- 6/7/2025
Lady of Burlesque (also known as The G-String Murders and in the UK, Striptease Lady) is a 1943 American musical comedy-mystery film, produced by Hunt Stromberg and directed by William A. Wellman and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Michael O'Shea.
A significant portion of the film is taken up with onstage performances, including comic bits and toned-down striptease acts. There is also a lot of backstage action not directly related to the evolving murder mystery but highlighting the characters and lifestyles of the performers and crew.
A significant portion of the film is taken up with onstage performances, including comic bits and toned-down striptease acts. There is also a lot of backstage action not directly related to the evolving murder mystery but highlighting the characters and lifestyles of the performers and crew.
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00:00The End
00:04:29Hey, Jake, is that new doll from Columbus on yet?
00:04:31Just a minute, Brannick.
00:04:32And how about that five spot you owe me being on?
00:04:34The five spot?
00:04:35Yeah.
00:04:36Oh, you mean the Finn.
00:04:37The Finsky.
00:04:37Well, I'll tell you what I'm going to do.
00:04:39You didn't forget anything, did you?
00:04:40Oh, I may forget my lyrics.
00:04:42Oh, you better not.
00:04:43We're not at the Columbus gaiety, you know.
00:04:44Dixie, your mom.
00:04:45Your mom.
00:04:46Gigi, be a good girl.
00:04:46Gigi.
00:04:47Oh, come on.
00:04:48Be a good girl, huh?
00:04:48I'll be rooting for you.
00:04:52Help you, honey?
00:04:54I'm warning you, comic.
00:04:56Yeah, so did the copper that gave me this.
00:04:58No romance in those copper souls, Dix.
00:05:00Just because a guy goes through two red lights together.
00:05:02Quiet, Irish.
00:05:02Get upstairs and put your false face on.
00:05:04Dixie.
00:05:05Well, I just wanted to wish you luck.
00:05:07That's okay, comic, but keep it at a distance.
00:05:35Beautiful, Junior, but it's not for me.
00:06:05I do my act.
00:06:08Boys, it's a fact.
00:06:10Whenever I'm applauded, you're rewarded.
00:06:13Each time the drummer jumps, I get goose flesh big as lumps.
00:06:18I start breaking out in bums.
00:06:27Brother, I'm making my eggs and bacon, earning my pay.
00:06:31Just by shaking this wave, four shows a day.
00:06:38Time was when crime was if you stole some dough.
00:06:44Now that ain't so.
00:06:46Because if you lack attire, it's the Black Mariah.
00:06:49Mm-mm, Lady Godiva.
00:06:52I know what you're waiting for.
00:06:55I've been waiting a week.
00:06:56And I've a mind to do some more.
00:06:58I'll stick around.
00:06:58But I don't want to break the law.
00:07:01Because listen, brother, I've got a mother, old and gray.
00:07:05But she's a Lulu.
00:07:06I support her this way, four shows a day.
00:07:10How about a little supper after the show tonight?
00:07:28The only date I make with comics is with the Sunday funnies.
00:07:31That'd be all right with me.
00:07:32Sunday morning breakfast.
00:07:33Yeah, I'm sure it would be.
00:07:35Hey, you forgot to take your hand out of that one.
00:07:40Shh.
00:07:42Shh.
00:07:44Shh.
00:07:47Shh.
00:07:48Shh.
00:07:49Shh.
00:07:50Shh.
00:07:51Shh.
00:07:52Shh.
00:07:53Shh.
00:07:54Shh.
00:07:55Shh.
00:07:56Shh.
00:07:57Shh.
00:07:58Shh.
00:07:59Shh.
00:08:00You let him in the aisles.
00:08:01They'll never let her off at that stage.
00:08:02Gee, you work fast.
00:08:03Nothing to it, Mandy.
00:08:04Butterflies are usually hard to catch.
00:08:05Yeah, not when you've had practice.
00:08:06Boy, you sure have practice.
00:08:07Pretty sure there won't be no more room.
00:08:08For her, they can all move over.
00:08:09Mandy, here's some glitter to start your collection.
00:08:11Gee, thanks, Biff.
00:08:12You'd better tell them what that glitter is.
00:08:13Oh, so I don't know.
00:08:14Oh, I don't know.
00:08:15Oh, no.
00:08:16Oh, no.
00:08:17Oh, no.
00:08:18Don't know.
00:08:19Oh, no.
00:08:20Oh, no.
00:08:21Oh, no.
00:08:22Oh, no.
00:08:23Oh, no.
00:08:24Oh, no.
00:08:25Oh, no.
00:08:27Oh, no.
00:08:28Oh, no.
00:08:29Oh, no.
00:08:30Oh, no.
00:08:31Oh, no.
00:08:32Oh, no.
00:08:33Oh, no.
00:08:34Oh, no.
00:08:35Oh, no.
00:08:36Oh.
00:08:37Well, of course I know. They wear it around the waist, and they have to, well, they use it.
00:08:46Oh, you're making me so mad.
00:09:04Easy to call you, Dixon.
00:09:05Good night, darling.
00:09:06Makes me want to leave the wife.
00:09:07Come for a couple less.
00:09:08Huh?
00:09:09That worm's lucky he did run away.
00:09:10Where do I slap his face in the pickle for sweater? They'll find his jaw on Staten Island.
00:09:14Yeah?
00:09:16What?
00:09:18What did I tell you?
00:09:19With diamonds in your hair, and S.B. Force personally grooming you for stardom.
00:09:24No thanks to your first comic.
00:09:25Oh, Forcey, are they all alike? Don't you ever make a new one?
00:09:28Not with comics, only with girls.
00:09:30And only S.B. Force can do anything new with them.
00:09:33Well, I guess it's up to me. And I'm just the gal to enjoy the job.
00:09:43You really gave them the money for it.
00:09:44Nice going, Dixon.
00:09:45No, the next show in the Yale boat.
00:09:47Why is it going home dreaming, Dixon?
00:09:48Gee, if I could please the customers like that, I'd be the happiest girl in the world.
00:09:52That's what keeps me young and beautiful, Alice.
00:09:55Don't we get any congrats from the Golden Voice Goddess?
00:09:58Oh, it had its novelty appeal.
00:10:00Meow.
00:10:01Meow.
00:10:02Well, there are plenty of novelties around the old opera.
00:10:04Bravo! Bravo!
00:10:05Well, that doesn't sound like one of them.
00:10:07If that's who I think it is, save your applause for the acts that need it. Yours!
00:10:11Now, is that the way to talk when I'm handing your posies?
00:10:13Your applause is no music to my ears, Branigan. Where's that prop you swiped?
00:10:17I meant to tell you, Dixie, when you dress for our date tonight, blue is my favorite color.
00:10:21And no big hat, see that it'll get in my way.
00:10:23When I dress for a date with you, it'll be a suit of armor and brass knuckles.
00:10:27Gee, that's just a come on. She wants to make it look difficult.
00:10:32She'll change her tune.
00:10:34Honey, sugar.
00:10:37See?
00:10:38Yes, darling.
00:10:39Russell, sugar.
00:10:42What is it, Angel? I've just thought of the play.
00:10:45Yeah, the double play. Wait till Dolly catches up with you.
00:10:48How does it sound?
00:10:49Fine, high class.
00:10:50That's for us. Shall we read it together later?
00:10:54Anytime you say.
00:10:55Why don't you give it up, goddess?
00:10:57It'll take one play to get you and rustle out of burlesque. It'll take a dare.
00:11:02That settles it. We've got to have a new one.
00:11:04New what?
00:11:05Or the museum piece.
00:11:06I haven't seen one like that since the Wilkes-Barre-Regal.
00:11:09In some ways, I think it would have been better to stay on the farm.
00:11:12Mr. Foss always says that nothing's too good for SB Foss players,
00:11:15but that thing is certainly too something for me.
00:11:18Me too.
00:11:19Hey!
00:11:20Look, to keep you Kewpie dolls from pining so much,
00:11:22us fellas up here are going to chip in a buck apiece on some new plumbing for you.
00:11:26How's that?
00:11:27Our hero.
00:11:28Now put the switch on low if he's backstage.
00:11:30He said he knew where we could get one.
00:11:33It's nothing, girls.
00:11:34I was just doing it for that lovely young butt of the old opera, Miss Dixie Daisy.
00:11:38Well, I'm touched.
00:11:41Mandy.
00:11:42Joey.
00:11:44Phil.
00:11:45Biff.
00:11:47Maybe Biff will pay double with his new interest.
00:11:50If you figure that way, don't forget your saloon keeper friend Louie,
00:11:53even if he doesn't work here.
00:11:54Sure, anybody that saved as much out of the rack is Louie.
00:11:56That's a poor part of this guy's stockkeep.
00:11:58Or does he?
00:12:00While you're at it, put Russell down for plenty.
00:12:02He's here so much, the guys upstairs will forget what he looks like.
00:12:05Well, someone else had better forget what he looks like, too.
00:12:09Some dames never know when a guy's fed up.
00:12:12Oh, uh, Dolly.
00:12:14We were just kidding about how much jack we could get out of upstairs for the new bric-a-brac.
00:12:19Yeah, I came in on the tail end of it.
00:12:23I'll take care of Russ since I sort of got the habit.
00:12:26Good thing you have, girlie.
00:12:28You sure couldn't hold a man unless you did pay up.
00:12:32Now stop it!
00:12:33Awww!
00:12:37Put that bracket up there!
00:12:58Awww!
00:12:59Oh, my vocal cords, my voice.
00:13:10Thank heaven, Mother.
00:13:12They're still all right.
00:13:13Mother.
00:13:14What kind of a mother would a dame like you have?
