Murder At The Vanities is probably best known for introducing Cocktails For Two by the Paramount songwriting team of Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow. But the straight version of the ballad sung and introduced here by Carl Brisson of Denmark has been totally eclipsed by the madcap version of Spike Jones who did the song with the usual charm and dignity associated with him.
Other than Cocktails For Two, Murder At The Vanities concerns a pair of homicides of some of the women in the show. Homicide cop Victor McLaglen is on the case and he zeroes in on Brisson who has some past connection with both of the deceased who are Gail Patrick and Gertrude Michael as well as his current squeeze Kitty Carlisle. He'd like to arrest Brisson right then and there, but director Jack Oakie is at his wit's end wanting to keep the show going because he feels he has a hit. Oakie frustrates McLaglen at every turn, but despite the backstage homicides the show does go on.
This film beat it under the wire for the Code otherwise we would not have a song in it extolling the virtues of marijuana. Take note of two other good performances, Dorothy Stickney as a much put upon maid and Toby Wing who created a character that Marie Wilson would hone to perfection at Warner Brothers as one dumb as nails platinum blond.
Despite all the beauty, the real entertainment in this case is the rivalry between McLaglen and Oakie who work at cross purposes, but eventually things turn out right.
Other than Cocktails For Two, Murder At The Vanities concerns a pair of homicides of some of the women in the show. Homicide cop Victor McLaglen is on the case and he zeroes in on Brisson who has some past connection with both of the deceased who are Gail Patrick and Gertrude Michael as well as his current squeeze Kitty Carlisle. He'd like to arrest Brisson right then and there, but director Jack Oakie is at his wit's end wanting to keep the show going because he feels he has a hit. Oakie frustrates McLaglen at every turn, but despite the backstage homicides the show does go on.
This film beat it under the wire for the Code otherwise we would not have a song in it extolling the virtues of marijuana. Take note of two other good performances, Dorothy Stickney as a much put upon maid and Toby Wing who created a character that Marie Wilson would hone to perfection at Warner Brothers as one dumb as nails platinum blond.
Despite all the beauty, the real entertainment in this case is the rivalry between McLaglen and Oakie who work at cross purposes, but eventually things turn out right.