Murder at the Vanities 1934

Revue is staged

Jack Ellery is staging a lavish musical revue starring Eric Lander, Ann Ware and Rita Ross, supported by a cast of one hundred background singers and dancers and two full orchestras. The production is opulent and high-stakes, signaling immense financial risk if the show fails. The scale of the spectacle establishes the glamorous world in which the murders will unfold. The opening night looms over everyone involved.

An attempt on Ann Ware before opening

Just before opening night, someone tries to kill Ann Ware several times, casting a pall over the preparations. Ellery immediately calls Lieutenant Murdock to the theatre to take charge of the investigation. The threat casts a long shadow over the premiere and sets the stage for a murder investigation that will unfold during the performance.

Murdock arrives to investigate

Ellery summons Lieutenant Murdock of the homicide squad to the theatre to oversee the case. Murdock begins reviewing clues as the crew scrambles to keep the show on track. The opening night buzz continues, while a killer remains at large.

A private detective is murdered during the show

During the performance, a private detective hired to aid the investigation is murdered, heightening the danger surrounding the production. Ellery and Murdock realize the case must be solved within the context of the show. The audience remains unaware as clues accumulate backstage and onstage.

Rita Ross is murdered during the show

Later in the same show, Rita Ross is murdered, escalating the stakes for everyone involved. Ellery chooses to keep the second killing from the performers, hoping to maintain the illusion of a flawless premiere. The revue continues despite the horror unfolding offstage.

Ellery hides the murders from the performers

To prevent panic and financial ruin, Ellery hides the murders from the rest of the cast, insisting the victims are merely sick. He keeps the show going at all costs, even as the body count rises around him. The illusion of a seamless production becomes a cover for a deadly mystery.

Murdock continues the investigation while the show goes on

Ellery persuades Murdock to conduct his investigation from within the production, arguing that stopping the show would bankrupt him. The lieutenant follows leads discreetly as the curtain rises and falls, letting the performance mask the crime-solving process. The theatre becomes a moving scene where clues and cover-ups intersect.

The show ends and the murders are solved

Just after the final curtain, the murders are brought into focus as clues converge and the case moves toward a resolution. Ellery and Murdock work to piece together the pattern, aided by information gathered behind the scenes. The tension finally narrows to a solvable core as the evidence aligns.

Nancy reveals the vital information

Nancy, a pretty blond showgirl, finally tells Ellery and Murdock what she had attempted to tell him during the show. Her revelation indicates how the first murder could have been solved sooner and hints that the second might have been prevented. Her testimony helps seal the case and vindicate the investigation.

Resolution leads to celebration

With the case closed and the revue a success, Ellery’s attention shifts toward Nancy and their plan to celebrate. The atmosphere in the theatre lightens as relief replaces fear, and the cast begins to take stock of their ordeal. The night closes on a note of victory tempered by the crimes uncovered.