00:13:16A mother with a good right.
00:13:17No, no, no, stop him.
00:13:22There's a pocket for you, boys.
00:13:24Don't open it till Christmas.
00:13:26Ouch.
00:13:27Fight him again, Dolly.
00:13:28Take her up there.
00:13:29Take her up there.
00:13:30Take her up there.
00:13:31Take her up there.
00:13:31Take her up there.
00:13:32Quiet.
00:13:32There's a number on with it.
00:13:33Oh, you look what crawled out of the antiques.
00:13:36Hey, what are you burning in that ground?
00:13:38Bird seed?
00:13:38We ought to put those two down in the basement with the rest of the problem.
00:13:42Opera singers didn't mind it, but burlesque artistes, times have changed.
00:13:49They ain't got no manners.
00:13:50Think they're better than an honest man that works for a living and don't pose around on
00:13:54those stage.
00:13:54Excuse me.
00:13:58Hey, what'd you do to the statue of the hermit?
00:14:09Boy, were you getting dished by the gruesome twosome.
00:14:12It's gin.
00:14:13It's gin.
00:14:14You know alcohol like they use in hospitals.
00:14:16Yeah, well, I know a better place to use it.
00:14:19Get me.
00:14:24And the next time you girls pull a free-for-all, don't pull it during my act.
00:14:28You know, it's tough enough doing something artistic for those lugs out there without you
00:14:35and Dolly calling each other by your right names.
00:14:37Well, if you do, honey, drop your spangle.
00:14:39Mm-hmm.
00:14:40Mm-hmm.
00:14:41Mm.
00:14:42And it was embarrassing, believe me, but very successful.
00:14:47What hit me?
00:14:49How do you look, Miss Dixie?
00:14:50We're on.
00:14:51Coming.
00:14:52Well, girls, keep the home fires under control.
00:14:53Shall we join the customers?
00:14:54That's what we're getting paid for.
00:14:55You're gonna feel pretty silly someday when you remember acting like this.
00:14:56If I remember you that long.
00:14:57Oh, you'll remember.
00:14:58We're gonna make sensational partners.
00:14:59You sure about that?
00:15:00Oh, I mean in some of our dance routines.
00:15:01Naturally.
00:15:02There's never any doubt what a comic means.
00:15:03You better settle down to it, Dixie.
00:15:04Looks like you and I are in for a good long run here.
00:15:05I've been training for it.
00:15:06I can keep ahead of you.
00:15:07Hurry up, Miss Dixie, will you?
00:15:08You're on.
00:15:09How'd you give me that?
00:15:10Give me that.
00:15:11Give me that.
00:15:12I'm here.
00:15:13I'm here.
00:15:14I'm here.
00:15:15I'm here.
00:15:16I'm here.
00:15:17I'm here.
00:15:18I'm here.
00:15:19I'm here.
00:15:20I'm here.
00:15:21I'm here.
00:15:22I'm here.
00:15:23I'm here.
00:15:24I'm here.
00:15:25I'm here.
00:15:26I'm here.
00:15:27I'm here.
00:15:28I'm here.
00:15:29I'm here.
00:15:30I'm here.
00:15:31I'm here.
00:15:32I'm here.
00:15:33I told you the last time.
00:15:34There's no use asking you.
00:15:35This time I'll be good, please.
00:15:36I said no, I mean no.
00:15:37Hey, where are you going?
00:15:38I'm going to meet a blonde.
00:15:39A blonde?
00:15:40That blonde that works the dice in Kelly's pool room.
00:15:42Maybe you know it.
00:15:43No, I don't know.
00:15:44Hey, I want a blonde.
00:15:45You want a blonde?
00:15:46What kind of a blonde?
00:15:47Any kind.
00:15:48One like this, or one like this, or one like this.
00:15:49Just a blonde.
00:15:50Hey, how come you have all the luck with the girls?
00:15:51Because, my boy, I have something you haven't got.
00:15:53Oh, you got a magic thing there?
00:15:54See this little article?
00:15:55All I have to do is wave that little persuader onto the lady's nose.
00:15:58She gives me anything I want.
00:15:59Anything?
00:16:00Anything at all.
00:16:01Hey, sell it to me.
00:16:02Oh, my boy, that's a very valuable article.
00:16:03My price would be $1,000.
00:16:04Eh, so long.
00:16:05Hey, lady, you left your motor running.
00:16:19Don't get excited.
00:16:20You didn't start.
00:16:21I bet I could stop it.
00:16:22Hey, maybe I ought to buy that thing, huh?
00:16:23I thought you said you wanted a blonde.
00:16:24Eh, she looks like she's a blonde at heart.
00:16:26Here, here, you can't talk that way about that sweet, charming, innocent young lady.
00:16:29I was just trying to tell her to...
00:16:30Never mind what you were trying.
00:16:31Now, are you interested in purchasing this persuader or not?
00:16:33Well, it seems like an awful lot of money for such a small article.
00:16:36My boy, don't you realize the best things always come in small packages?
00:16:39Yeah, but before I spend all that money, how do I know it's going to work?
00:16:41Why, of course it'll work.
00:16:42All you have to do is have the little persuader onto the lady's nose.
00:16:44She gives you anything you want.
00:16:46Hello.
00:16:47Hello.
00:16:48Oh, there's never anybody around here where you want to...
00:16:50What is it?
00:16:51It looks like a raid.
00:16:52I'm trying to get forced.
00:16:53A raid?
00:16:54Hello, hello.
00:16:55They're red lights supposed to flash when the cops are in the lobby.
00:16:57Why isn't it working?
00:16:58That's swell, but, eh, wouldn't you make it a little cheaper?
00:17:01Well, I might sell it in the neighborhood of $500.
00:17:04Ah, that's an expensive neighborhood.
00:17:06Well, how much money have you got?
00:17:07Oh, roughly $400.
00:17:09What do you mean, roughly?
00:17:10Well, when you smooth it out, it's three bucks.
00:17:12Well, enough of this nonsense.
00:17:13Now, because I like you and because you have an honest face...
00:17:15Murder.
00:17:16...I'm going to sell you this little article for $100.
00:17:18$100.
00:17:21Remember, my boy, just pass it under her note.
00:17:24Just pass it under her note.
00:17:26Anything I ask for, anything.
00:17:28Now you've done it, they heard that hand you got way down at the police station.
00:17:30Something smells fishy around here.
00:17:31Why wasn't that light on?
00:17:32Because somebody didn't want it on.
00:17:34Look!
00:17:35Cut as clean as a whistle right here under my nose.
00:17:37And by somebody who...
00:17:38Give me your money.
00:17:39When the lights black out, make a break for the cold shoot.
00:17:42Know where it is?
00:17:43I don't hang around the same parts of this theater that you do.
00:17:45Give me a kiss.
00:17:47In the cellar next to the vacant room and cut the end of the blackout.
00:17:50Not a chance, Brannigan.
00:17:51I've been saving up for this all evening.
00:17:56Hey, wait a minute!
00:18:21Don't get excited. I'll protect you. Come on
00:18:43What's going on down there
00:18:45Okay, okay
00:18:50Come on
00:18:52Get a flathead to both your black feet
00:19:10Wait a minute. Stop it. Pull up the curtain. Stop it
00:19:14Don't fight. Excuse me. I'll fix everything
00:19:18Be calm
00:19:21Be calm
00:19:26Be calm. I beseech you
00:19:29Stop it. Stop it. Don't fight
00:19:31Be calm
00:19:32S.B. Foss has never let his actors down
00:19:37And you are not riding in the wagon
00:19:39I S.B. Foss out of my own pocket have hired limousines to take you to jail
00:19:43Three cheers for Foss I've bought
00:19:45Yes, he came just in the niche of time
00:19:49Call in!
00:19:54Well, you didn't have to
00:19:55Didn't have to what?
00:19:59Nothing. Never mind
00:20:00Nothing. Never mind
00:20:15One hour. S.B. Foss gives you his word in one hour I will have you out
00:20:19Come out
00:20:26What's going on?
00:20:27I said one hour, didn't I?
00:20:29Well, here we are
00:20:31All ready for our little snack of steaks and champagne
00:20:34Hooray!
00:20:35What else could the cops do when not one of you did anything to warrant such a, such a ignoble act like that rage?
00:20:45Right
00:20:46But, it wasn't the cops that kept the light from flashing, one right from our middle
00:20:51And it wasn't the cops that tried to strangle me, that female flatfoot was wearing gloves
00:20:55Dixie, what are you talking about?
00:20:56When the lights went out, I made for the coal chute
00:20:57I was starting down the stairs when somebody grabbed me
00:20:59Mandy, you ought to be ashamed of yourself
00:21:01Well, it wasn't me, Dixie, honest it wasn't
00:21:03Somebody grabbed me and tried to strangle me
00:21:05Those hands were long and thin and they knew what they were doing
00:21:08It was strong enough to make me black out
00:21:10Sugar, you're still blacked out
00:21:12Dixie, somebody was trying to find his way out
00:21:15Yeah, neck is a funny thing to mistake for a signpost
00:21:17Well, I've seen a lot of pink elephants in my day, honey, but never a strangler
00:21:22But somebody would want to kill you
00:21:24I don't say they wanted to kill me
00:21:27What I'm saying is that
00:21:28Somebody in that theater tried to kill somebody else
00:21:39Maybe somebody does want to get rid of somebody else around here
00:21:42Just what do you mean by that?
