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Mystery in Swing
1940 American film From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mystery in Swing is an American murder mystery film released in 1940.[1] It was directed by Arthur Dreifuss, based on a script by Arthur Hoerl.[2][3][4] (The University of California at Berkeley erroneously states it was directed by Arthur Hoerl.)[5]
Mystery in Swing features music by The Four Toppers and Cee Pee Johnson and his Orchestra and was noted as being the first time a Black orchestra recorded an entire score for a film.[6] It is currently held in the collections of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.[7]
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Plot
An unpopular band leader at a nightclub is murdered, and the of suspects is long.
Cast
- Monte Hawley as Biff Boyd
- Marguerite Whitten as Linda Carroll
- Tommie Moore as Mae Carroll
- Edward Thompson as Captain Hall
- Buck Woods as Buck Bedford
- Jess Lee Brooks as John Carroll
- Josephine Edwards as Maxine Ray
- Sybil Lewis as Cleo Ellis
- Robert Webb (actor) as Prince Ellis
- Alfred Grant as Chet Wallace
- Thomas Southern as Sgt. Phipps
- Halley Harding as Editor Bailey[2]
Music
Songs in the movie include "Jump, the water's fine", "Let's go to a party" performed by The Four Toppers, "You can't fool yourself about love", "Beat my blues away", and "Swinging sweet and lightly" performed by Cee Pee Johnson and his Orchestra.[4]
Reception and legacy
A review in Box Office noted, "The cast, largely comprising night-club entertainers, delivers competently and there are a few welcome and well-done musical interludes."[8] Mystery in Swing has been noted for being the first time a Black orchestra recorded an entire score for a film.[6]
The Pittsburgh Courier ran a story on the film as it was in production.[9]
References
External links
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