand.
00:50:10Well, all right.
00:50:11I'll sit in.
00:50:12That'll be fine.
00:50:14Suppose you take that chair, Charles.
00:50:17Gentlemen,
00:50:17this is Mr. Spotswood.
00:50:20Mr. Mannix.
00:50:20How do you do, Mr. Mannix?
00:50:21Dr. Lindquist.
00:50:23Doctor.
00:50:23And Mr. Cleaver.
00:50:25Mr. Cleaver, how do you do?
00:50:26Shall it be jackpots, gentlemen?
00:50:31Why, yes.
00:50:31Anything.
00:50:32Yes, the...
00:50:33Mrs. and I usually play jackpots.
00:50:43Cards?
00:50:44Three, Mr. Mannix, please.
00:50:50Here you go.
00:50:51Two, please.
00:50:56So it's between you and me, Mr. Cleaver.
00:51:00Yes.
00:51:01Hmm.
00:51:06I'll bet a white one.
00:51:15Oh, uh...
00:51:17So you're calling me?
00:51:19Yes.
00:51:20Well, hmm.
00:51:22Just open this.
00:51:23A pair of jacks.
00:51:24Three aces.
00:51:33Oh.
00:51:37So you call the one-chip bet with three aces.
00:51:40A pair of jacks.
00:51:41Yes.
00:51:41Yes.
00:51:41Yes.
00:51:41Yes.
00:51:42Yes.
00:52:01Open.
00:52:01Aye, Meryl.
00:52:02Well...
00:52:08Dealer passes.
00:52:12How many, Mr. Vance?
00:52:13Two cards, please.
00:52:17Mr. Mannings?
00:52:18I think I'll play these.
00:52:28I'll check the bet to you, Mr. Mannings.
00:52:32Mr. Mannings.
00:52:48Calling.
00:52:51Nine, eight, seven, six, five.
00:52:58And they're all spades.
00:53:03You bet on a sure thing, Mr. Mannings, huh?
00:53:05Yes, sir.
00:53:06I'll open for one.
00:53:10I'll stay.
00:53:12Oh, let's make it a little more interesting.
00:53:15Ten more.
00:53:16Hmm.
00:53:17Well, that's me out.
00:53:18I'm out.
00:53:19And me.
00:53:20I'll open for one.
00:53:23I'll stay.
00:53:27Oh, let's make it a little more interesting.
00:53:31Ten more.
00:53:33Well, that's me out.
00:53:34I'm out.
00:53:35And me.
00:53:36I'll stay with you, Charles.
00:53:37I'll stay with you, Charles.
00:53:41Cards, gentlemen.
00:53:42Take me, please.
00:53:43One, two, three.
00:53:44Mr. Spotsman?
00:53:45I have plenty.
00:53:46Mmm.
00:53:49A white stack, Charles.
00:53:50A white stack, Charles.
00:53:51A white stack, Charles.
00:53:52Oh, let's make it a little more interesting.
00:53:53I'll stay with you, Charles.
00:53:54I'll stay with you, Charles.
00:53:56I'll stay with you, Charles.
00:53:57Cards, gentlemen.
00:53:58Two, three.
00:53:59One, two, three.
00:54:00Mr. Spotsman?
00:54:01I have plenty.
00:54:02Mmm.
00:54:16A white stack, Charles.
00:54:21Two white stacks.
00:54:22Hey.
00:54:28Up two chips, Charles.
00:54:38Two?
00:54:39Oh, you want me to do the betting, eh?
00:54:48All right.
00:54:58I am afraid I am overcome by curiosity.
00:55:09What have you?
00:55:14Two deuces.
00:55:19They're good.
00:55:21They're...
00:55:24They're what?
00:55:25Well, why the philanthropy, fellow?
00:55:31Well, I had case five.
00:55:43Pardon me, Mr. Lance.
00:55:45Could I speak to you a moment?
00:55:47Excuse me, please.
