A fairly routine "cozy" murder mystery in which a hated person is killed in an enclosed environment (in this case a jazz nightclub), witnesses are threatened, and all the suspects are rounded up in the final reel by the bumbling police for a revelatory showdown outlined by a non-professional detective (in this case a newspaper reporter). The plot is handled well enough -- it's just an over-used device.What sets this movie apart from other films of its ilk -- both white-cast and black-cast -- are the interesting and well-played musical interludes and the comedic turn by F. E. Miller as Sgt. Slim. Miller is better known as the vaudeville (and film) partner of Mantan Moreland, but both had separate film outings as well. Both are always worth watching, alone or as a pair. Also notable here is Buck Woods, as a valet who has some memorable scenes ranging from the dramatic to the comedic.

Musician and heel Prince Ellis has returned to town and taken up with sweet Linda. Linda's father doesn't like the fact that his daughter is seeing his daughter and tries to put a stop to it. When Ellis ends up dead, Linda's father becomes the main suspect, but it isn't long before suspects and people with an ax to grind are coming out of the woodwork. Wading in to the mystery is a reporter and a secretary from his paper and they are determined to get to the bottom of the murder. Okay murder mystery is the sort thing that with a bigger budget and more experienced hands would have been a cracking little murder tale. Here it's a not quite as good because the cast is a bit uneven and the direction seems to be off by a beat or two. It doesn't ruin the film but it made me slightly annoyed because I had the feeling that this could have been a great little film if it had a little bit more…. Short comings aside this is worth a look if you like the mysteries of the 40's.

The plot follows a routine B-picture formula. Someone with a lot of enemies is murdered. Who did it? Along the way, we get vignettes of each of the characters. There's also lots of music. The music -- swing (as one could guess) and jazz is not to my taste particularly but it's sensationally well performed.What sets this apart from the rest is that it's a race picture. The performers are black and it was made for all-black audiences. I love watching these movies when they turn up. Some are superb, like Edgar Ulmer's "Moon Over Harlem." Some are quite good. Many are disappointing --or maybe were made so cheaply they haven't survived well today.This movie is has several beautiful actresses, whom I don't recognize right off. The actors are skilled also. And it's short, professional, and snappy. Catch it if you have the chance!

This all-black "race" movie intended for black audiences is worth seeing because of the wonderful jazz music and songs written and mostly performed by The Four Tones and Ceepee Johnson, and played by Johnson's orchestra throughout the film. The setting is mostly in a nightclub, so it is not out of place. The songs dominate the second half of the film, with the murder mystery, while it is fun to watch unfold, taking a back seat. Johnson's performance of his "Beat My Blues Away" is spectacular - a performance not to be missed. If you like jazz, this movie is for you.John Lester Johnson's character is billed on screen as "Himself," because he was a well-known ex-fighter who once broke some ribs of Jack Dempsey (see his mini-biography in this data base). His name is never mentioned, but he is called "Champ" and plays the nightclub owner.