Movies

LUCY'S MOVIE GUIDE

Murder at the Vanities

MOVIE #9

Murder at the Vanities (1934)

(featuring Lucille Ball as Earl Carroll Girl)


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A homicide detective with an eye for the ladies investigating a murder in Earl Carroll's Vanities allows the music review to continue during the investigation.

Shortly before the curtain goes up the first time at the latest performance of Earl Carroll's Vanities, someone is attempting to injure the leading lady Ann Ware, who wants to marry leading man Eric Lander. Stage manager in charge Jack Ellery calls in his friend, policeman Bill Murdock, to help him investigate.

Bill thinks Jack is offering to let him see the show from an unusual view point, after he forgot to get him tickets for the performance, but then they find the corpse of a murdered women. Bill suspects Eric of the crime, especially, after the second female lead Rita Ross told him she saw the women leaving from Eric's room. Then Rita is shot onstage with Eric's gun. Jack and Bill decide not to stop the show, but Bill preparing to arrest Eric.

Special Notes: This is the film that contains the "Sweet Marijuana" song and dance number. It got past the censors because at the time the film was made, the drug was not illegal. Today, most prints omit this production number all together.

Movie #9
Film Date: 1934

Release Date: May 18, 1934
Film Type: Musical/Mystery/Romance
Film Color: black/white
Studio: Paramount Studios
Film Length: 89 minutes

Director/Producer:
Mitchell Leisen (Director)
E. Lloyd Sheldon (Producer)

Character Role:
Lucille Ball (Earl Carroll Girl) (uncredited)

Supporting Cast:
Victor McLaglen (Bill Murdock)
Jack Oakie (Jack Ellery)
Kitty Carlisle (Ann Ware)
Dorothy Stickney (Norma Watson)
Gertrude Michael (Rita Ross)
Jessie Ralph (Mrs. Helene Smith)
Charles Middleton (Homer Boothby as Charles B. Middleton)
Gail Patrick (Sadie Evans)
Donald Meek (Dr. Saunders)
Toby Wing (Nancy)
Duke Ellington (Himself)