a murder investigation go on back stage while the vanity and on it opening night and play on to an unknowing audience . odd combination of musical and murder mystery be worth a look for it cast and it production number and and the sheer novelty of the film . gertrude michael have the showy role of a bitchy actress intent on stop the marriage between the show star and kitty carlisle and carl brisson and as well a star in the infamous sweet marijuana number ( which be also on a 70 bette midler album ) . so while the chorus girl shuffle around backstage and bumble detective victor mclaglen ogle the girl while he try to solve the backstage murder of an unknown woman . we quickly learn that the maid ( dorothy stickney ) love brisson from afar and that the wardrobe lady ( jessie ralph ) be brisson mother and and that the stage manager ( jack oakie ) butt into everything . lot of plots twist among the musical number . the show best know song be cocktail for two . kitty carlisle also sing the haunting where do they come from . and there a weird rhapsody that erupt into a harlem specialty number feature duke ellington . quite the cast . some terrific acting here and especially gertrude michael and dorothy stickney . kitty carlisle be quite good as well . brisson be a total zero though . charles middleton play homer and toby wing play nancy and donald meek play the doctor and and also see if you can spot ann sheridan and lucille ball among the show girl .