00:21:43I mean that three people get crowded at a table for two
00:21:46And when some people get crowded, they push
00:21:49Please, please
00:21:51Whatever we got in the old opera house, we ain't got murderers
00:21:54Right
00:21:55And this is my answer to such foolishness
00:21:59Ah, wallpaper
00:22:01You should have such wallpaper to pretty up your house
00:22:04To each and every one of my actors I give free, and without cost
00:22:09One paid and full share of my personal stock in the old opera house
00:22:13Hooray!
00:22:14Thank you!
00:22:15Thank you!
00:22:16Thank you!
00:22:17Thank you!
00:22:18Thank you!
00:22:19Come on up, everybody!
00:22:20That's great!
00:22:21Come on!
00:22:22We should have a radio on your side of the walls
00:22:23Yes, that's right
00:22:24Now we are one for all, and all for the old opera
00:22:27But camping and cocktails are riding our lives
00:22:32We shall ride
00:22:34Remember, easy, a dozen
00:22:36Should it?
00:22:37Was it?
00:22:38Which is where we fall
00:22:44So, Sir Galahad finally got here
00:22:47Got a bad temper, Songbird
00:22:48Why don't you come down and get me? I called you, didn't I?
00:22:51I don't go near jails, I don't go near cops, you know that
00:22:54But a cell crawling with floozies is all right for me
00:22:57I can be booked like a common tramp, can't I?
00:23:00You might have liked it if your boyfriend had serenaded you
00:23:02Might have worked up a quartet with your cell buddies
00:23:05Big Louie the Grin
00:23:07Turns gray when he sees a cop like a gunsel
00:23:09You shouldn't have plugged that cop with...
00:23:10Get your coat!
00:23:11Get your coat!
00:23:23You won't get too lonesome for us, will you?
00:23:34Let's break it up
00:23:41Needed that, didn't you?
00:23:43Don't worry, the cops haven't got anything on you yet
00:23:46When they do, they'll catch up on a lot of things
00:23:48Won't they, Louie?
00:23:49I don't know, will they?
00:23:58This is more like it
00:24:00Do you mind, Curly?
00:24:01Not at all
00:24:02Thank you
00:24:03See that? He gets it quicker than you do
00:24:05We belong together
00:24:06Champagne cocktail, please
00:24:07In a flasso, Garçon, too
00:24:09Linguist
00:24:10No, French
00:24:11I see you've been here before
00:24:13Oh, beer's a lot better for you
00:24:14Always got your best interest at heart, that's me
00:24:16And I left upstairs to come down here with you
00:24:18Steak, champagne
00:24:19Yeah, but things upstairs were getting sudden and violent
00:24:23Yeah
00:24:24They've been that way all evening
00:24:27Biff, I wonder...
00:24:28Don't forget that stuff, will you?
00:24:30Oh, I get it
00:24:32You're just pulling this act to make me feel protective
00:24:34Don't you ever figure on anybody telling the truth?
00:24:36Not burlesque dames
00:24:37They're used to wriggling out of things
00:24:40Did you get that one?
00:24:45Dixie, tell me something
00:24:46Uh-uh
00:24:47You tell me
00:24:48Who'd want to close the old opera?
00:24:50More important, who'd be after me?
00:24:52Well, Dixie, I guess I'll have to confess
00:24:54It was just me taking a natural advantage of the dark
00:24:57Oh, no
00:24:58That's not where you'd grab me
00:25:01Go ahead, make a mystery out of it
00:25:03Take a mystery out of it
00:25:05But didn't you say before they were probably after somebody else?
00:25:08Yeah, I know, but...
00:25:10Oh, let's get out of here and get some fresh air
00:25:12I want to think this thing out
00:25:14If you'll promise to think something else over first
00:25:17Or on that track again
00:25:19Dixie, I don't get it
00:25:20I've always gotten along before
00:25:21Is it the set of my shoulders you don't like?
00:25:23The look of my eyes?
00:25:24No
00:25:26No, your shoulders aren't bad
00:25:28Your eyes are a pretty color
00:25:30But...
00:25:31I guess what I need with you is a good four-leaf clover
00:25:33Uh-huh
00:25:34No, you need more than that, Branigan
00:25:37You're a comic
00:25:38What is the matter with comics?
00:25:40I went into show business when I was seven years old
00:25:43Two days later, the first comic I ever met
00:25:44Stole my piggy bank on a railroad station in Portland
00:25:47When I was eleven, the comics were looking at my ankles
00:25:50When I was fourteen, they were... just looking
00:25:54When I was twenty, I'd been stuck with enough lunch checks to paper a three-story house
00:25:58Now, they're shiftless, dame-chasing, ambitionless
00:26:00I've got it, you're ambitious
00:26:03Maybe I'd like to get away from comics
00:26:06Maybe I'd like to be in a 440 show and have Sunday nights off
00:26:10You'll do it too, Dixie
00:26:12You don't mean that
00:26:13I can see it right now
00:26:15Your name up there
00:26:17What's your real name, honey?
00:26:18Uh-huh
00:26:20Deborah Hoople
00:26:21Deborah Ho...
00:26:24You think...
00:26:25Yeah, maybe just Dixie
00:26:26Dixie Daisy in Broadway's latest hit
00:26:28You know what I'm gonna do opening night?
00:26:29Uh-uh
00:26:30By the whole first row, just for me
00:26:33Sounds nice, Branigan
00:26:34You'll see
00:26:35Won't take long either
00:26:37Come on, let's get out of here
00:26:40Yep
00:26:45Hey
00:26:47Uh-uh
00:26:49That's why I ordered beer
00:26:51I said it was to your interest
00:26:57Comics
00:26:59Thank you
00:27:02450, sir
00:27:07For when I'm not around
00:27:09To protect my best interest
00:27:10Oh, here's your change, mister
00:27:12Keep it
00:27:13Oh, here's your change, mister
00:27:14Keep it
00:27:15Keep it
00:27:16A little silence from the golden tonsils will be appreciated
00:27:17If the cops had heard her last night that he used her for a siren
00:27:31We ought to all have to put up with jealousy
00:27:32You look in this window once more and you'll get a bottle over there
00:27:34Those jock suey hustlers don't stop talking
00:27:35Why don't you dress someplace else?
00:27:36It's my dressing room
00:27:37And it's their porch
00:27:38They're probably a darn sight hotter than that
00:27:39Boy, are they hot tonight?
00:27:40A couple of sailors fell right out of their boxes
00:27:41What's that work of art?
00:27:42Laurel leaves for the party tonight
00:27:43We're gonna have a regular unveiling
00:27:44Like when you unveil
00:27:45Statues of generals and horse of mother
00:27:46Or if you don't have a hold of them
00:27:47They only come in front
00:27:48You don't have to put up with jealousy
00:27:49You look in this window once more and you'll get a bottle over there
00:27:51Those jock suey hustlers don't stop talking
00:27:52Why don't you dress someplace else?
00:27:53It's my dressing room
00:27:54And it's their porch
00:27:55They're probably a darn sight hotter than that
00:27:56Boy, are they hot tonight
00:27:57A couple of sailors fell right out of their boxes
00:27:58What's that work of art?
00:27:59Laurel leaves for the party tonight
00:28:00We're gonna have a regular unveiling
00:28:01Like when you unveil
00:28:03Statues of generals and horse of mother
00:28:05And horse of mother
00:28:06All the way
00:28:07Like when you unveil
00:28:08US
00:28:09We're gonna have a regular unveiling
00:28:10Like when you unveil
00:28:12Statues of generals
00:28:13General, then I wouldn't think.
00:28:16Maybe that'll teach you to mind your own business.
00:28:22Not that it matters to you, Danes,
00:28:24but someone had to teach them that a lady's entitled to privacy.
00:28:27You'll get plenty of privacy if that waiter's hurt.
00:28:29They have laws for people like you.
00:28:30Oh, yeah? Who gave you a cue?
00:28:32Stick to your own business, and I'll stick to mine.
00:28:34Stick to my own business? That's a laugh.
00:28:36I've stood for your knives in the back to keep a little peace around here, but I'm through.
00:28:39If you're not jumping on us, you're knocking out waiters
00:28:40who wouldn't look at you if you were rolled in batter and french fries.
00:28:43And I'm through letting the Corn Belt Upstart get pushed ahead of me.
00:28:46Where does everybody get the idea you're so hot?
00:28:48Maybe the customers get the idea.
00:28:49You can have these customers. I'm getting out of this grindhouse.
00:28:53Are you decent?
00:28:54Oh, I wish he wouldn't say that. It sounds so cheap.
00:28:58Mowie, let me help you.
00:29:00Oh, it's hot!
00:29:04Give it all to Bo Brummel!
00:29:06Hey, is that good, that Bo business?
00:29:09It ain't hot, is it?
00:29:11What do you mean, hot?
00:29:12This, I think of this pal of mine I used to work with in the old days.
00:29:15When we got legitimate, he took up plumbing.
00:29:17And what do you know?
00:29:18He gives me it wholesale.
00:29:20And what's more, I saved you plenty by installing it personally.
00:29:24Just look at that.
00:29:25Just look at that.
00:29:25Oh, that's gorgeous.
00:29:26Why, it's got class enough for the Queen of Sheba.
00:29:30Now, you'd really have something if you had a whole suit to match.
00:29:33Sweet.
00:29:34Come on, come on, everybody down for the conger.
00:29:36You play with that thing later.
00:29:37Come on, everybody.
00:29:37Hey, you're okay.
00:29:38What's the matter with Sammy?
00:29:40Sounds like it's wild-a-file.
00:29:42Probably slow because we didn't ask them for the party.
00:29:44Probably won't even have a party with Mother's darling throwing bottle grenades at the food supply.
00:29:48I'll try and smooth things over while you girls hand out the allure.
00:29:56Hey, Jakes.