00:55:51You've traced the fingerprints down,
00:55:52and this is the bird that was in the cloth
00:55:54and saw the Canary murdered.
00:55:58Gentlemen,
00:56:00here is the man who was in the Canary's clothes closet
00:56:03and who witnessed her murder.
00:56:07Hmm.
00:56:09Well, I shouldn't like to be the man he saw.
00:56:13Hmm.
00:56:15Thank goodness he didn't see me through the keyhole.
00:56:17So that man witnessed a murder.
00:56:18Hmm.
00:56:19Hmm.
00:56:20Singularly unattractive countenance.
00:56:21Well, if he knows, why doesn't he tell who did it?
00:56:22Hey.
00:56:23Gentlemen, I've, uh...
00:56:24been instructed by the different people
00:56:25who did it.
00:56:26That man witnessed a murder.
00:56:28Hmm.
00:56:29Hmm.
00:56:30Hmm.
00:56:31Hmm.
00:56:32Thank goodness for that.
00:56:33Hmm.
00:56:34Hmm.
00:56:35I wonder what the wife will say.
00:56:36Hmm.
00:56:37Hmm.
00:56:38Hmm.
00:56:39Hmm.
00:56:40Hmm.
00:56:41Hmm.
00:56:42Hmm.
00:56:43Hmm.
00:56:44Hmm.
00:56:45Hmm.
00:56:46Hmm.
00:56:47Hmm.
00:56:48Hmm.
00:56:49Hmm.
00:56:50Hmm.
00:56:51Hmm.
00:56:52Well, I've been instructed by the district attorney
00:56:53to inform you that you're all free to go home.
00:56:57Hmm.
00:56:58Hmm.
00:56:59Thank goodness for that.
00:57:00Hmm.
00:57:01Hmm.
00:57:02I wonder what the wife will say.
00:57:03Hmm.
00:57:04Has anyone a fountain pen, please?
00:57:09There's...
00:57:10There's mine.
00:57:11Oh, thank you, Jamie.
00:57:12Hmm!
00:57:15All right.
00:57:16Right.
00:57:18Now, what I didn't tell you about this bird, Mr. Vance, in front of the others, is that
00:57:25he phoned in and said that he'd be in the district attorney's office tomorrow and spill
00:57:31the whole works.
00:57:33He says that he saw the guy that croaked the canary, and he'll come in and tell us who
00:57:37it was.
00:57:38Now, we haven't been able to locate him yet, so I guess we just have to wait.
00:57:46Well, Sergeant, that takes the matter out of my hands.
00:58:18Markham, there can be no doubt of it, the same person who strangled the canary strangles
00:58:47Skeel. This new murder was done to cover up the first. Skeel was obviously blackmailing
00:58:55the canary's murderer. He threatened to inform the police of what he had seen through the
00:59:00keyhole of the closet. And when the murderer learned yesterday at the poker game that the
00:59:05police knew who had been in the closet, he put Skeel out of the way at the earliest possible
00:59:10moment. I believe you're right, Pats. Oh, right. Did any of the suspects get away from your
00:59:25men last night? We never lost sight of Lindquist, Mannix, and the girl. But young Spotswood and
00:59:34Cleaver gave us the slip. That'll be all. Okay, Chief. Vance. That leaves Himmy and Cleaver.
00:59:48Morning, Chief. Morning, Heath. Good morning. Hello, Mr. Vance. Good morning, Sergeant. Well, Chief, everything's okay.
01:00:00I've got the guilty man, and I've got him right. You've got him? I hope to tell you I have. Where is he?
01:00:08All right, Max. Bring him in. Mr. Vance. Jimmy. This fool arrested me this morning at breakfast for the murder.
01:00:20Why? It's just like shooting fish in a tub, Chief. I've got all the dope and I've got it down pat. Motive and everything.
