The Marlowe Files

Originally Aired: January 10, 1950 Philo Vance #79, "Left Handed Murder Case," When Jan wakes screaming from the sight of her ex-husband Steve at her bedroom window, her parents David and Helen face a terrifying dilemma. Steve Cayley is a known gang leader whom the police have been unable to touch, and Jan fears he wants to kill her. Meanwhile, Steve himself appears at Philo Vance's office with a...

Originally Aired: January 3, 1950 Philo Vance #78, "Tip Top Murder Case," chorus girl Susan Blake arrives at Philo Vance's office with a chilling typewritten threat: pay five thousand dollars by tomorrow or be dead by tomorrow night. Though she and her roommate Ella Andrews are struggling performers in the Tip Top Review with barely a penny between them, Susie refuses to go to the police, fearing...

Originally Aired: December 27, 1949 Philo Vance #77, "Identical Murder Case," a shocking case begins when District Attorney Markham receives an unexpected visitor who has been shot. The dying man's face stuns Markham—he is the spitting image of Philo Vance. The victim reveals he was murdered because of his resemblance to the famous detective before succumbing to his wounds. Meanwhile, the ruthless...

Originally Aired: December 20, 1949 Philo Vance #76, "Chop Suey Murder Case," In a tense scene at a Chinese restaurant, Johnny and his companion Georgie sit down for what should be an ordinary meal, but the atmosphere crackles with conflict. When Johnny orders a mysterious dish called "din-yip-har" that the puzzled waiter has never heard of, it becomes clear this is no simple dinner. Johnny's girl...

Originally Aired: December 13, 1949 Philo Vance #75, "Grey Glove Murder Case," a terrifying scene unfolds as the household frantically tries to reach Edgar Downing, who is locked inside his bedroom. Matilda the servant rushes to alert Dick Staley and Ruth after hearing Mr. Downing's desperate cries. Despite their efforts, the solid oak door prevents them from breaking through to help. As they wait...

Originally Aired: December 6, 1949 Philo Vance #74, "Birdcage Murder Case," tension crackles when Lane Williams arrives at the Dillon home to deliver an innocent party invitation from her fiancé, Stuart Worthington. The visit quickly exposes a web of romantic entanglements and simmering resentments. Jeff Dillon makes no secret of his attraction to Lane, even in front of his wife Edna, who confront...

Originally Aired: November 29, 1949 Philo Vance #73, "Thundering Murder Case," opens on a stormy night as the cantankerous David Wilkins berates his niece Wanda over the telephone about her failing marriage. He offers to pay off her husband to make him disappear permanently, insisting she come to his apartment immediately despite the pouring rain. The conversation is interrupted when his neighbor...

Originally Aired: November 22, 1949 Philo Vance #72, "Nightmare Murder Case," Grace Rawls arrives at Philo Vance's office in a state of distress over a series of disturbing dreams that have begun manifesting in reality. She explains that she first dreamed a mysterious man gave her five hundred dollars, and the next morning, that exact man appeared on the street and handed her the money before vani...

Originally Aired: November 15, 1949 Philo Vance #71, "Little Murder Case," opens with a mysterious encounter on a quiet city street. A beautiful woman hails a cab and makes an unusual request: she wants the driver to take her to the end of the block, but drive as slowly as possible. When the confused cabbie questions why she doesn't simply walk the short distance, the woman becomes evasive and ins...

Originally Aired: October 25, 1949 Philo Vance #68, "Deathless Murder Case," a wealthy widow named Mrs. Dorothy Wayne arrives at Philo Vance's office with an extraordinary claim. The widow of millionaire Edward J. Wayne seeks Vance's help regarding a mysterious man named John Bell who insists he can keep her perpetually thirty-one years old - for the price of one hundred thousand dollars. Mrs. Way...

Originally Aired: October 18, 1949 Philo Vance #67, "Meeker Murder Case aka Necktie Murder Case," begins when David Worth arrives at Vance's office with a desperate plea. Worth clutches half of a torn dollar bill and claims he'll pay $10,000 for the other half, insisting it represents his happiness, security, and possibly his life. Before Vance can learn more, he's called to a murder scene where b...

Originally Aired: October 11, 1949 Philo Vance #66, "Tea Cup Murder Case," begins when steward Algie Cochrane arrives in port with something valuable—the stolen 40-carat Elton Diamond from a London jewel robbery. Three dangerous men are eager to obtain the prize: Johnny Peters, Reginald Sands, and Burke, each warning Algie that he'd better be the one to get it. When Algie is found shot to death in...

