Mystery in Swing explained

Mystery in Swing
Director:Arthur Dreifuss
Producer:Rudolph Brent, Arthur Dreifuss
Screenplay:Arthur Hoerl
Starring:Monte 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
Editing:Robert Crandall
Studio:Aetna Film Corp.
Distributors:-->
Country:United States
Language:English

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. It is currently held in the collections of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.[6]

Plot

An unpopular band leader at a nightclub is murdered, and the of suspects is long.

Cast

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.

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."[7] Mystery in Swing has been noted for being the first time a Black orchestra recorded an entire score for a film.[8]

The Pittsburgh Courier ran a story on the film as it was in production.[9]

Notes and References

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