01:00:29Now, this Dame Alice croaked the canary, jealous because she'd stolen her fella. The kid here bumped
01:00:37Skigel off to shut his mouth and to protect the dame. It's a lie. That isn't all, Chief. I've got the evidence. And it's not
01:00:45psychology, Mr. Vance. Mr. Vance, he lies. He hasn't known the evidence he couldn't have. Just a minute, Jimmy.
01:00:52Sergeant, what is your theory? Well, I don't go on theory. I use cold facts, Mr. Vance. Now, you wait a minute. Did you ever see that pen?
01:01:10Yes. It's mine. You bet your life it's yours. Take a look at that pen, Mr. Vance. Chief? Well? Now, listen to this. This morning I found that pen on the floor there by the table where Skigel was murdered. And the kid here admits that it's his.
01:01:38Well, young man, what have you to say?
01:01:45Yes, I killed them. Both of them. I guess that does it, Chief. We've got them in a sack. Now, this Dame Alice...
01:01:57Wait a minute! You've got what you wanted. Now, take me out. Take him away, Mac. Well, I'll see you later at the office, Chief. All right, Ace.
01:02:16Sorry, Mr. Vance.
01:02:23Well, Vance, I guess that closed the case.
01:02:31No, Markham, it doesn't. What do you mean?
01:02:37I mean that the boy is not guilty. Well, that's nonsense. Not nonsense, Markham. Because I know who is guilty.
01:02:47Oh, come now, Vance, Vance. I tell you, Markham, I know. And inside of one hour, you'll know, too. I'm going to telephone at once to the real murderer and have him come to the Canary's apartment.
01:03:01And I want you to be there. But the boy has confessed everything.
01:03:07Markham, if you don't meet me there, you'll be the laughingstock of New York in 24 hours. Because I'll have the confession of the real murderer.
01:03:20Well, all right, Vance, if you want it that way, I'll be there.
01:03:36Number, please.
01:03:38Bayview, 2-1-2-1.
01:03:40Bayview, 2-1-2-1.
01:03:41Yes, please.
01:03:50Now, this is Philo Vance. I want to speak with...
01:03:54Oh, hello, Philo. How are you?
01:03:56I didn't recognize your voice.
01:03:58I have something of extreme importance to tell you.
01:04:02Jimmy has just been arrested.
01:04:05He has confessed to the murder of both the Canary and Skeel.
01:04:11Do you understand?
01:04:16Yes, I understand, Philo.
01:04:18Jimmy is not guilty. I am the man you want.
01:04:22How soon will you meet me at the Canary's apartment?
01:04:25It'll take me almost an hour to get in from the country, but I'll be there.
01:04:28Good.
01:04:29Good.
01:04:47It's been over an hour now, Vance.
01:04:50Now, don't be impatient, Markham.
01:04:52He'll be here.
01:05:00Who is it you're expecting?
01:05:05You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
01:05:08And I must admit...
01:05:11...that without his confession...
01:05:13...I haven't a shred of real proof to offer you.
01:05:15Hello?
01:05:30Yes?
01:05:33Now, this is Mr. Vance speaking.
01:05:41What?
01:05:43Yes.
01:05:45All right.
01:05:50What is it, Vance?
01:05:52Spotswood has just been killed...
01:05:55...in a motor accident.
01:05:59Spotswood killed?
01:06:00My sympathies, old man.
01:06:14I know what great friends you were.
01:06:20It's worse than you realize, Markham.
01:06:22It was Spotswood...
01:06:24...who killed both the Canary...
01:06:28...and Skeel.
01:06:29Spotswood?
01:06:31I've known it ever since the poker game.
01:06:33But how could you know?
01:06:38Sit down, Markham.
01:06:39It wasn't really so difficult.
01:06:46Remember...
01:06:48...the man who committed this particular crime...
01:06:51...must have had certain definite qualities.
01:06:55A mind capable of working out...
01:06:58...a well-planned and brilliant course of action.
