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