Murder at the Vanities (1934)

Shortly before the curtain rises at the latest performance of Earl Carroll's Vanities, someone tries to injure leading lady Ann Ware. Ann wishes to marry leading man Eric Lander, but as the show prepares to begin, stage manager Jack Ellery calls in his friend, policeman Bill Murdock, to help investigate the mysterious acts. Bill initially believes Jack is simply offering him a unique vantage point after forgetting to secure show tickets, but the situation turns serious when they discover the corpse of a murdered woman. Bill suspects Eric, especially after second female lead Rita Ross claims to have seen the victim leaving Eric's room. The plot thickens when Rita is shot onstage with Eric's gun. Despite the danger, Jack and Bill decide not to halt the show, as Bill prepares to arrest Eric—though it remains uncertain if he's targeting the true culprit. 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 Runtime: 89 minutes