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Old Time Radio Researchers GroupPhilo Vance

PHILO VANCE

Philo Vance was the detective creation of S. S. Van Dine first published in the mid 1920s. Vance, in the original books, is an intellectual so highly refined he seems he might be ghostwritten by P. G. Wodehouse. Take this quote from The Benson Murder Case, 1924, as Vance pontificates in his inimitable way: "That's your fundamental error, don't y' know. Every crime is witnessed by outsiders, just as is every work of art. The fact that no one sees the criminal, or the artist, actu'lly at work, is wholly incons'quential."

Thankfully, the radio series uses only the name, and makes Philo a pretty normal, though very intelligent and extremely courteous gumshoe. Jose Ferrer played him in 1945. From 1948-1950, the fine radio actor Jackson Beck makes Vance as good as he gets. George Petrie plays Vance's constantly impressed public servant, District Attorney Markham. Joan Alexander is Ellen Deering, Vance's secretary and right-hand woman.

The organist for the show is really working those ivories, and fans of old time radio organ will especially enjoy this series. Perhaps one reason the organist "pulls out all the stops" is because there seems to be little, if any, sound effects on the show.

Philo Vance, the radio series, does pay homage to the original books in that both were, even in their own time, a bit out of date and stilted.

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OTRR Certification Information:

Series Name: Philo Vance
Certification Status: OTRR Certified Accurate
Certification Date: April 10, 2007
Certification Version: Version 2
Number of CDs: 2

NOTE: Updated Release!

From the Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. See "Note" Section below for more information on the OTRR.

This audio is part of the collection: Old Time Radio
It also belongs to collection: Radio Programs

Artist/Composer: Old Time Radio Researchers Group
Keywords: OTRR; Old Time Radio Researchers Group; Old Time Radio; OTRR Set; Philo Vance; Detective; OTRR Updated Release; OTRR - 2007-05

Creative Commons license: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs

Notes

OLD TIME RADIO RESEARCHER'S GROUP

This is a production of the Old Time Radio Researchers Group located at Old Time Radio Researchers Website and the Old Time Radio Researchers Group.

It contains the most complete and accurate version of this series in the best sound possible at the time of creation. An updated version will be issued if more episodes or better sounding ones become available.

If you are interested in preserving old time radio, you may wish to join the Old Time Radio Researchers Group at Yahoo.


Relax, listen, and enjoy!

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OTRR Definitions:

OTRR Certified Accurate -- A series that is Certified Accurate indicates that all the episodes are properly identified and labeled but that the series does not contain all known extant episodes.

OTRR Certified Complete -- A series that is Certified Complete is the highest level of certification available under the OTRR Certified Standards. This certification level implies that all the files in the series are Certified Accurate but also indicates that the series is as complete as possible – it includes all extant episodes.

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Reviewer: revbrand - - July 9, 2010
Subject: I loved these!
These are great tales that are fun and interesting. The relationship between Vance and the DA is fun. The elevator man is funnier than heck. I'd say these were outstanding if you can get past the ugly theme music

Reviewer: adamelijah - - May 14, 2010
Subject: Philo Vance: Needs a kick in the pants
Quote Odgen Nash. I'm a fan of most radio detectives, but not most of Philo Vance.

There are three episodes in this collection from the mid-1940s Philo Vance radio show, well worth listening to. Though Vance is a tad arrogant, the mysteries are worthy. Those episodes explain why this is a 2 Star Review.

By the late 40s when Philo Vance came out through Ziv Syndication, they decided a less arrogant Vance would be in order, and that's what you get with Jackson Beck, who plays the part as wooden. There was no chemistry between the characters. The plots were also very simple.

To me, this is a death for being able to enjoy a show. Many shows can overcome their weaknesses to still enjoyable because of their strengths. Many of the Rathbone-Bruce Sherlock Holmes radio episodes had mysteries that weren't all that compelling, but the show was fun because of the chemistry between Rathbone and Bruce. Rocky Fortune had problems, but it was Frank Sinatra as a Private Detective. And the chemistry was off in the Stanley Sherlock Holmes episodes, but the mysteries were pretty good.

This is a show where there's just nothing there. Philo Vance lacks chemistry, a solid lead, and its mysteries are so simple that its an insult to the police force to suggest they would need Vance's "help."

If you're looking for a good soft boiled detective, try Hercule Poirot or Nero Wolfe. Even Leonidas Witherall or Inspector Thorne will do better than Mr. Vance.