Originally Aired: October 4, 1949 Philo Vance #65, "Black Gold Murder Case," Philo Vance and his secretary Ellen Deering fly to a southwestern dude ranch after receiving an urgent telegram from ranch owner Billings about a murder on the property. Bob Anderson, a young guest, has been found shot to death in the hills while out riding. However, upon landing, Vance receives a second telegram from Bil...

Originally Aired: September 27, 1949 Philo Vance #64, "The Shoeless Murder Case partial," Philo Vance investigates the brutal murders of three young models who participated in a bathing suit contest at the estate of shoe manufacturer Walter Jordan. The killer has been stealing shoes from the victims, but the reason remains maddeningly unclear. District Attorney Markham reveals that one surviving m...

Originally Aired: September 20, 1949 Philo Vance #63, "The Penny Ante Murder Case partial," When private detective Dan Smith is murdered, Philo Vance infiltrates a supposedly penny ante poker game to investigate the suspects. He quickly discovers that everyone at the table is cheating: Jacqueline Rice uses special cards and dark glasses, while Bill Baxter and his associate Ricky run a mail-order r...

Originally Aired: September 13, 1949 Philo Vance #62, "Checkerboard Murder Case," A mysterious masked robber in a checkered suit and gray hat terrorizes multiple victims across town in what appears to be an impossible crime spree. At exactly midnight, three separate crimes occur simultaneously in different parts of the city, all committed by a man matching the same distinctive description. The pat...

Originally Aired: September 6, 1949 Philo Vance #61, "Oxford Murder Case," Philo Vance takes a leisurely hansom cab ride through the park on his way to meet District Attorney Markham, only to be drawn into a mysterious situation by his talkative driver, Edward Smith. The cabbie tells Vance about an elderly couple who have been meeting regularly on a park bench for the past year. However, the old g...

Originally Aired: August 30, 1949 Philo Vance #60, "Brotherly Murder Case," opens with a thrilling chase sequence as two criminals, Tommy and his boss, flee from police after a botched robbery that leaves Tommy wounded by a watchman's bullet. With a patrol car in hot pursuit, the boss manages to shoot out one of the police vehicle's tires, allowing them to escape with their loot. Despite the close...

Originally Aired: August 23, 1949 Philo Vance #59, "Blue Penny Murder Case," opens with Philo Vance and District Attorney Markham enjoying an afternoon of skeet shooting, locked in a competitive tie. Their leisurely contest is interrupted by the breathless arrival of Markham's secretary, Ellen Deering, who has hiked out to the remote shooting field with urgent news. A woman named Edith Allen has b...

Originally Aired: August 16, 1949 Philo Vance #58, "Johnny a Murder Case," Gang leader Johnny A. coldly executes rival mobster Nick Keating with a shotgun blast through a window, then drives to his girlfriend Sonny Belmont's house to say goodbye before she leaves for South America. What Johnny doesn't know is that Nick was Sonny's brother, and she's already gone to District Attorney Markham with i...

Originally Aired: August 9, 1949 Philo Vance #57, "Deep Sea Murder Case," Millard Case, a determined man accustomed to getting his way, insists on hiring Captain Smith's fishing boat despite being told it's already chartered. When all other boats have left the dock, Case pays double to secure passage with Smith and his mate Iggy. Once at sea, Case excitedly reels in his first catch of the day, but...

Originally Aired: August 2, 1949 Philo Vance #56, "Tick Tock Murder Case," begins with detectives Dan and Billy passing time at police headquarters playing Pinochle, with Dan owing Billy a mere 28 cents after another losing hand. The monotony of their evening shift is suddenly shattered when a burglar alarm sounds from the Wellington Loan Company on Rugby Street. Someone is tampering with the safe...

Originally Aired: July 26, 1949 Philo Vance #55, "Cheesecake Murder Case," opens with a deceptively tender domestic scene between Jane Ashley and her boyfriend Billy. Over an uneaten piece of cheesecake, Jane playfully teases Billy about a special present she's made for him. When she finally reveals it—a handmade mask to protect his identity—the sweet romantic moment takes a dark turn as the true...

Originally Aired: July 19, 1949 Philo Vance #54, "Racket Murder Case," opens with a puzzling encounter when a young woman arrives at Vance's office with her companion Jack Davis. She becomes upset when Vance calls her Betty Crane, insisting she's never heard that name before—even though she's the third person that day to call her by it. The woman, who goes by Janie, storms out with Jack, and the t...

Originally Aired: July 12, 1949 Philo Vance #53, "One Cent Murder Case," Dale Leslie bursts into Philo Vance's office with an urgent problem. She's about to sign a Hollywood contract, but Al Baker, owner of a penny arcade on South Street, knows about something shameful from her past and threatens to bleed her dry once she becomes a star. Dale has already told her tough, lovestruck manager Davy Row...