Murder At The Vanities (1934)
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80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
33% of users liked it
(61 ratings)
The Earl Carroll Vanities, a popular Broadway revue of the 1930s and '40s, is the setting for this murder mystery interspersed with an assortment of variety acts, including Duke Ellington performing "Ebony Rhapsody" and a novelty number called "Marijuana." Victor McLaglen… More The Earl Carroll Vanities, a popular Broadway revue of the 1930s and '40s, is the setting for this murder mystery interspersed with an assortment of variety acts, including Duke Ellington performing "Ebony Rhapsody" and a novelty number called "Marijuana." Victor McLaglen stars as Bill Murdock, a detective investigating a series of murders during the opening night of a new edition of the Vanities. When private detective Sadie Evans (Gail Patrick) is found murdered, Murdock must investigate between musical numbers to find the killer. When Rita Rose (Gertrude Michael) next turns up dead, Murdock concludes young ingenue Ann Ware (Kitty Carlisle) is the next person marked for death. Murdock has to find the murderer before the ending of the show or else he or she could disappear in the departing crowd of theatergoers. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Mitchell Leisen
- Written By
- Earl Carroll, Joseph Gollomb
- Genres
- Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jun 1, 1934 Wide
- Studio
- MCA Universal Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
The nutty tessitura of this "investigation set to music" encompasses everything from Toby Wing's giggly squeal to an astonishing blend of classicism and hot jazz
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Sean Axmaker, Parallax View
... fast-moving, fast-talking, sexy little entertainment...
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Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
'Murder of the Musical' would be a better name.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Carl Brisson
as Eric Lander
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Victor McLaglen
as Bill Murdock
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Jack Oakie
as Jack Ellery
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Kitty Carlisle
as Anne Ware
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Dorothy Stickney
as Norma Watson
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Gertrude Michael
as Rita Ross
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Gail Patrick
as Sadie Evans
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Jessie Ralph
as Mrs. Helen Smith
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Charles B. Middleton
as Homer Boothby
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Donald Meek
as Dr. Saunders
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Lona Andre
as Lona
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Stanley Blystone
as Policeman
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Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
as Themselves
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Otto Hoffman
as Walsh
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Ann Sheridan
as Lou
- Teru Shimada
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Colin Tapley
as Stage Manager
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Beryl Wallace
as Beryl
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Cecil Weston
as Miss Bernstein
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Dorothy White
as Dancer
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Toby Wing
as Nancy
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William Arnold
as Treasurer
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Gwenllian Gill
as Gwen
- Ruth Hilliard
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Charles McAvoy
as Ben
- Wanda Perry
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Barbara Fritchie
as Vivien
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Hal Greene
as Call Boy
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Anya Taranda
as Earl Carroll Girls
