Murder at the Vanities is a 1934 American pre-Code musical film with music by Victor Young. It was released by Paramount Pictures and directed by Mitchell Leisen. The film stars Victor McLaglen, Carl Brisson, Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, Gertrude Michael, Toby Wing and Jessie Ralph. Future stars Lucille Ball and Ann Sheridan have small roles as chorines.
The film is primarily a musical, based on Earl Carroll's long-running Broadway revue Earl Carroll's Vanities, combined with a murder mystery. Songs featured in the film by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow include "Cocktails for Two" sung by Brisson, "Sweet Marijuana" sung by Michael, "Where Do They Come From (And Where Do They Go)" sung by Carlisle and "Ebony Rhapsody" performed by Duke Ellington and his orchestra and sung by Michael.
Contents
Plot
Jack Ellery is staging a lavish musical revue starring Eric Lander, Ann Ware and Rita Ross, supported by a cast of one hundred background singers and dancers (almost all women, and many scantily clad) and two full orchestras. On opening night, just before the show, someone tries to kill Ware several times. Ellery summons police lieutenant Murdock of the homicide squad to investigate. During the show, a private detective and then Rita are murdered. Ellery hides this from the rest of the performers, claiming that the victims are just sick, and convinces Murdock to conduct his investigation while the revue continues; if the performance is stopped, Ellery will go broke.
The murders are solved just after the show ends. Nancy, a pretty blond showgirl, tells Ellery and Murdock what she has attempted to tell Ellery several times throughout the show. She had a vital piece of information that would have solved the first murder much sooner and might have prevented the second murder. Now that the show is complete and a success, Ellery's attention is finally on her, and they plan to celebrate. As they exit the stage, Ellery gives a devilish grin.
Cast
Carl Brisson as Eric Lander
Victor McLaglen as Bill Murdock
Jack Oakie as Jack Ellery
Kitty Carlisle as Ann Ware
Dorothy Stickney as Norma Watson
Gertrude Michael as Rita Ross
Jessie Ralph as Mrs. Helene Smith
Charles B. Middleton as Homer Boothby
Gail Patrick as Sadie Evans
Donald Meek as Dr. Saunders
Toby Wing as Nancy
Duke Ellington as himself
Reception
In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Mordaunt Hall wrote: "It can boast of its lavish staging, certain tuneful melodies, and its host of attractive girls. But the mystery concerning its two murders is never particularly disturbing."
Murder at the Vanities was a box-office disappointment for Paramount. It was released on DVD by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, as part of a six-disc set entitled Pre-Code Hollywood Collection, on April 7, 2009. A Blu-Ray of Murder at the Vanities by itself was released by Kino Lorber on October 11, 2022.