00:29:57Yeah?
00:29:57I'm worried.
00:30:02What about her?
00:30:03Look, it was a break for us to come on here, so okay.
00:30:06But Columbus was never like this.
00:30:08Lillie's ready to slit your throat, dollies up in the air.
00:30:10Since when couldn't I take care of myself?
00:30:12Yeah, I know, but...
00:30:22We almost got him that time.
00:30:27See what I mean?
00:30:33Ever find a stage gang that didn't eavesdrop?
00:30:36Go on, get down there.
00:30:36Now, is that a sight?
00:30:57I ask you.
00:30:58Hold it.
00:30:59If they could get moonlight on that stage,
00:31:05Force would be a millionaire tomorrow.
00:31:07Where are you off to, Miss Venus?
00:31:09I'm on a peace mission.
00:31:11If you hear any screams, tell Force to hire a new woman.
00:31:14Uh-uh.
00:31:15You won't lose any arguments.
00:31:17Not looking like that.
00:31:18You won't have time.
00:31:21You know, if this were real lasso,
00:31:23I'd drag you up here like a calf in a western.
00:31:25Only no calf ever had a hide as pretty as that.
00:31:30What would you do when you got me?
00:31:32You've had a little trouble putting the brand on so far.
00:31:36Ah, that's so far.
00:31:38After a sight like that,
00:31:40my Irish ancestors would rise up in their graves
00:31:42if Branigan missed the bus.
00:31:44I hate to disturb your ancestors.
00:31:45Well, what sense, friends?
00:31:56I'll show you soon what sense.
00:31:57And if you want to start something...
00:31:59Hey, Bear!
00:32:00The girl's dance level's nearly finished.
00:32:02You better get ready.
00:32:03Oh, now, wait a minute, boys.
00:32:04I'm carrying a white flag.
00:32:06You Chinese fight too darn well
00:32:07for us to want to mix with you.
00:32:09Come here.
00:32:10Let me take a look at that.
00:32:12That isn't a way to take care of it.
00:32:15You go back.
00:32:21We have nothing to do with you.
00:32:22Yeah, we'll have something to do with this.
00:32:24Here.
00:32:25Uh, no dinners?
00:32:27No more dinners, ever.
00:32:28No.
00:32:29Oh, now, look.
00:32:29We have to put up with enough of that dame
00:32:31without her starving us out in the bargain.
00:32:33She was born with an axe in her mouth.
00:32:35She ought to be put out of her misery like a mad dog.
00:32:38Come on.
00:32:39Tell me you'll bring us our dinners
00:32:41and I'll smoothie the divorce
00:32:41into giving you some passes.
00:32:45Things getting a little bit difficult for you, Piff?
00:32:49Yeah, Mandy.
00:32:50You know how it is.
00:32:51Sometimes these things take time.
00:32:53They sure do.
00:32:55You've got to plan it out.
00:32:56Sometimes you finagle them this way
00:32:58and other times you finagle them that way.
00:33:00That's why I like sweet dumb girls like Alice.
00:33:03No finagling.
00:33:04We bring the dinners.
00:33:05Thanks, the spirit.
00:33:06Don't spare the ice until that's better.
00:33:07See you later.
00:33:08Wait, wait, wait a minute.
00:33:11Ginseng root.
00:33:12You eat it, makes you live a long time.
00:33:15Thanks.
00:33:16Thanks a lot.
00:33:21So he slips you one of those never-die things, huh?
00:33:24Yes, Mr. Brannigan.
00:33:25It's a charm to ward off the evil spirit.
00:33:39Piff, what's the matter?
00:33:41That was my ancestors rising up in their graves.
00:33:43How about that guy?
00:33:50How'd you make out with the waiters, Dixie?
00:33:52Yeah, did we put on the feed bag?
00:33:53Yeah.
00:33:54And what's that?
00:33:54I don't know.
00:33:55A waiter gave it to me.
00:33:56Hey!
00:33:57Dixie's got a new boyfriend.
00:33:59You eat it and live a long time.
00:34:01Ceiling wax.
00:34:02Oh, I'm sorry, girls.
00:34:05Well, everything's hunky-dory now.
00:34:08Oh, uh, Jake has a few surprises he wants to put in for the unveiling.
00:34:12So you better clear out early for the finale.
00:34:14This place has as much privacy as a hot dog stand.
00:34:17Look, it's shaped like a man.
00:34:19Ugh, it's disgusting.
00:34:21Not so much like a man.
00:34:23More like a skeleton hanging from the gallows.
00:34:26Want to trade it in, Dixie?
00:34:27Ah, you can have the fool thing.
00:34:31The same charming gathering.
00:34:35Hello.
00:34:38Well, look what the pixies brought in out of the rain.
00:34:41The same old familiar faces.
00:34:45And some new arrivals.
00:34:49Who are you?
00:34:51I'm Dixie Daisy.
00:34:52This is Gigi Graham.
00:34:54Who are you?
00:34:55Oh, I am the Princess Nervina, star of this theater.
00:35:00I have been in the hospital for the last two weeks.
00:35:04Dislocated vertebrae.
00:35:08Maybe she took a little trip to Toledo, for old time's sake.
00:35:12I have never worked in, how you say, to Toledo.
00:35:16Don't give me that accent business.
00:35:18You know how to say it when I first knew you.
00:35:20Toledo.
00:35:21I don't go to Toledo.
00:35:23Only tramps work in Toledo.
00:35:25Well, they get around.
00:35:27No.
00:35:29I should have danced before royalty.
00:35:33Instead, the princess throws pearls to swine.
00:35:39Are you snooty?
00:35:40We're on again, beautiful.
00:35:42Hello, Black Iron.
00:35:43It wasn't bad luck.
00:35:44I'd let her have it.
00:35:45Who was that overexposed debutante?
00:35:47A dame will think she's four times sharper than she is.
00:35:49If there's one thing I hate, it's a phony.
00:35:51I should have danced before royalty.
00:35:57Instead, the princess throws pearls to swine.
00:36:03I had a black cat like that once, only there wasn't so much of it.
00:36:06Well, I wouldn't be too hard on her.
00:36:08She's bad luck to some people, not so bad to others.
00:36:10If anyone else drops in, then I should be.
00:36:12Tell them I'm on stage.
00:36:13The court is now in order.
00:36:15Make one a little discipline.
00:36:16Leave us half order and leave us half quiet.
00:36:18Bring the princess before the...
00:36:19I startled you?
00:36:21Lately, sister.
00:36:21I've been startled by experts.
00:36:23Tell me, while I have been gone, has this Lulita, has she said anything about me?
00:36:28Don't know.
00:36:29You were a smash surprise to me.
00:36:31It is only that some people talk too much.
00:36:34And this Lulita talks a lot too much.
00:36:38Not to me.
00:36:39Ask the others in the dressing room.
00:36:41I dress alone, downstairs.
00:36:44I'd rather leave in a big sty than with those women.
00:36:48What are you doing, Jake?
00:36:49Moving up the whole prop room?
00:36:50I gotta do my surprises upright, Dixie.
00:36:55Still clumsy, eh?
00:36:59Yes.
00:37:00I am back.
00:37:02Just visiting, I hope.
00:37:04Staying, Mr. Prop Man.
00:37:06The court finds you guilty of being drunk and finds you five hours.
00:37:09Here's a ten dollar bill.
00:37:11Ten dollar bill.
00:37:12I haven't got any change.
00:37:13Go out and get drunk again.
00:37:15Court is now ready to receive the trial.
00:37:17The most case of Miss Peaches Wilson.
00:37:18Miss Peaches Wilson!
00:37:21Come on, what are you waiting for?
00:37:22You're on.
00:37:23I'm sorry, Sammy.
00:37:24Oh, hello, Excellency.
00:37:27The V.
00:37:29What is Dot?
00:37:31Dot?
00:37:32She does what you do.
00:37:45I like it better.
00:37:46You two can trade notes at that wing ding they're throwing tonight.
00:37:49Do you think I would go?
00:37:51I, the princess?
00:37:53Free drinks, heinous.
00:37:54Hollywood.
00:37:55Hollywood.
00:37:56I might come.
00:37:58Now I want to see Mr. Foss.
00:38:00Is he here?
00:38:01Right in the same old rat's nest.
00:38:03Want me to tell him you're back?
00:38:04Tell him to come to my dressing room.
00:38:07Now.
00:38:09Want to get a cigar?
00:38:12I'll be back right away.
00:38:15Come, come, Miss Peaches.
00:38:16We want the truth.
00:38:17The what?
00:38:17The truth.
00:38:18Oh, that old thing.
00:38:19Will you over up before me?
00:38:20I don't know.
00:38:21What time do you get up?
00:38:22Now, Miss Peaches, the facts of the case are clear to me.
00:38:25Do you plead guilty or not guilty?
00:38:28Don't you think that's a rather personal question?
00:38:30Oh, you'll have to tell him.
00:38:31Why?
00:38:32Why?
00:38:32Why?
00:38:33Because according to the Constitution of the bylaw,
00:38:35State of Coma, 663 Upper 7, Carl Rated 4,
00:38:38leading for South Mississippi at all points where
00:38:40it's distinctly said, you know,
00:38:42I hold you in contempt.
00:38:47I don't like you either.
00:38:48I don't like you either.
00:38:49Well, I don't like you either either, either either.
00:38:54Enough of that.
00:38:55Who's the carpenter with a hammer?
00:38:56How dare you refer to me as a carpenter.
00:38:58I am justice.
00:38:59Yeah?
00:39:00Well, I'm justice, too.
00:39:01Justice who?
00:39:02Justice as good as you are.
00:39:08What for?
