The Preview Murder Mystery
1936 film by Robert Florey
- February 28, 1936 (1936-02-28)
Running time
The Preview Murder Mystery is a 1936 American comedy mystery film directed by Robert Florey and starring Reginald Denny, Frances Drake and Gail Patrick.[1] It was produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The plot follows a studio public relations man who attempts to trap a killer using television technology, allowing on-screen glimpses of technicians like Florey's cinematographer Karl Struss.
Plot
Johnny Morgan is the suave head of PR for a movie studio. He is a devoted fan of a mysterious actor who developed a cult following during the silent era. It is widely believed that it is a tragedy that he died before sound movies became the standard, and there are those who see the idea of remaking his films as sound productions as bordering on sacrilege. From his description, this actor reflected elements of Rudolph Valentino and Lon Chaney, Sr.: he was an exotically handsome leading man and a master of disguise who appeared in many intense, weird roles.
When an attempt is made to remake one of his starring vehicles as a musical, the effort seems cursed, with many accidents happening inexplicably. In time it becomes apparent that a murderer is lurking in the studio, possibly in the fashion of The Phantom of the Opera, and police quarantine the studio. Executives decide that work should continue on films as the night wears on. Morgan and a technician hide in a sound editing room and eavesdrop on productions. There is an iris out effect whenever they tune in to a soundstage and the audience sees the films being shot.
Cast
- Reginald Denny as Johnny Morgan
- Frances Drake as Peggy Madison
- Gail Patrick as Claire Woodward Smith
- George Barbier as Jerome Hewitt
- Ian Keith as E. Gordon Smith
- Rod La Rocque as Neil DuBeck/Joe Walker
- Conway Tearle as Edwin Strange
- Jack Raymond as George Tyson
- Colin Tapley as Studio Manager
- Jack Mulhall as Jack Rawlins
- Bryant Washburn as Carl Jennings
- Franklyn Farnum as James Daley
- Lee Shumway as Chief of Police
- Spencer Charters as Watchman Jones
References
- ^ Soister, Nicolella & Joyce p.424
Bibliography
- John T. Soister, Henry Nicolella & Steve Joyce. American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929. McFarland, 2014.
External links
- The Preview Murder Mystery at IMDb
- The Preview Murder Mystery at AllMovie
- The Preview Murder Mystery at the TCM Movie Database
- The Preview Murder Mystery at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
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Films directed by Robert Florey
- One Hour of Love (1927)
- The Romantic Age (1927)
- Face Value (1927)
- The Life and Death of 9413: a Hollywood Extra (1928)
- The Hole in the Wall (1929)
- The Cocoanuts (1929)
- The Battle of Paris (1929)
- Skyscraper Symphony (1929)
- The Road Is Fine (1930)
- My Wife's Teacher (1930)
- Love Songs (1930)
- Black and White (1931)
- Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932)
- The Man Called Back (1932)
- Those We Love (1932)
- Girl Missing (1933)
- Ex-Lady (1933)
- The House on 56th Street (1933)
- Bedside (1934)
- Registered Nurse (1934)
- Smarty (1934)
- I Sell Anything (1934)
- I Am a Thief (1934)
- The Woman in Red (1935)
- The Florentine Dagger (1935)
- Going Highbrow (1935)
- Don't Bet on Blondes (1935)
- Ship Cafe (1935)
- The Payoff (1935)
- The Preview Murder Mystery (1936)
- Till We Meet Again (1936)
- Hollywood Boulevard (1936)
- Outcast (1937)
- King of Gamblers (1937)
- Mountain Music (1937)
- This Way Please (1937)
- Daughter of Shanghai (1937)
- Dangerous to Know (1938)
- King of Alcatraz (1938)
- Disbarred (1939)
- Hotel Imperial (1939)
- The Magnificent Fraud (1939)
- Death of a Champion (1939)
- Parole Fixer (1940)
- Women Without Names (1940)
- The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
- Meet Boston Blackie (1941)
- Two in a Taxi (1941)
- Dangerously They Live (1941)
- Lady Gangster (1942)
- The Desert Song (1943)
- Roger Touhy, Gangster (1944)
- Man from Frisco (1944)
- God Is My Co-Pilot (1945)
- Danger Signal (1945)
- The Beast with Five Fingers (1946)
- Tarzan and the Mermaids (1948)
- Rogues' Regiment (1948)
- Outpost in Morocco (1949)
- The Crooked Way (1949)
- The Vicious Years (1950)
- Johnny One-Eye (1950)
- Adventures of Captain Fabian (1951)
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