01:07:01Willing...
01:07:04...to take a desperate chance...
01:07:06...and see it through.
01:07:08Now consider the men in the game.
01:07:11Jimmy, I ruled out at the start...
01:07:13...but I'd known him as a boy...
01:07:15...and...
01:07:16...his youth and impulsiveness...
01:07:18...were hardly consistent...
01:07:20...with such a...
01:07:22...such an obviously premeditated murder.
01:07:26Lindquist...
01:07:28...was far too excitable...
01:07:29...and erratic...
01:07:30...to have plotted...
01:07:31...such a carefully calculated crime.
01:07:34Cleaver...
01:07:36...much too cautious...
01:07:38...and entirely lacking in the necessary boldness.
01:07:41Mannix...
01:07:43...timid...
01:07:44...unwilling to take any risk...
01:07:46...except upon an absolutely sure thing.
01:07:50The only man at the table...
01:07:52...with enough imagination...
01:07:54...to plan such a crime...
01:07:56...and with sufficient...
01:07:57...self-confidence and daring...
01:07:59...to carry it through...
01:08:01...was Spotsworth.
01:08:03When he held a pair of deuces...
01:08:05...refused to draw to them...
01:08:07...and bet every chip he had...
01:08:09...on the chance of bluffing me out...
01:08:11...the realization suddenly dawned upon me...
01:08:14...that he was the murderer.
01:08:16For he was the one man of them all...
01:08:19...psychologically fitted...
01:08:21...for such an act.
01:08:23But er...
01:08:24...how about finding Jimmy's pen...
01:08:26...in the skeet apartment?
01:08:28I borrowed Jimmy's fountain pen...
01:08:30...after the poker game.
01:08:32My hypothesis is...
01:08:34...that in the confusion...
01:08:36...Spotsworth put the pen into his own pocket...
01:08:38...and that Jimmy saw him do it.
01:08:41That is why Jimmy made his confession...
01:08:44...to shield his father.
01:08:47Yes, but against all that theory, Vance...
01:08:50...we have certain definite facts.
01:08:53Now, for instance...
01:08:55...Spotsworth left the canary's apartment...
01:08:58...while she was still alive.
01:09:00He talked to her through that door.
01:09:03The hall boy, looking through the keyhole...
01:09:06...saw the canary lying on this sofa...
01:09:09...smoking a cigarette.
01:09:11Spotsworth then went away...
01:09:13...and spent the rest of the evening with you.
01:09:16True.
01:09:20And yet I know...
01:09:22...he committed the murder.
01:09:29And I've got to find out how...
01:09:31...he did it.
01:09:35I'm afraid you will, Vance...
01:09:37...so that Jimmy can go free.
01:09:40Spotsworth himself was coming here...
01:09:42...to tell how it was done...
01:09:43...in order to free Jimmy.
01:09:47And now he's dead.
01:09:52I've got to solve it.
01:10:13I'll see you in the show.
01:10:14I've got to solve it...
01:10:15...so I don't know.
01:10:16I'm just going to tell you about...
01:10:17...you know...
01:10:18I'll just be able to...
01:10:20...just wait...
01:10:21...and we're going to stop it...
01:10:22...and I'm not at travelling...
01:10:23... but I, the...
01:10:24That's what I see one...
01:10:25...I don't want to ask him.
01:10:27...you know...
01:10:29...short people, that...
01:10:31...he's...
01:10:32...has to be...
01:13:04Now follow me closely.
01:13:06The canary was lying there.
01:13:09Spotswood, let us say, was standing here, making a final plea for his boy, which met with an absolute refusal.
01:13:17He walked around to the head of the sofa.
01:13:22Suddenly, he clapped his hand over her mouth, and with his other hand, caught her necklace, and before she had a chance to cry out, he strangled her.
01:13:35He then proceeded to set the stage to make it appear that the crime had been committed with robbery as a motive.