00:39:09I'm not thirsty.
00:39:11Hey, Louie.
00:39:12You know something?
00:39:14Them girls is lucky they know a couple like us.
00:39:16I bring in defensive gadget, you roll the kegs.
00:39:19We're running this party.
00:39:21Yeah.
00:39:21Where are you going?
00:39:23Back in to get the rest of the beer.
00:39:25That's all you're going to get.
00:39:27I told Charlie to take it easy on the free drinks from my pals.
00:39:30Sure, Louie.
00:39:31Sure.
00:39:36Step aside, it's all dark and withered.
00:39:38Some gentlemen are passing.
00:39:39All my sacrifices, Alfred, are but keys to open the gates of heaven
00:39:52and let me be with you.
00:39:55I'll bat him in the aisles with that one.
00:39:57I feel it.
00:39:59Here.
00:40:03Coming, Sammy.
00:40:06Some people don't learn easy, songbird.
00:40:08Now, don't do it, Louie.
00:40:09You've got to take a lot of lessons before this time.
00:40:12Now, don't do it, Louie.
00:40:16Wyatt.
00:40:17Just kidding.
00:40:18You're terrific, Louie.
00:40:22Now it's so rough and tough as big shot Louie the Grin.
00:40:25When he's back, women are pushing guys around.
00:40:33Come on and give me heat
00:40:35Because I don't like my music, please.
00:40:37I want to feel my impulse beat
00:40:40Take it off the E string
00:40:41Play it on the G string
00:40:42If this gives you a thrill
00:40:45It's happening much against my will
00:40:47And only cause I caught a chill
00:40:49Take it off the E string
00:40:51Play it on the G string
00:40:52What goes a lot
00:40:54Goes when I do my act
00:40:57Or if it's a place
00:40:59Whenever I'm applauded
00:41:01You're rewarded
00:41:02Each time I get
00:41:04Or jumps
00:41:04Let's get it
00:41:05Take it off
00:41:06Take it off
00:41:07Take it off
00:41:07I start breakin'
00:41:08Pound it
00:41:09Bumps
00:41:09Brother, I'm makin' my eggs
00:41:11And makin'
00:41:12Earnin' my pay
00:41:13Just by shakin' this way
00:41:16Four shows a day
00:41:17Take it off
00:41:19I'll come on
00:41:20And don't know
00:41:21But I'll come on
00:41:22And don't know
00:41:23I'll come on
00:41:24I'll come on
00:41:25But I'll come on
00:41:26And don't know
00:41:27I'll come on
00:41:28You're gonna go
00:41:28And don't know
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00:43:59Jake must trust you comics as far as he can throw the prop room.
00:44:16What's up now?
00:44:17Oh, that ceiling wax from the box the waiter gave me.
00:44:19He's got it on the catch of the door.
00:44:21Sometimes I think you don't have the right respect for your fellow workers.
00:44:24Maybe I ought to try Louis' masterful touch on you.
00:44:26Good thing the goddess didn't hear that.
00:44:29Hey, Sammy!
00:44:33Hey, Sammy, the primadonna isn't up here.
00:44:35Oh, what the deuce.
00:44:37She can't miss this number. It's the finale.
00:44:39Look, Stahl, you have to stand on your heads out there to keep looking.
00:44:43Stahl, that day causes more trouble around here than a forest fire.
00:44:49What do you mean she isn't here? Have you looked?
00:44:51Yeah.
00:44:52Look out, Jake's seal's there.
00:44:53Oh, I know.
00:44:53If I was...
00:44:54Look.
00:44:56Look, around her neck.
00:45:01That's her G-string.
00:45:03It ain't there for an ornament either.
00:45:08Force.
00:45:09I gotta get force.
00:45:12Best, get the police quick.
00:45:13Press and roll evenly from side to side with a firm touch.
00:45:33Without making a detailed examination, I'd say they were the same.
00:45:36Now, the first finger of the right hand...
00:45:37It's the finger I pressed against the wax.
00:45:39I was...
00:45:40Hey, you're holding up the parade.
00:45:41And what a parade.
00:45:42The only thing missing is the elephant.
00:45:43Is that another limb of the law?
00:45:45Don't worry about him.
00:45:46Save your explanations for his nips.
00:45:48He enjoys hearing them.
00:45:49Miss Daisy, isn't it?
00:45:55Yes.
00:45:56I'm Inspector Harrigan.
00:45:58Sit there, please.
00:46:04Now, to repeat what I was saying, since Miss Daisy was, uh, busy downstairs,
00:46:10someone who was in the room immediately after the body was discovered
00:46:12took that G-string for reasons of his or her own.
00:46:16What G-string?
00:46:17The murder weapon, Miss Daisy.
00:46:18Well, it was her own G-string, and it was around her neck.
00:46:20We all saw it.
00:46:21All but the police.
00:46:23The G-string had disappeared by the time we arrived at the theater.
00:46:26Well, maybe it just fell off.
00:46:27How could anybody take the G-string in that crowd?
00:46:29Everybody in the theater ran in.
00:46:31We are not interested in how it was done.
00:46:33We are interested in who did it, where the weapon was put, and why it was taken.
00:46:38Well, why don't you search us and settle that part of it?
00:46:40Muscles, it looks like he might enjoy us.
00:46:42You can search me, Mr. Kelly.
00:46:45Not that I could hide anything on me.
00:46:47The lady's point is well taken.
00:46:50And a search after this time in this crowd would only cause confusion.
00:46:53It's getting a little too warm here for me.
00:46:56Well, there's been plenty of time for concealment.
00:46:59Well, if one of you could suggest why it was taken.
00:47:02Well, she always carried money on her.
00:47:06She used to hide it in the lining of her costume.
00:47:08Do you think there's a ghoul in this room?
00:47:11Since there's a murderer.
00:47:13Oh, yes, Mr. James Wong.
00:47:16Yes, I've heard of you.
00:47:17Mr. Wong?
00:47:17Hmm, that's a nasty bump.
00:47:20Nasty throw.
00:47:22Nasty enough to cause nastiness all around, eh?
00:47:26Over here.
00:47:29Hmm, I see.
00:47:31Send out a call for Louis Grandaro.
00:47:34Complete prescription of the M&A card.
00:47:35Louis Bader?
00:47:36Well, that's settled.
00:47:37Now we can go home.
00:47:38What did I tell you?
00:47:39I'm afraid, eh, that doesn't quite settle the matter.
00:47:43Doesn't he run away?
00:47:45Settle.
00:47:46Please, be seated.
00:47:51Grandaro took his car, as much cash as he had in the saloon next door,
00:47:55after receiving a call from, eh...
00:47:59Okay, so I called him.
00:48:01When we was in the racket, she did me a couple of turns.
00:48:03All I did was tell him she was dead.
00:48:04I don't care how Louis knew about anything.
00:48:05I know, Louis, they were so scared of what he was going to do
00:48:07that she was taking it out on us.
00:48:08I know he started something...
00:48:10He's got his reasons.
00:48:11He's scared of cops.
00:48:12The pen tore something loose in him, and ever since...
00:48:14He knew what they would do if they got him in again.
00:48:17He may or may not be guilty of this murder.
00:48:20He'll be examined as thoroughly as any of you when he is picked up.
00:48:24But,
00:48:25Lolita Laverne was murdered
00:48:26between the time she came upstairs after her quarrel with Grandaro
00:48:29and the finding of her body.
00:48:31Before I went up at the end of our act.
00:48:34Perhaps.
00:48:35During most of that time, the room was cleared.
00:48:37But the murderer had time to strangle Laverne,
00:48:41break Jake's seal, and replace it with one of his own.
00:48:44I know she wasn't in there when I put the seal on.
00:48:46She had been out of said something.
00:48:48Let us hope so.
00:48:51Well, do all of you still remember
00:48:52exactly nothing about your own movements
00:48:54or anyone else's?
00:48:56Oh, yes.
00:48:57Yes?
00:48:58Uh, yes, Miss Angel?
00:48:59Well, once I went to the water cooler,
00:49:02and I was all alone.
00:49:04Yes.
00:49:04Well, don't you see?
00:49:06See what?
00:49:07There was nobody with me.
00:49:09Anybody could have gone up.
00:49:12Even you, Miss Angel.
00:49:13Oh!
00:49:14Oh, excuse me.
00:49:16Well,
00:49:17it all adds up to this.
00:49:19The stagehands could wander about the theater at will.
00:49:25Candy Butcher?
00:49:26The stage manager who was angry?
00:49:29What are you getting at?
00:49:30Sure, I was sore.
00:49:32But I didn't know she was...
00:49:34Even the flyman,
00:49:35who makes no secret of his dislike of burlesque performers.
00:49:38You don't like burlesque performers either, Statue.
00:49:41Oh, they're not the easiest in the world to get along with.
00:49:44They don't like my pipe.
00:49:45Uh, Mr. Rogers.
00:49:49Yeah?
00:49:50Where were you?
00:49:51I was first down for the finale.
00:49:53Before that, I was dressing.
00:49:58Mr. Branigan, could you put that away?
00:50:00Oh, I can't do my thinking without this.
00:50:02Seems I can't do mine with it.
00:50:04Okay, I'll turn my back.
00:50:07Where were you?
00:50:09Me?
00:50:10Oh, I was up and down.
00:50:12Up and down the stairs, indeed.
00:50:14I didn't say that.
00:50:15Did you mean it?
00:50:16I didn't say I didn't.
00:50:18I was up and down.
00:50:20Where were you up and down?
00:50:22What interest did you have in Lalita Laverne?
00:50:24What is interest in Laverne?
00:50:26Goodness.
