Murder with Music explained
Murder with Music is a 1948 [1] American race film directed by George P. Quigley. The film used footage from the 1946 film Mistaken Identity and musical footage was reused in the short subject Bob Howard's House Party.[2] [3] Alfred N. Sack "presented" the film.
Plot
In a story told in flashbacks, a musician performing at a club is killed by a thrown knife. A sexy singer, a reporter, and an escaped convict have roles in the intrigue.[4]
Cast
- Bob Howard as Editor
- Milton Williams as Ted
- Nellie Hill as Lola
- Bill Dillard as Mike
- George Oliver as Hal [5]
- Marjorie Oliver as Secretary
- Ruth Cobbs as Mary Smith
- Ken Renard as Bill Smith
- Andrew Maize as Jerry the Cop
- Pinky Williams as Lewis
- Skippy Williams as Band leader
- Alston as Dancer
- Johnson as Specialty dancer
- Noble Sissle as Themselves
- Young as Dancer
- Ken Renard[6]
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 - "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.[7]
Notes and References
- Web site: Celluloid Improvisations ♫ LEARN.
- Web site: MISTAKEN IDENTITY . Library of Congress . 18 August 2020.
- p. 1134 Webb, Graham Encyclopedia of American Short Films, 1926-1959 McFarland (July 13, 2020)
- Web site: Mistaken Identity (aka. Murder withMusic) (1941) | UC Berkeley Library. www.lib.berkeley.edu.
- Web site: Tuskegee Airman, actor, and activist: A Father's Day tribute to my dad.
- Book: Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American Feature Films, 1911-1960. 9780520209640. Institute. American Film. Afi. American Film. 1997.
- Book: Reid, John Howard. Great Movie Musicals on DVD. July 1, 2012. Lulu.com. 9781105860447. Google Books.