The Preview Murder Mystery

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Reginald Denny, Frances Drake, and Gail Patrick in The Preview Murder Mystery (1936)

A public relations man for a movie studio uses an early form of television to help solve a murder.A public relations man for a movie studio uses an early form of television to help solve a murder.A public relations man for a movie studio uses an early form of television to help solve a murder.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

324

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The illuminated rooftop sign of the local chain Broadway Department Store's famed Hollywood location is briefly glimpsed in the background. The corner building still stands at the famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine and is listed on the national register of historic places. It is a converted residence building as of 2023, but in its heyday, the department store served many Hollywood personnel, who worked both in front of and behind the camera.

Goofs
Du Beck hands Smith a crumpled noted with the threat typed on it. However, in closeup, the paper is smooth with a single fold in it.

Quotes
[last lines]
Peggy Madison: [changing from what was her guide of astrology] I'm going to take up numerology.
Johnny Morgan: What's that?
Peggy Madison: Well, if the letters of your name don't add up right, we'll change it.
Johnny Morgan: Say, that's a swell idea. We'll change your name tomorrow.
Peggy Madison: Don't I have anything to say about that?
Johnny Morgan: Yup, just two words.
Peggy Madison: Two words?
Johnny Morgan: "I do."
Peggy Madison: [as Johnny hugs her] Oh, Johnny.

Crazy credits
The cast list shown at the end lists only the supporting players, not the stars (who are listed at the beginning).

Connections
References The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Soundtracks
Promise with a Kiss
(uncredited)
Music by Charles Kisco
Lyrics by Leo Robin
[Neil Du Beck (Rod La Rocque) sings the song during the filming of Song of the Toreador]

User reviews12

Review

Featured review

5/10

Rod LaRoque doesn't do it for me

Paramount changed its name on the big arch to Major Attractions as the name of the studio in the film.

Their latest film is a remake of a silent, The Song of the Toreador. The previous star of the film was a man pictured wearing a turban, who died before talkies. Gosh who could he have been modeled after?

The talkie promises to make the lead, Neil Dubeck (Rod La Roque) a huge star. But Neil is distracted because he is receiving notes predicting he will be murdered before the end of the preview.

In a way, the murder is a blessing as after his performance, he would have had to change his name and move to Ecuador. His singing sounded like a billy goat and his body was so stiff his costar, Gail Patrick, could have pushed him over with her index finger.

With that murder, one other, and the leading lady's life threatened, it falls to the studio publicist (Reginald Denny) to attempt to catch the killer by having him or her step into his office and trip a camera flash.

I think Reginald Denny and Gail Patrick were slumming. I didn't like Rod LaRoque as The Shadow and I didn't like him here.