Mystery in Swing

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
Directed byArthur Dreifuss
Screenplay byArthur Hoerl
Produced byRudolph Brent, Arthur Dreifuss
StarringMonte Hawley
Marguerite Whitten
Tommie Moore
Edward Thompson
Buck Woods
Jess Lee Brooks
Josephine Edwards (actor)
Sybil Lewis (actor)
Robert Webb (actor)
Alfred Grant
Thomas Southern
Halley Harding
Edited byRobert Crandall
Production
company
Aetna Film Corp.
Release date
1940
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

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]

Synopsis

The movie's plot features the murder of an unpopular band leader at a nightclub and a long list of suspects.

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]

Cast

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
  1. "Mystery In Swing, poster, US poster art, 1940". Getty Images.
  2. "Mystery in Swing (1940) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
  3. Dreifuss, Arthur, director. Mystery in Swing. International Road Shows, Inc., 1940.
  4. "MYSTERY IN SWING". Library of Congress.
  5. "Mystery in Swing (1940) | UC Berkeley Library". www.lib.berkeley.edu.
  6. Morris, Earl J. (1940-02-10). "Race Band Records for Film". The Pittsburgh Courier. p. 21. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  7. "Mystery in Swing". National Museum of African American History and Culture.
  8. "Reviews Exploitips: Mystery in Swing." Boxoffice. Vol. 36, Iss. 17,  (Mar 16, 1940): 31-32.
  9. ""Mystery in Swing" Arthur Ray, The Pittsburgh Courier, Pittsburgh, PA 3 Feb 1940, Sat, p.19". February 3, 1940. p. 19 – via newspapers.com.
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