A cellist is murdered during a symphony concert. Shortly afterwards, the manager of the hall is found dead, an apparent suicide. But is it?A cellist is murdered during a symphony concert. Shortly afterwards, the manager of the hall is found dead, an apparent suicide. But is it?A cellist is murdered during a symphony concert. Shortly afterwards, the manager of the hall is found dead, an apparent suicide. But is it?
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Did you know
- TriviaVitaphone production reels #1317-1318.
- ConnectionsFollowed by The Studio Murder Mystery (1932)
Featured review
I can see why the inspector always brings the doctor with him...
... because he would never be able to solve these murders without him!
Inspector Carr (John Hamilton) gets a note from someone saying there will be a murder at the symphony that night. Just about that time the doctor (Donald Meeks) shows up and asks to tag along to the symphony while the police stand around waiting for the murder to happen. A cellist drops dead of a gunshot wound while performing, and later the only person to have a tangible motive is found dead in his locked office, apparently a suicide. The police - well, actually the doctor - takes it from there.
The cast is strong in this series of 20 minute murder mysteries WB put out in the early 30s. There isn't any time for side plots or melodrama, so the series comes off as having a workmanlike quality. The cast you will recognize as having good careers as character actors in the 30s and 40s, especially Donald Meeks and Douglass Dumbrille. And then there is John Hamilton who in the 50s is the cigar chomping editor of The Daily Planet in the Superman TV series.
Notice I said there was no time for melodrama, but the sole woman in the cast, Rita Lan, makes time for it. She is constantly looking terrified or burying her head in her hands and either looking like she needs a valium or some calamine lotion to treat what seems to be a powerful itch. She actually dropped a star off of my rating. Believably, this is her only role - credited or otherwise - mentioned on imdb.
I'd recommend all of these early talkie murder mysteries. They are fun if only for watching the chemistry between Meeks and Hamilton.
Inspector Carr (John Hamilton) gets a note from someone saying there will be a murder at the symphony that night. Just about that time the doctor (Donald Meeks) shows up and asks to tag along to the symphony while the police stand around waiting for the murder to happen. A cellist drops dead of a gunshot wound while performing, and later the only person to have a tangible motive is found dead in his locked office, apparently a suicide. The police - well, actually the doctor - takes it from there.
The cast is strong in this series of 20 minute murder mysteries WB put out in the early 30s. There isn't any time for side plots or melodrama, so the series comes off as having a workmanlike quality. The cast you will recognize as having good careers as character actors in the 30s and 40s, especially Donald Meeks and Douglass Dumbrille. And then there is John Hamilton who in the 50s is the cigar chomping editor of The Daily Planet in the Superman TV series.
Notice I said there was no time for melodrama, but the sole woman in the cast, Rita Lan, makes time for it. She is constantly looking terrified or burying her head in her hands and either looking like she needs a valium or some calamine lotion to treat what seems to be a powerful itch. She actually dropped a star off of my rating. Believably, this is her only role - credited or otherwise - mentioned on imdb.
I'd recommend all of these early talkie murder mysteries. They are fun if only for watching the chemistry between Meeks and Hamilton.
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- Also known as
- S.S. Van Dine Mystery Series #4: The Symphony Murder Mystery
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- Runtime21 minutes
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- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was The Symphony Murder Mystery (1932) officially released in India in English?
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