''Mystery in Swing'' is an American murder mystery film released in 1940. It was directed by
Arthur Dreifuss
Arthur Dreifuss (sometimes credited as Dreyfuss; March 25, 1908 – December 31, 1993)Arthur Hoerl. (The
University of California at Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant uni ...
erroneously states it was directed by Arthur Hoerl.)
''Mystery in Swing'' features music by The Four Toppers and
Cee Pee Johnson
Cee Pee Johnson (born Clifton Byron Johnson,"Cee Pee's Wife Faints ...
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
The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is a Smithsonian Institution museum located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in the United States. It was established in December 2003 and opened its permanent home in ...
.
Synopsis
The movie's plot features the murder of an unpopular band leader at a nightclub and a long list of suspects.
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
Cee Pee Johnson (born Clifton Byron Johnson,"Cee Pee's Wife Faints ...
and his Orchestra.
Cast
*
Monte Hawley
Monte Hawley (? - November 30, 1950) was an American actor from Chicago, Illinois.
Biography
He began his entertainment career as one of the original Lafayette Players. He studied under Richard B. Harrison and, after moving to New York City, acte ...
Jess Lee Brooks
Jess Lee Brooks (June 10, 1894 – December 13, 1944), also known as Jesse Brooks, was an American actor. He is perhaps most famous for playing the African-American church preacher in the critically acclaimed motion picture ''Sullivan's Travels'', ...
Robert Webb (actor)
Robert Patrick Webb (born 29 September 1972) is an English comedian, actor, writer, and television personality. He is one half of the double act Mitchell and Webb, alongside David Mitchell. Webb and Mitchell both starred in the Channel 4 sit ...
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." ''Mystery in Swing'' has been noted for being the first time a Black orchestra recorded an entire score for a film.
''
The Pittsburgh Courier
The ''Pittsburgh Courier'' was an African-American weekly newspaper published in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1907 until October 22, 1966. By the 1930s, the ''Courier'' was one of the leading black newspapers in the United States.
It was acqu ...
'' ran a story on the film as it was in production.