The Studio Murder Mystery

1929 "WHO KILLED THE MOST POPULAR STAR IN HOLLYWOOD?"
5.4| 1h2m| en| More Info
Released: 01 June 1929 Released
Producted By: Paramount
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Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

Philandering actor Richard Hardell is murdered at a movie studio. His jealous wife Blanche, his director Rupert Borka, and a girl he mistreated, Helen MacDonald, all have substantial reasons for having wanted him dead.

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Reviews

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.
ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.
Taha Avalos The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
Nicole I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.
blanche-2 "The Studio Murder Mystery" from Paramount Pictures in 1929 stars Warner Oland, Frederic March, Neil Hamilton, Eugene Palette, and Doris Hill.Actor Richard Hardell (March) has several enemies. One is his director (Warner Oland), another is his girlfriend (Hill) who finds out he's not going to divorce his wife (Florence Eldridge) and Hardell's wife herself.When Helen is accused of the murder, gag writer Tony White (Hamilton) is determined to solve the case. Many people don't realize that "sound" was different in each studio, as Warners had the license for the Vitaphone. Whatever Paramount owned was nowhere near as good, as the sound here is mushy, and when people speak too quickly, you lose what they are saying.This film differs from the era's talkies in that it moves at a good pace. With people not in the rhythm of sound yet, there are often big pauses between sentences, but not here. And people were still learning how to act in front of a camera. Many actors came from the stage, where performances are much bigger.One reviewer here didn't like Neil Hamilton, but I did. He's handsome and enthusiastic and if he seems maybe TOO enthusiastic, I think it was more the style of the era. Hamilton, who died at 85, played Commissioner Gordon on Batman. Interesting to see some of these people so young!You can get a look at Paramount sound stages on this film, too, which is fascinating, and there is a silent film being shot during one of the scenes.Good artifact.
gridoon2018 It's rather easy for a contemporary viewer to spot the killer early in "The Studio Murder Mystery" (it practically uses the same gimmick as the even earlier Philo Vance cinematic debut "The Canary Murder Case", also made by Paramount and also with Eugene Palette in the cast, in the same role with a different name). But the movie is still fun to watch, especially for buffs of the genre who want to see it taking its first baby steps. Frank Tuttle (who also directed some Philo Vance films) was a director who adapted quickly to the new "talkie" era, and employed the advances of the medium (flashbacks, close-ups, etc.). The film does not feel very static. Also of interest is the presence of Warner Oland, who is excellent in an early, pre-Charlie Chan role. **1/2 out of 4.
malcolmgsw This is a very interesting look at the Paramount lot in 1929.In the film within a film inside the studio the "film" being made is clearly a silent.The camearmen are cranking their cameras by hand and there is a small orchestra to give mood music to the actors.However on the back lot they are making a sound film as is apparent from the man at a control board.Much of the early action takes place by the famous main gate.Beyond this the copy that i have is from a rather battered print,so it is hard at times to make out what the actors are saying.It is a typical whodunit from the early talkie days with a very young Frederick March.Worth viewing for its historic interest.
Norm-30 I LOVE old mysteries, but this early sound film is a real "creaker". The action is snail-paced, and the early sound recording makes it difficult to understand what most of the actors are saying. All-in-all, a confusing film.

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