Murder with Music is a 1948 American race film from Century Productions, produced and directed by George P. Quigley. The film used footage from an earlier 1940s race film Mistaken Identity, additional footage from which was re-used in the 1948 short subject Bob Howard's House Party.p. 1134 Webb, Graham Encyclopedia of American Short Films, 1926-1959 McFarland (July 13, 2020) Sack Amusement Enterprises distributed the film.
Plot In a story told in flashbacks, a newspaper editor explains to a wannabe reporter why he doesn't want to hire any new reporters. The editor, a flirty singer, a reporter, an escaped convict, a nighclub manager and his wife, two bands, and a club piano player have roles in the action, which eventually leads to the murder of the piano player and offers many musical numbers and comedy skits in the meantime.
Cast Bob Howard as Editor Milton Williams as Ted Simmons Nellie Hill as Lola Bill Dillard as Mike George Oliver as Hal Ford Ruth Cobbs as Mary Smith Ken Renard as Bill Smith Andrew Maize as Patrolman Jerry O'Hara Marjorie Oliver as Smith's Secretary Nobel (sic) Sissle and His Orchestra as Party Band Johnson & Johnson as Club Tap Dancers Pinky Williams as Lewis the club piano player Skippy Williams and His Band as Club Band Alston & Young as Club Comic Dancers
Soundtrack "Geeshee" (Written by Sidney Easton and Augustus Smith) Bob Howard, accompanied by Noble Sissle and his Orchestra - "Too Late Baby" (Written by Sidney Easton and Augustus Smith) Noble Sissle, accompanied by his orchestra - "Hello Happiness" (Written by Sidney Easton and Augustus Smith) Skippy Williams and his band - "Jam Session" (Written by Skippy Williams) Noble Sissle and by his orchestra - "Running Around" (Written by Sidney Easton and Augustus Smith) Nellie Hill accompanied by Andrew Maize - "Can't Help It" (Written by Skippy Williams) Nellie Hill accompanied by Skippy Williams and his band - "Can't Help It" (reprise) Played on piano and danced by Johnson and Johnson - "That's the Cheese You Got To Squeeze"
Reviews John Howard Reid gave a highly unfavorable account of the movie's direction and editing.
References NOTE: References 1,2 and 4 are all dead links which should be removed from unaccessable Reflist.
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