Murder in the Blue Room

Quite an entertaining little gem. The Jazzy Belles are hilariously delightful. Humor and Mystery abound. The cast of characters are all great. If you're looking for some light entertainment I recommend this movie.

According to IMDB, the Ritz Brothers were supposed to make this film but for some reason or another, Universal substituted the lady comedy team, the JazzyBelles in their place. I have no idea why, but this was a welcome change not only because this odd team do a better job but because the Ritz Brothers were LESS funny than Ebola! I have seen quite a few of their films and always find them boorish and unfunny....and really, really obnoxious.

The story begins in a haunted house during a storm. The blue room in the title refers to a seemingly cursed room in this creepy joint. According to legend, when folks stay the night in the room, they die! Can the heroes and heroines get to the bottom of this mystery?

This movie is a remake of the 1930s film "Secret of the Blue Room" but with a comedic and musical bent. The JazzyBelles provide both the humor and do some absolutely amazing dance routines...which are pretty weird considering it's about a haunted house and murders!

The bottom line is that the film is very entertaining in a brainless sort of way. In other words, it's worth seeing but don't think too much or the silliness of it might just make your brain explode! Fun and quite unique. Sadly, however, the JazzyBelles never took off and soon faded into obscurity.

" Murder in the Blue Room " (1944) is a very enjoyable musical/who- done it starring the gorgeous Anne Gwynne. This film is virtually impossible to find these days. I have only seen it once, and that was back in the early 70's. It left an impression on me and I would love to see this film again! Thrills and chills and musical dance numbers all packed into one hour. Short , but sweet. As much as I enjoyed this film, unfortunately I only remember bits and pieces of it. It involves a secret bedroom (blue) where a man was murdered 20 years earlier, as well as a shootout inside the caves below the seaside mansion where the film takes place. It is rare for a movie so vaguely remembered, to have such an impact on a first time viewer such as myself. I hope to one day come across this little slice of cinematic joy to add to my collection. I HAVE FOUND THIS FILM ON YOUTUBE. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY LAST YEAR!!! IT IS WORTH A LOOK, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER MOVIE BUFFS.

Murder in the Blue Room was a personal favorite of it's star, Anne Gwynne. Anne told me herself that she thought the picture 'was snappy' and 'really moved along'. I couldn't agree more! Yes, kind of odd that a Universal Pictures mystery-thriller would be laced with Boogie Woogie tunes, but, surprisingly, the numbers tie in well with the plot and are not overdrawn. Probably the best tune is the novelty number "Boogie Woogie Boogie Man", sung by the girl group to captive butler Ian Wolfe! Anne's song, "One Starry Night," dubbed by vocalist Martha Tilton, is also a very good tune. Without giving away the plot, there is an interesting twist, all wrapped up in a seaside ghost-mansion setting. Very atmospheric scenes include the interrupted party scene wherein the ghost makes an appearance at the piano, the appearance of ghoulish-costumed Larry Dearden at the costume party, and the climactic gun play in the caves underneath the mansion. Made by any other studio with other actors,this film would not have been half as good, and unfortunately the movie is rarely seen today. A great example of classic '40's Universal.

A party is thrown at a haunted house where a man was murdered in the "blue room" 20 years earlier. The room has not been opened since. That night, Larry (Bill Williams) spends the night there. In the morning, he has disappeared. The following night, Steve (Donald Cook) stays the night there with a similar outcome. On the 3rd night, it is the turn of the Jazzy Belles.....can they solve the mystery...?...

This is a quick paced mystery with musical numbers courtesy of the Jazzy Belles. They sing and dance for 2 numbers and have a 3rd dance routine, all of which are good and performed in an Andrews Sisters swing style. A 3rd song is sung by the party host Anne Gwynne and is dubbed by Martha Tilton - that's why it sounds so good! The mystery keeps you guessing and the film is played as a comedy ...... and there's a ghost....!