Post by rmichaelpyle on Apr 23, 2009 5:08:24 GMT -6
Watched "Murder at the Vanities" (1934) last night. The print I had before this one on the "Hollywood Pre-Code" set was an old VHS legitimate release with a bad sound track. This one was pristine. Not a bad little film. Starring Carl Brisson and Kitty Carlisle, they really are side notes to the action and several other actors and actresses who have more to do. Victor McLaglen as the Police Lieutenant has the most lines, but Jack Oakie and Gertrude Michael have the best parts separately. Frankly, the "star" is the musical numbers, a couple of which are really very good, and a couple of which are very mediocre. One of note is a set of incredibly scantily clad ladies with extremely large feather pieces which represent the ocean, or at least a body of moving water. Kitty Carlisle goes for a "swim" in them, bobbing up and down. It was very, very clever, and extremely well done, a classic moment in Hollywood musical fare. The storyline with Jessie Ralph and Carl Brisson was rather worn out even when the film was done, but it played, up to a point. The only "Pre-Code" moments were two: the very, very scantily dressed dancers in two of the routines, one of which must have been interesting to film, because I'm sure a few of the dancers had a couple of problems keeping the 'pasties' on! The other was the fact that Jessie Ralph goes free in the end for the killing she'd done years before: it must have been considered justified; although by standards set in the Code it would have had to be seen with some retribution given to her in the form of a prison sentence or another trial here in America or one back in the country of origin where she would have been deported. All in all, I'm glad I re-visited this film. The first time I watched it years ago the print had that nasty soundtrack, and I didn't enjoy it much. This time I did. Just a side note: Jack Oakie in his part will remind many, as it did me, of watching the mannerisms of Jack Lemmon. Over and over I saw Jack Lemmon! The thing is, in reality it would be Jack Lemmon reminding us of Jack Oakie, of course. Oakie came first!
Jack Oakie must have been a lot thinner then if he reminded you of Jack Lemmon!