Gracie Allen Murder Case (Blu-ray) ***Preorder*** 12/2

Silver-screen star Warren William (Cecil B. DeMiIle’s Cleopatra) portrays the debonair detective Philo Vance, and vivacious vaudevillian Gracie Allen (A Damsel in Distress) portrays, well, Gracie Allen, in the marvelously charming crime-comedy, The Gracie Allen Murder Case. Super-sleuth Vance faces the zaniest case of his career when Allen “helps” him try to solve the murder of an escaped convict. As she attempts to clear the name of a friend accused of the killing, her wacky, scatterbrained ways constantly impede the investigation. Adapted from S.S. Van Dine’s novel, this hilarious whodunit was Gracie Allen’s first picture without her husband, George Burns, with whom she appeared on radio, film and TV as the popular comedy duo “Burns and Allen.” Scripted by Nat Perrin (Duck Soup), directed by Alfred E. Green (Four Faces West) and co-starring Ellen Drew (French Without Tears) and Kent Taylor (I’m No Angel), this murder-mystery is a classic case of extremely deadly amusement!