01:13:43He stripped her jewels from her, he stripped her jewels from her, and placed them in his pocket.
01:13:48Then, he took a cigarette from that box and lit it.
01:13:56He laid her hand here, placed the cigarette between her fingers, so that in case anyone should look through the keyhole of that door there, it would appear as if she were lying here smoking.
01:14:11He then overturned the entire apartment, to make it look as if a burglar had ransacked the place.
01:14:19Now, just step over here, Markham.
01:14:26He came to this closet door, but he couldn't open it.
01:14:30Skeel had locked himself in, though Spotswood didn't know that.
01:14:34And Skeel, through the keyhole, saw everything that Spotswood did.
01:14:39That accounts for the orderly condition of this one closet, when everything else in the apartment was ransacked.
01:14:44And that, Markham, was the technique of the crime itself.
01:14:51But that doesn't account for the fact that...
01:14:52Just a minute. I haven't quite finished.
01:14:56I want you to go out into the hall and stand at the desk where Spotswood stood when he ordered his cab.
01:15:03Very well.
01:15:14Something startled me, Mrs. Spotswood.
01:15:41But I'm all right now.
01:15:43Yes, quite sure.
01:15:51No, no, no, I'm home.
01:15:52And come back in the morning.
01:15:58You understand now?
01:16:01This record was Spotswood's alibi.
01:16:04Undoubtedly, the reason he returned here the next morning was to get it back.
01:16:08But he was prevented by the arrival of the officer who entered the apartment with him.
01:16:13The canary was dead when the scream issued from the apartment that night.
01:16:19She was dead when she apparently spoke to Spotswood through the door.
01:16:23But what clue led you to the photograph record?
01:16:34It was this magazine.
01:16:37That is hardly a magazine the canary would have read.
01:16:41So I concluded that someone else must have brought it here.
01:16:44Then, in running through the pages, I happened to notice this.
01:16:53But closely.
01:16:56You see it?
01:16:58Why, yes.
01:16:59The, uh, the imprint of a large circle.
01:17:01And on the opposite page?
01:17:03And the same thing.
01:17:05Precisely.
01:17:06As if a desk had been pressed between the two pages.
01:17:09That brought to my mind the thought of a phonograph record.
01:17:14And suddenly, the whole plot became clear to me.
01:17:18It was the only way that Spotswood could have committed the murder
01:17:22and have produced a voice in the apartment after the canary's death.
01:17:27But I can't understand how he could have reproduced the canary's voice.
01:17:30It wasn't the canary's voice, Markham.
01:17:34Spotswood made that record himself.
01:17:37Probably it was his own voice in falsetto.
01:17:41And remember, it was only necessary to fool the houseboy and through a closed door.
01:17:50Yes.
01:17:52I can see it all now.
01:17:55He played the game shrewdly and boldly.
01:18:00It was Jimmy's whole life's happiness that was at stake.
01:18:05And Spotswood risked his own life for his boy.
01:18:19Goodbye, Mr. Vance.
01:18:21You'll never know how grateful we are.
01:18:25Goodbye, my dear.
01:18:27I wish you great happiness.
01:18:29Oh, thank you.
01:18:33Goodbye, Jimmy.
01:18:36Your happiness will come.
01:18:39Thank you, Mr. Vance.
01:18:43I...
01:18:43I can't say any more.
01:18:46Just now.
01:18:47Well, Mr. Vance.
01:19:03Well, Sergeant.
01:19:05I guess we put it over again.
01:19:10Right you are, Sergeant.
01:19:12Many thanks.
01:19:13Well, I'll be seeing you later.
01:19:17Goodbye.
01:19:18Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:19Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:19Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:20Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:21Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:22Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:23Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:24Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:25Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:26Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:27Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:28Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:29Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:30Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:31Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:32Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:33Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:34Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:35Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:36Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:37Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:38Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:39Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:40Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:41Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:42Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:43Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:44Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:45Goodbye, Sergeant.
01:19:46Goodbye, Sergeant.
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