On this day in movie history - The Garden Murder Case (1936 movie & novel):

The Garden Murder Case

directed by Edwin L. Marin,

written by Bertram Millhauser,

based on the novel by S.S. Van Dine,

was released in the United States on February 21, 1936.
Music by William Axt.

Cast:

Edmund Lowe, Virginia Bruce, Benita Hume, Douglas Walton, Nat Pendleton, Gene Lockhart, H. B. Warner, Kent Smith, Grant Mitchell, Frieda Inescort, Henry B. Walthall, Jessie Ralph, Charles Trowbridge, Etienne Girardot, William Austin, Olaf Hytten.

Recommended reading:

The Garden Murder Case

By S.S. Van Dine.

# 9 in the Philo Vance mystery series.

Published by Felony & Mayhem Press.

First published 1935.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1631942050

ISBN-13: 9781631942051

Description:

In the ninth novels in the series, "The Garden Murder Case," Philo Vance investigates a murder and other suspicious events connected with the rooftop garden of the Garden’s New York penthouse, where a group friends gather to listen to the result of horse races.

According to one review, Garden runs on “passion, avarice, ambition and horse-racing.” It also runs on pure 1930s octane, because this is a classic house-party murder mystery, that staple of the Golden Age. As befitting a Philo yarn, of course, it’s a very Manhattan house-party, with an actress and a socialite on hand, and a bookie on the telephone. There’s also a losing bet on the ponies, and an ensuing suicide…but Philo, natch, is not sure just who pulled the trigger. A joy, as always, for readers who delight in Philo’s spectacular brand of awfulness – is there anyone snootier’ Snobbier’ More taken with himself’ – but also for fans of the Impossible Crime.

Born on this day – Adrian Schiller:

Adrian Schiller

Actor

February 21, 1964 – April 2024

Credits:

A Cure for Wellness (2016); A Girl Goes for Dinner (2016); A Little Chaos (2014); A Touch of Frost (2000); Ashes in the Snow (2018); Ashes to Ashes (2009); Assassin's Creed III (2012); Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (2013); Assassin's Creed: Unity (2014); Beauty and the Beast (2017); Being Human (2010); Best of the Companions (2011); Best of the Doctor (2011); Black Earth Rising (2018); Bright Star (2009); Brighton Rock (2010); Bugs (1996); Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate (2013); Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (2010); Censor (2021); Coming Up (2010); Death in Paradise (2021); Doctor Who (2011); Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures (2006); Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures (2021); Doctor Who: The Ultimate Companion (2014); Dog Days (2025); Endeavour (2014); Fable III (2010); Father Brown (2024); Fields of Gold (2002); Genius (2018); George Eliot: A Scandalous Life (2002); Ghosts (1995); Going Postal (2010); GoldenEye 007 (2010); Good (2008); Goodbye Mondays (2018); Holby City (2012); In Search of Shakespeare (2004); Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (2009); Inside Suffragette (2016); Jester (2024); Judge John Deed (2002); Lot254 (2012); Man in an Orange Shirt (2017); My Family (2001); New Tricks (2010); Nostradamus (2006); Prime Suspect 2 (1992); Prime Suspect 3 (1993); Public Information Film (PIF) / Moment of Doubt / Department of Transport / Think! Road Safety / (2007); Raid: World War II (2017); Raised by Wolves (2020); Remainder (2015); Residue (2015); RKO 281 (1999); Screen One (1993); Significance (2015); Silent Witness (1996–2007); Silk (2011); Son of God (2014); Spotless (2015); Suburban Shootout (2007); Suffragette (2015); Suffragette: Looking Back, Looking Forward (2016); Surrealissimo: The Scandalous Success of Salvador Dali (2002); Talking to the Dead (2013); The Bible (2013); The Bill (1995–2009); The Chelsea Detective (2023); The Crucible (2014); The Danish Girl (2015); The Devil's Mistress (2008); The Hollow Crown (2012); The IT Crowd (2007); The Kidnap (2000); The Last Kingdom (2018–2022); The Marlowe Sessions (2024); The Mercy (2018); The Musketeers (2014); The New Look (2024); The Secret Agent (2015); The Ten Commandments (2006); This Morning (2016); Tolkien (2019); Undercover (2016); Van der Valk (2022); Victor Frankenstein (2015); Victoria (2016–2019); Wild Target (2010); Zen (2011).

Born on this day – Alan Rickman:

Alan Rickman

Actor

Director

February 21, 1946 – January 14, 2016

Born on this day – John Lewis:

John Lewis

Congressman

Civil rights activist

Writer

Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

by President Barack Obama in 2011

February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020

Credits:

Across That Bridge (2012); Carry On (2021); Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice (2006); March: Book One (2013); March: Book Three (2016); March: Book Two (2015); Run: Book One (2021); Walking with the Wind (1998).

Born on this day – Bob Rafelson:

Bob Rafelson

Director

Writer

Producer

February 21, 1933 – July 23, 2022

Born on this day – Sam Peckinpah:

Sam Peckinpah

Director

Writer

February 21, 1925 – December 28, 1984

As director:

Essential Music Videos: Classic '80s / Too Late for Goodbyes (2004); Julian Lennon: Valotte (1984); Julian Lennon: Too Late for Goodbyes (1984); The Osterman Weekend (1983); Sparks: Funny Face (1981); Convoy (1978); Cross of Iron (1977); The Killer Elite (1975); Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974); Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973); The Getaway (1972); Junior Bonner (1972); Straw Dogs (1971); The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970); The Wild Bunch (1969); Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963); ABC Stage 67 (1966); The Cincinnati Kid (1965); Major Dundee (1965); The Dick Powell Theatre (1961); Ride the High Country (1962); Route 66 (1960); The Deadly Companions (1961); The Westerner (1960); Klondike (1960); Zane Grey Theatre (1956); The Rifleman (1958–1959); Broken Arrow (1958).

Born on this day – Jean Heather:

Jean Heather

Actress

February 21, 1921 – October 29, 1995

Credits:

Double Indemnity (1944); Duffy's Tavern (1945); Going My Way (1944); Holiday Inn (1942); Knots Landing (1989); Murder, He Says (1945); National Barn Dance (1944); Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (1944); Red Stallion in the Rockies (1949); The Last Round-up (1947); The Well Groomed Bride (1946).