Starring Ann Gwynne, John Litel, Grace MacDonald, and Donald Cook
Directed by Leslie Goodwins
Music and Lyrics by various
We kick off our Halloween Horror-a-Thon this week with a spooky mystery and a more recent musical horror film that gives us two different sides of the horror genre. Most of Universal's musicals of the 40's and 50's were fluffy B-pics featuring singing groups like the Andrews Sisters and younger up-and-coming stars like Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan. This may be one of their more creative B-films of the period. How does this tight, goofy thriller look today? Let's begin as a party gathers in the old house owned by Nan's (Gwynne) family and find out...
The Story: Singer Nan Kirkland (Gwynne) returns to her family's spooky mansion for a party. She tells her writer friend Steve Randall (Cook) that her father was murdered sleeping in the Blue Room 20 years before. Nan's friends the Jazzybelles, Peggy (MacDonald), Jerry (June Preissler), and Betty (Betty Kean) arrive to perform for the party. They get caught up in a murder mystery when Larry (Bill Williams), who was in in love with Nan, disappears after sleeping in the Blue Room. They try to stay up and see who did it, only to be drugged, a body to turn up, and for Steve to disappear next. Now these three Belles need to figure out who done it, before they end up being the next ghosts tipping their hats on the patio!
The Song and Dance: The Jazzybelles and a fairly interesting mystery are the main reasons to see this today. All three of the ladies are hilarious, but Kean gets top honors as the tallest and least-courageous of the trio. Cook has some good moments as the curious writer as well, especially in the second half when he insists on sleeping in the Blue Room. Goodwins does manage a spooky atmosphere with B-movie resources, despite some bobbles with continuity.
The Numbers: We open with Gwynne (dubbed by Martha Tilton) singing "One Starry Night" with the band as the party goers dance. "A Doo Dee Doo Doo" is the first number performed by the Jazzybelles, with Kean doing some pretty impressive rubber-legged dancing. The Belles get a second instrumental dance routine later when they're rehearsing. "The Boogie Woogie Boogie Man" is their number singing for the butler Edwards (Ian Wolfe).
Trivia: This was originally set to feature The Ritz Brothers, but they'd left films by this point and were replaced with the Jazzybelles.
This is the second remake of the 1933 film Secret of the Blue Room. The first was The Missing Guest in 1938.
What I Don't Like: It's pretty much the Jazzbelles' show. Anything else takes a back seat to their antics, including the rather dull Gwynne. It's also pretty obvious this was originally intended for a more organic comedy team, given how much of the action calls on them to perform together. The copy currently on Tubi is not the greatest - Universal could give this one some more care.
The Big Finale: Fairly enjoyable mystery is not a bad way to spend an hour if you're a fan of the musicals or mystery movies of the 1940's.
Home Media: It is on DVD, but the disc is expensive. You're better off streaming this one. It can currently be found on Tubi for free with commercials.
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