00:50:27When you were up and down the stairs.
00:50:28I wasn't up and down on the stairs.
00:50:30I was up and down on the floor.
00:50:32It's a gag.
00:50:33I'm not interested in gags.
00:50:35I'm interested in what you were up and down on.
00:50:38The stage.
00:50:39Oh, you make me so mad.
00:50:41Look, I'll explain it to you.
00:50:43First, I stand up and then she kisses me.
00:50:45And then I'm down.
00:50:46See, it starts like this.
00:50:47Oh, I'm an incubator baby.
00:50:49You're an incubator baby?
00:50:50What do you do on Mother's Day?
00:50:51I said, flowers, turn oil, stove.
00:50:53What's the matter with these two?
00:50:55They're comics.
00:50:56Stop this nonsense.
00:50:58What are you trying to tell me?
00:51:00The stage, the skit.
00:51:01Up and down.
00:51:02Look, I'll show you.
00:51:03Stop this nonsense has held up the whole investigation.
00:51:15You've driven more important things out of my mind.
00:51:17You see, where was I?
00:51:19Oh, yes, Miss Norvina.
00:51:21I am the Princess Norvina.
00:51:24And I was in my dressing room until I hear the excitement.
00:51:28Is that so?
00:51:29Well, why don't you ask her about Toledo?
00:51:32Laverne was always making cracks about Toledo.
00:51:34Making cracks, period.
00:51:36I told her I had never worked in Toledo.
00:51:39That is the truth.
00:51:41Is it not the truth, Mr. Foss?
00:51:45Isn't it?
00:51:46She never worked in my Toledo theater with Levine.
00:51:52As for cracks Laverne make, it is as this person says.
00:51:56Cracks, period.
00:51:57The cracks she make to her were enough to start a fight.
00:52:01Yeah?
00:52:02Well, I was mad enough to take a poke at her.
00:52:04And I'm mad now.
00:52:06You, uh...
00:52:07You took a poke with a nail file, our report shows.
00:52:11Why, if I grabbed at anything I could lay my hands on.
00:52:14That sounds natural.
00:52:16But a nail file?
00:52:18That could be used to kill a person, couldn't it?
00:52:21Sure.
00:52:22And if the weapon was murderous,
00:52:23the attack might be considered murderous, mightn't it?
00:52:27Wait a minute.
00:52:29You're running words around me like a brush fire.
00:52:31Not words, Miss Baxter.
00:52:32Facts.
00:52:33I'm not responsible for the facts.
00:52:36Mr. Rogers was responsible for the quarrel
00:52:38because of his interest in Miss Laverne.
00:52:39We hoped to produce a play I obtained on the legitimate stage.
00:52:43Our interest was purely professional.
00:52:46Miss Laverne threw a bottle at Mr. Wong earlier in the evening.
00:52:50You resented that.
00:52:51I was mad.
00:52:52I was plenty mad.
00:52:53Bringing on a quarrel between Miss Laverne and Miss Daisy.
00:52:56Which had been coming on for a long time.
00:52:58Put that in, too.
00:52:59She said Laverne should be put out of her misery like a mad dog.
00:53:03Is that true, Miss Daisy?
00:53:05Yeah, well, it was a figure of speech.
00:53:08An unfortunate one, seeing it was acted on so suddenly.
00:53:11Now I have something to say.
00:53:14Yes?
00:53:15We are all in the room after the body is found.
00:53:18I am next to her.
00:53:20Suddenly, she notices something on her finger.
00:53:22She turns away to wipe it off.
00:53:25It is red.
00:53:27Like the wax on the door, perhaps.
00:53:29I thought we'd get to that.
00:53:30Since you started this reunion, you made one charge after another.
00:53:33You knew it was my print on that wax when I walked into this room,
00:53:35which had been saving a little bombshell for the last spot in the bill.
00:53:38If I really had changed the wax,
00:53:39do you think I'm dumb enough to leave my print in the middle of it?
00:53:43Murderers are caught by mistakes, Miss Daisy.
00:53:45I was in the dressing room.
00:53:47I saw the wax.
00:53:47I was curious, and I touched it.
00:53:49Why did you later furtively wipe it off?
00:53:50I wiped it off, but not furtively.
00:53:53You turned away from me.
00:53:55I turn away from garbage dumps, too.
00:53:59One more thing.
00:54:01The wax that was used to reseal the door
00:54:03has been identified as coming from the box given to you by Mr. Wong.
00:54:06I gave it to Lolita.
00:54:08You knew about it?
00:54:09Everybody who was in the room knew about her.
00:54:11I thought you were regular.
00:54:12I didn't think you'd try to pull the blame on us.
00:54:14I wasn't trying to.
00:54:15She and Laverne hated each other's insides.
00:54:17Her remarks have shown that.
00:54:18There are plenty of people I don't like.
00:54:20You, for one.
00:54:20But I don't go around killing them.
00:54:22I didn't say you did.
00:54:23I merely said that you hated the Laverne girl.
00:54:26That you were the only person admittedly in the dressing room
00:54:29during the time the murder occurred.
00:54:30That the wax used to reseal the door
00:54:32came from a box given to you.
00:54:35That your fingerprint was on the wax.
00:54:37That you tried to take that wax from your finger
00:54:38without being noted.
00:54:39Stop it!
00:54:40Dixie.
00:54:40Why, you two-faced snooper?
00:54:42Wait a minute, Inspector.
00:54:44There is some mistake.
00:54:45Inspector is a big mistake.
00:54:47Mr. Browning.
00:54:47You can't think this girl did that murder.
00:54:49Why, look at her.
00:54:50Sitting there so beautiful and defenseless.
00:54:53Why, only last week she came to this theater
00:54:55and made more friends than a whole litter of kittens.
00:54:57Why, she couldn't anymore...
00:54:58Miss Daisy is very beautiful,
00:54:59but she doesn't strike me as being
00:55:01either fragile or ethereal.
00:55:03Yeah.
00:55:04Well, furthermore,
00:55:05that woman wasn't out of my sight all evening.
00:55:07That's a silly lie.
00:55:09She just said she was alone in the dressing room.
00:55:13Why we're talking about this,
00:55:14why don't you give yourself top, Bill?
00:55:16You forgot to mention
00:55:18that you told us guys this afternoon
00:55:19that you'd kill LaLita
00:55:21if she kept running around with that Louie.
00:55:24But I loved her.
00:55:25I wanted to marry her.
00:55:27I loved her too much to kill her.
00:55:29Is there something you wanted to tell me, Miss Baxter?
00:55:32No.
00:55:33Didn't you want to tell me
00:55:34it's impossible for Russell Rogers to kill Laverne?
00:55:36No, no, no.
00:55:37Impossible because he's already married?
00:55:39Married to you?
00:55:44You're surprised that I know this.
00:55:46Two years ago,
00:55:47when you were booked during a raid,
00:55:48may interest you to know,
00:55:49your record was collected.
00:55:50We didn't want to make it known
00:55:51because we knew that Foss didn't hire married couples.
00:55:53Never loved me.
00:55:55And what did you tell me?
00:55:56She wasn't crying the night
00:55:57she threatened to kill Laverne and me.
00:56:01Look at this.
00:56:03Those marks.
00:56:05She did that a week ago.
00:56:06The night I threatened to leave her.
00:56:08That isn't true.
00:56:09It's all lies.
00:56:10How long did you have to practice
00:56:11to make like such a heel?
00:56:15Please.
00:56:15This is the coroner's preliminary report.
00:56:24Lolita Laverne
00:56:25was poisoned.
00:56:28She would have died in three minutes
00:56:33if the strangler had not interfered.
00:56:35In other words,
00:56:36the murderer was so impatient
00:56:37he couldn't wait for his poison to take effect.
00:56:39Or,
00:56:40there are two murderers
00:56:42in the old opera house.
00:56:43This is my first experience with burlesque.
00:56:57It's a surprising profession.
00:57:00You will all remain within reaching distance
00:57:02until the case is settled.
00:57:03Poison.
00:57:04If we can just get out of here,
00:57:06I don't care what happens.
00:57:07Leave!
00:57:07Leave!
00:57:07I thought there was to be a party tonight.
00:57:12Are we not to have it?
00:57:14That's what I like.
00:57:16The sensitive type.
00:57:17This is one cookie
00:57:18that's not going back to that room
00:57:20until she's had a bracelet.
00:57:21Nothing either.
00:57:22I want to fix it.
00:57:23Anyway.
00:57:24Leave me to the prop room.
00:57:28I could use one too.
00:57:29Shh.
00:57:31Where are you going?
00:57:32Shh.
00:57:37Biff.
00:57:38Biff.
00:57:39What?
00:57:39The picture of Laverne's mother,
00:57:40it's gone.
00:57:42Why, that's...
00:57:43Low leaders.
00:57:43I threw it out in the roof.
00:57:44Biff.
00:57:45Listen, Dixie.
00:57:46I found this in my pocket.
00:57:47Somebody slipped it there,
00:57:48but I didn't think they'd believe that.
00:57:50They aren't believing anything.
00:57:51So I backed up towards the window.
00:57:54For once, a comic showed them brains.
00:57:56Get rid of it.
00:57:57Oh, no, Dixie.
00:57:59I couldn't do that.
00:58:00I've been thinking.
00:58:02I was a coward.
00:58:05Biff.
00:58:05This is evidence.
00:58:07Important evidence.
00:58:08This is the murder weapon.
00:58:09And they're bearing down on you.
00:58:11Do you think I could think of myself...
00:58:13I'm going to turn it in.
00:58:15But if they won't believe you.
00:58:18I'll have to take that chance, Dixie.
