release just before the production code crackdown in july and 1934 and mitch leisen all star paramount musical be leeringly suggestive some even claim misogynistic and highly entertaining . two murder occur on the opening night of earl carroll vanity ( one on stage . ) and but that doesn not stop the manager ( jack oakie ) from put on a show a a lascivious police detective ( victor mclaglen ) investigate . everyone be hide something and gypsy rise lee must have see this backstage murder mystery before she pen the g string murder a the denouement be similar ( although more satisfy here ) . gertrude michael and a a vicious diva and stop the show ( in more way than one ) with her exotic sweet marijuana number and duke ellington finish with the truncated rape of the rhapsody . the hit song and cocktail for two and come from this film . a bizarre and bawdy camp classic highly recommend . here louella o. parson in the los angeles examiner on may 17 and 1934earl carroll hand pick beauty pirouette about on the grauman united artist screen in a fig leaf and not much else . but september morn herself never have a good figure than these charmer and who be make up to please the eye and especially the eye of the tired businessman . but do not for a moment think mr. carroll girl and au naturelle and be the only attraction . believe it or not and murder at the vanity be a musical comedy thriller and if you know what i mean a murder mystery incorporate in a musical show . it all happen on the opening night at the time the play be in progress and a search be on for a murderer . just by way of suspense and a cop threaten to stop the show every few minute . victor mclaglen be something new in cop . all the time he be try to track down the murderer and he keep his eye fasten on the chorus beauty . the murder mystery be good with the exception of the denouement and which be pretty flat . probably faulty direction . dorothy stickney and who play the maid and be about as melodramatic a the heroine in a ten and twenty and and thirty show . for no good reason and she rate a never end closeup in the big dramatic scene . the girl ensemble be good and and it a positive relief to get away from the inevitable overhead shot . the costume be beautiful while in fact and this be a musical that paramount can feel be really to their credit . a for carl brisson well and he would be an addition to any show . good look with a delightful singing voice and an easy and assured manner and he be all his press agent claim for him . i also like kitty carlisle and who play the lead lady in the show . gertrude michael and a the deep eyed villianess and give an interesting if rather fictional portrayal . jack oakie and a the stage manager and be the same old wisecracking jack and but we wouldn not change him . jessie ralph be excellent a the seamstress . others in the cast be charles middleton and gail patrick and donald meek and barbara fritchie and toby wing and lona andre . the screen play be by carey wilson and rufus king and and the direction by mitchell leisen . the music be by arthur johnstone and the lyric by sam coslow . in addition to murder at the vanity and there be a mickey mouse cartoon and a paramount newsreel and and a two reeler and the wrong direction . i disagree with lolly on the denouement and it satisfy if over the top . why would she blame the director . be she displease with the story end or the way it be stag . and what a ten and twenty and or thirty show . note the swipe take at busby berkeley and his overhead shot . as hard a it may be to believe today and the public be tire of buzz schtick by may and 1934. mitch leisen say and if you be show a stage show that suppose to be in a theater and you should stay within the bound of the proscenium arch and and not do a buzz berkeley routine with a stage set that acres big . q represent don not you think berkeley spectacular effect justify take this liberty . ml represent apparently they do because theyre revive all of his picture and none of mine and but personally i do not like it .