Murder at the Vanities
“MURDER STALKS IN THE MIDST OF LOVELINESS!”
Synopsis
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 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 viewpoint after he forgot to get him tickets for the performance, but then they find the corpse of a murdered woman and Bill immediately suspects Eric of the crime.
Top Cast
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Carl Brisson
Eric Lander
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
Gail Patrick
Sadie Evans
Donald Meek
Dr. Saunders
Toby Wing
Nancy
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Wanda Perry
Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited)
Lucille Ball
Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited)
Ann Sheridan
Lou - Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited)
Alan Ladd
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Lona Andre
Lona - Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited)
William Arnold
Treasurer (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 18, 1934
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Mitchell Leisen
- Screenplay & Story
- Joseph Gollomb, Carey Wilson
- Original Score
- Howard Jackson, Milan Roder, William E. Lynch
- Original Title
- Murder at the Vanities
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 29m
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Mitchell Leisen
Joseph Gollomb, Carey Wilson, Rufus King, Earl Carroll, Sam Hellman
Howard Jackson, Milan Roder, William E. Lynch
Leo Tover
William Shea
E. Lloyd Sheldon
Department Leadership Roster
Joseph Gollomb
Screenplay
Carey Wilson
Screenplay
Mitchell Leisen
Director
Leo Tover
Director of Photography
Travis Banton
Costume Design
William Shea
Editor
E. Lloyd Sheldon
Producer
Howard Jackson
Original Music Composer
Milan Roder
Original Music Composer
William E. Lynch
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Murder at the Vanities.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Musicals
Every film Wikidata tags as a musical film.
Pre-Code Hollywood
Pre-Code Hollywood films, 1929 to 1934.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Murder at the Vanities
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Murder at the Vanities about?
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 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 viewpoint after he forgot to get him tickets for the performance, but then they find the corpse of a murdered woman and Bill immediately suspects Eric of the crime.
Who directed Murder at the Vanities?
Murder at the Vanities was directed by Mitchell Leisen.
Who stars in Murder at the Vanities?
The principal cast of Murder at the Vanities includes Carl Brisson, Victor McLaglen, Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, Dorothy Stickney.
When was Murder at the Vanities released and how long is it?
Murder at the Vanities was released in 1934 with a total runtime of 1h 29m.
Who composed the musical score for Murder at the Vanities?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Murder at the Vanities was composed by Howard Jackson, Milan Roder, William E. Lynch.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Murder at the Vanities?
Murder at the Vanities holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).