00:58:20When I saw you in trouble up there,
00:58:22Harrigan putting you around,
00:58:23I'd, well...
00:58:24Yes, I know.
00:58:25You stuck up for me.
00:58:27It was swell of you.
00:58:31Maybe you changed your mind about me?
00:58:34Well, now, don't rush me.
00:58:36After all, you are a comic.
00:58:40It'd be swell to think you ahead.
00:58:42Maybe you're worried.
00:58:44Well, maybe for a few minutes you...
00:58:47Biff.
00:58:51Biff.
00:58:52My goodness.
00:58:58You two certainly have strange taste in romance.
00:59:01Imagine being alone in a room
00:59:02where a woman was murdered.
00:59:04And with a man.
00:59:06We wanted you to join the party.
00:59:07Looks like we broke one up.
00:59:09I'm coming.
00:59:09But pipe this.
00:59:10The picture of Laverne's mother is gone.
00:59:12Was it there tonight?
00:59:12She never let it out of her sight.
00:59:13She carried it here and home again.
00:59:15She spoke to it, too.
00:59:17Oh, Mr. Kelly will be so excited to hear about this.
00:59:19Oh, don't angel push.
00:59:20No more push until we get some...
00:59:22Maybe we both could do with some of that.
00:59:25Uh-uh.
00:59:26Tonight I got too much on my mind for sleep.
00:59:28Good night, Dixie.
00:59:35Good night.
00:59:52What you got in your hand there, bud?
01:00:12Oh, nothing.
01:00:12I just...
01:00:13Hello.
01:00:15Don't make a move till I get down.
01:00:16Oh, man.
01:00:16What's the matter with a guy getting a little fresh air out here?
01:00:18Now, let's see what you're trying to tuck away, funny man.
01:00:21Oh, nothing.
01:00:21I was just...
01:00:22Give.
01:00:22Really.
01:00:23I just walked out...
01:00:24Give.
01:00:28Well, now, ain't that cute and pretty?
01:00:29The murder weapon.
01:00:31Or maybe you carry it for sentimental reasons.
01:00:33Why'd you kill Laverne?
01:00:34Now, ain't that just like a flat foot?
01:00:36I found it in my pocket, planted.
01:00:37That's why I was looking for you, to give it to you.
01:00:39Oh, you found it.
01:00:40You were going to give it to me.
01:00:41Out here?
01:00:42Well, it's dark, and I had a look for you.
01:00:44Oh, you had a look, did you?
01:00:45Were you looking for me down the drain pipe?
01:00:47Do I look like the kind of a guy you'd find down a drain pipe?
01:00:51Maybe I wouldn't look in such a classy spot for such a dumb flat foot as...
01:00:54The inspector's going to be plenty interested in a guy who tries to get rid of murder weapons.
01:00:58We'll just take a little ride down the headquarters.
01:01:00Oh, sure.
01:01:00We'll go down and see the inspector.
01:01:01Sure.
01:01:02That's why I was looking for you in the first place.
01:01:04Now, now, look.
01:01:04I'll explain it again.
01:01:05You see, it was dark, and I was looking for you.
01:01:07And I bent down to get a better look at the upstairs dressing room window, you see?
01:01:11My arm was hanging down by the drain pipe, and...
01:01:15What is that drain pipe doing there?
01:01:20I can confirm that, officer.
01:01:22I'm sure Mr. Branigan only wanted to do his tea.
01:01:25He was so worried about important evidence.
01:01:29Well, I'm through talking.
01:01:30Go on, you burlesque people are on such a merry-go-round, you'll have me catching grass rings.
01:01:34But this guy give you a chuckle fixer.
01:01:35He couldn't find a goldfish in a cold cream jar.
01:01:38You aren't using that drain pipe for a maypole.
01:01:40Oh, now, listen, Dixie.
01:01:41I was just...
01:01:45Oh, well.
01:01:47Maybe that little kiss was worth it.
01:01:49Good thing for you.
01:01:50It's the last little kiss you get from this working girl.
01:01:52Maybe life in the electric chair wouldn't be so bad.
01:01:55Maybe you'll get a try.
01:01:56Come on.
01:02:00Goodbye, Dixie.
01:02:03So long, comic.
01:02:05Hotel by now.
01:02:27Taxi.
01:02:39Oh, that cat.
01:02:42Oh, here's my kid.
01:02:43Oh, okay.
01:02:45Oh, what's wrong?
01:02:45Dr.
01:02:45What's wrong?
01:02:46Oh, honey.
01:02:47Oh, God.
01:02:47Oh, yeah.
01:02:48Oh, yeah.
01:02:48Oh, yeah.
01:02:49Oh, yeah.
01:02:51Maybe you already can have some happiness.
01:02:53Sally's brother-awareness?
01:02:53Oh.
01:02:56Uh-oh.
01:02:57Oh, God.
01:02:58Oh, yeah.
01:03:02Oh, yeah.
01:03:03Oh, yeah.
01:03:05Oh, yeah.
01:03:07Oh, yeah.
01:03:08Oh, yeah.
01:03:09Oh, yeah.
01:03:10THE END
01:03:40What's the matter, Dixie?
01:04:05You're not worried about that lug sitting in the cell, are you?
01:04:07Well, I was thinking how we felt when we pulled out of Columbus.
01:04:11The old opera was going to be the last rung on the ladder to the Great White Way.
01:04:15You're doing all right.
01:04:16Oh, sure, fine.
01:04:17First we run into comics, then murders.
01:04:19Now that Cossack from Canarsie is on in my spot.
01:04:22I was expecting you.
01:04:35Then maybe you were expecting my two weeks' notice.
01:04:37On second thought, no notice.
01:04:38Sue me.
01:04:39Is it so bad?
01:04:40Listen, I'm not working for burlesque to laugh.
01:04:43This little girl's got her way to make in the world.
01:04:45When you brought me here, you promised me the moon.
01:04:47Now I'm getting green cheese and not liking it.
01:04:49Why?
01:04:50I've been doing all right.
01:04:51My face hasn't fallen apart since yesterday.
01:04:53I know.
01:04:55She wants to get out of burlesque.
01:04:58She wants me to produce a show for her.
01:04:59I told her to wait.
01:05:00But she gets impatient, so...
01:05:04The family, huh?
01:05:11So that's the fire that started in Toledo.
01:05:15She went to South America and then she came back.
01:05:19Letters, cancel, checks, copies of...
01:05:24Yeah, I get it.
01:05:28Dixie.
01:05:30I don't know what to do.
01:05:35Don't worry.
01:05:36Everything's going to be all right.
01:06:00You look thoughtful, Miss Dixie.
01:06:04Thoughtful is no words, Dixie.
01:06:06I'm not surprised.
01:06:10Every day there's more and more trouble around the old opera.
01:06:14How about the old days, sir?
01:06:15Oh, we had trouble then.
01:06:17Not murders, maybe, but...
01:06:19I could tell you.
01:06:22Don't you ever look at the labels?
01:06:23After 35 years, I know what box we love, too.
01:06:28And one for Miss Dixie.
01:06:31Yeah, I suppose we are the oldest things in the theater.
01:06:36The box.
01:06:37Me.
01:06:39The hermit.
01:06:41And me.
01:06:42Another one from the old gi in row three.
01:06:47Is that a new wrinkle statue?
01:06:49In the old days, the prima donnas would get notes.
01:06:53Maybe from one of the boxers in dozens of roses.
01:06:56And after the performance was over,
01:07:00we, the company, would wait
01:07:01and see the prima donnas go out.
01:07:05And there would be crowds
01:07:06and the wealthiest men in the city
01:07:08waiting in evening clothes
01:07:11and carriages.
01:07:15I...
01:07:15I was very torn.
01:07:24Oh.
01:07:26And you lost your voice, huh?
01:07:31And so I took up smoking a pipe
01:07:34and sitting here.
01:07:37We were no better than you people
01:07:39who are saving the money.
01:07:41Well, home again after 20 years in a clink,
01:07:44framed by the villain,
01:07:45the light in the window,
01:07:46the faithful caretaker,
01:07:48and the little woman waiting.
01:07:49Did they give you a watchdog?
01:07:50Not exactly, Miss Dixie.
01:07:51If you would tell Miss Angel I'm here.
01:07:53What's this?
01:07:54Ha!
01:07:55You're behind in your literature, Irish.
01:07:57He's a 35 years old.
01:07:59You ain't whistling its literature.
01:08:00I learned more about Burlesque in five minutes
01:08:02than I did all the time that I was...
01:08:04Yeah, well, hurry it up
01:08:05and we'll send Joey on again
01:08:06and you can sit in the clink for good.
01:08:08Get a load of that gun.
01:08:09Why come you out here?
01:08:10Oh, they had to let me go.
01:08:11No evidence.
01:08:12What?
01:08:12They found Louie's car right around the corner
01:08:14from the theater
01:08:15so he didn't use that in his getaway.
01:08:17They didn't find Laverne's picture of her mother
01:08:19but they did find the frame.
01:08:20Where?
01:08:21Ah, they won't say where.
01:08:23They found Lolita's bank book in her apartment.
01:08:25Yesterday she drew 10,000 smackers out of the bank.
01:08:28Now, where did that money go to?
01:08:30Maybe down the drain pipe
01:08:31with the rest of the evidence.
01:08:33Aren't you a teeny-weeny bit glad to see me back?
01:08:35No.
01:08:39Okay.
01:08:40You'll see me in a minute.
01:08:42We're on next.
01:08:54Imagine you being here tonight, Mr. Kelly.
01:08:59Everything is happening to me tonight.
01:09:03Tonight I do my first
01:09:04speciality.
01:09:06Well, I'll be right there
01:09:08to give you my encouragement.
01:09:10Oh, thank you.
01:09:11Of course,
01:09:12now I'll have to wash my waist off my clothes.
01:09:17I took a bunch of lockers to be candy on duty.
01:09:20After all, this is an important case.
01:09:23Please, Mr. Kelly,
01:09:24please don't talk about the murder.
01:09:27It's so gruesome.
01:09:28Who do you think done it?
01:09:30Well, it could be almost anybody.
01:09:33Oh, really?
01:09:34Thank you, Mr. Kelly.
01:09:40You're your pals.
01:09:40You want to huddle on some of those big discoveries?
01:09:42Come on, get on the stairs.
01:09:43Okay.
01:09:44Okay.
01:09:57Well, well, well.
01:09:58Here I am in a strange and foreign country
01:10:00and before me stands
01:10:01this mysterious Egyptian gazeka box.
01:10:03This is the land of the Titsi fly,
01:10:05the Goona Goona bird,
01:10:06and the Can Can Girl.
01:10:07Also, those strange, mysterious love potions,
01:10:10which nowadays we call vitamin pills.
01:10:12I am what is known as an archaeologist.
01:10:14An archaeologist is a guy that digs up mummies.
01:10:16Well, the other day I dug up a mummy
01:10:18and he was a hep cat.
01:10:19How did I know he was a hep cat?
01:10:21Because he turned to me and said,
01:10:22do you dig me, Jack?
01:10:23It's a princess.
01:10:31Another...
01:10:31Around the neck again.
01:10:36Bring the curtain down.
01:10:42All right.
01:10:43Look at this.
01:10:45Where'd that box come from?
01:10:46The prop rule.
01:10:47Get in there.
01:10:48Oh, Mr. Kelly, don't leave me.
01:10:50Boss, somebody just knocked off the princess.
01:11:01When was she last seen alive?
01:11:02After her number, I guess.
01:11:04Inspector.
01:11:05Inspector, could it...
01:11:06Could it be suicide?
01:11:13It's Louie.
01:11:20Get back.
01:11:28The lighthouse.
01:11:29Come on, now.
01:11:30We need some help.
01:11:31Hey.
01:11:36Put a spot on him.
01:11:42He was hiding in the prop room.
01:11:43And he got me first.
01:11:45Any other way out of there, Shaley?
01:11:46There's another ladder over there.
01:11:47You take them from both sides.
01:11:48Coming, Bill.
01:11:49Get over there.
01:11:51You're surrounded, Louie.
01:11:52You don't.
01:11:53Come down.
01:11:54You ain't getting me back in, coppers.
01:11:59Coming up.
01:11:59I'm waiting for you.
01:12:10I didn't do it.
01:12:11I didn't kill her.
01:12:12Don't think you're going to get me for it, coppers.
01:12:14I told you to stay back.
01:12:33I told you to lay off.
01:12:37I told you you wouldn't get me.
01:12:39Guilty or not, he was afraid of a rap even before it was pinned on him.
01:13:01Well, I guess we can cross off one of our question marks.
01:13:04Or hang one more on our collection.
01:13:06Oh, don't look at me as if I were crazy.
01:13:08Put it down to women's intuition, but I'm sure feeling a chunk of it.
01:13:12Why should he kill the princess?
01:13:14If we knew all the motives and murder cases, Miss Daisy, there would be no mysteries.
01:13:18Besides, the prop room was locked.
01:13:20What's that?
01:13:21It was all right.
01:13:22If he was hiding inside, he couldn't have got out to kill the princess.
01:13:24Well, I guess we're going to have to go upstairs again.
01:13:33Round him up.
01:13:35Yes, Margo.
01:13:35Everybody up there.
01:13:37Come on.
01:13:38Hey, you.
01:13:39Upstairs.
01:13:40I...
01:13:40I...
01:13:41I...
01:13:42I...
01:13:43I...
01:13:44I...
01:13:46I...
01:13:48I...
01:13:50I...
01:13:51I...
01:13:52I...
01:13:53I...
01:13:54I...
01:13:54I...
01:13:54I...
01:13:55I...
01:13:56I...
01:13:57I...
01:13:58I...
01:13:59I...
01:14:00I...
01:14:01Why was the, uh, prop room locked?
01:14:04Had to be.
01:14:05Why, only a month ago, a certain comic walks out with a bundle of my dishes that he says is laundry.
01:14:09Laundry.
01:14:10Why, that guy never owned more than one shirt at a time in his life.
01:14:13That's a lie.
01:14:14What's a lie?
01:14:15That you stole my dishes or you got only one shirt?
01:14:18Inspector, the way I figured is...
01:14:20Go on, Jake.
01:14:21Well, last night the prop room was open.
01:14:23Some of the liquor was stored there.
01:14:24He was stored there for the party, and Louie must have run in through the basement and ducked there.
01:14:27Then we trapped him when we went in for that bracer.
01:14:30And I locked the door when we left.
01:14:32He couldn't have got out after you left?
01:14:33No, sir.
01:14:35Well, seems like we're right back where we started.
01:14:38Well, Mr. Pranagan, too bad we didn't release you after this killing.
01:14:43Miss Daisy, Mr. Rogers, Miss Baxter.
01:14:47I found it when he looked over the prop room.
01:14:52Found it, anybody here?
01:14:53You, Jake?
01:14:55I...
01:14:56I...
01:14:56Yes, I...
01:14:58Well, that's Laverne's picture of her...
01:15:00I found it.
01:15:09Honest, I found it like I did the frame.
01:15:11Just after that ruckus about the body.
01:15:13I was going to turn it in, too, but...
01:15:16It was torn, and you scared me, and I...
01:15:19No reason for you to be scared, unless you were guilty, Jake.
01:15:22You don't believe me.
01:15:26Listen, there's plenty of people been having suspicious around here lately.
01:15:29He never said nothing about knowing the princess.
01:15:32Ask him why he took her to her hotel last night, and went upstairs with her, too.
01:15:36Ask her why she followed him, why she was still sitting there when I left.
01:15:40Why did you follow the princess, Jake?
01:15:43Why, I...
01:15:44I was just trying to help...
01:15:45Yes.
01:15:46Yes, Jake?
01:15:48Nothing.
01:15:49Inspector.
01:15:51He was only trying to help me.
01:15:52Mr. Voss?
01:15:54I lied.
01:15:56The princess did work in my Toledo theater.
01:15:58We were...
01:15:59We were well acquainted.
01:16:02Blackmail, Mr. Voss?
01:16:05I see.
01:16:08Where do you come in, Jake?
01:16:10I'd been with him in Toledo.
01:16:11I knew she had him on the spot.
01:16:13I thought if I found out something, I'd make her lay off.
01:16:16Listen.
01:16:17When my wife was sick, I found the hospital money in my envelope without even asking.
01:16:23It's things like that you can't repay.
01:16:26Sometimes a person can find a way, Jake.
01:16:30Was the princess satisfied with what you were giving her?
01:16:32She kept quiet.
01:16:34She wanted a lot.
01:16:37You had every reason to wish that she were dead, didn't you?
01:16:42Inspector, I...
01:16:42Miss Baxter.
01:16:44I beg your pardon.
01:16:45Mrs. Rogers.
01:16:47Why were you following the princess last night?
01:16:50Well, I couldn't make it out.
01:16:55First Laverne and...
01:16:57Then the princess.
01:17:00I was trying to figure the connection.
01:17:02Naturally.
01:17:02Uh, Mr. Rogers, why did you go home with the princess?
01:17:07Gentlemen don't usually answer that question.
01:17:10Since when were you a gentleman?
01:17:12How long did you stay?
01:17:15I can tell you.
01:17:17I sat up long enough in that lobby chair to fall asleep.
01:17:20When I woke up, he was standing at the cigar stand buying a box of cigars.
01:17:24And a humidor to put them in.
01:17:27Cigars?
01:17:28Well, that doesn't sound very much as though he were in a murdering mood, does it?
01:17:34Do you have any cigars on you now, Mr. Rogers?
01:17:36Sure.
01:17:37Go ahead.
01:17:38Oh.
01:17:39Oh.
01:17:42Hmm, excellent brand.
01:17:45Excellent.
01:17:46My wife saves up sometimes and gives me these for a birthday present.
01:17:49You always smoke them?
01:17:50I like class.
01:17:52Hmm, that's a laugh.
01:17:53I smoked his cigars before.
01:17:55Pounded seaweed.
01:17:57Well, as a matter of fact, I...
01:17:58You've changed to something a little more expensive.
01:18:00I see.
01:18:01Why, Mr. Rogers?
01:18:04Why suddenly switch to the most extravagant cigars you can buy?
01:18:07And a whole box at a time, not the usual two or three,
01:18:10and a humidor to keep them in.
01:18:12Why, Mr. Rogers?
01:18:14Let me tell you.
01:18:16Ten thousand dollars is missing.
01:18:17Taken the murdered woman.
01:18:19Enough to buy a good many of these cigars.
01:18:21Money taken by you.
01:18:23Oh, no.
01:18:23Laverne was afraid of Louis.
01:18:25She was going to throw you over.
01:18:26But you wanted the money she had promised.
01:18:28Was that why she withdrew the ten thousand dollars?
01:18:30Yeah, yeah, that's it.
01:18:31She gave me the money.
01:18:32When?
01:18:33What time of day?
01:18:34Oh, no.
01:18:35You took that money when she was dead.
01:18:38Or dying.
01:18:40You poisoned her.
01:18:41But she was strong, tough.
01:18:43You watched her writhing and crawling toward the door.
01:18:45She was going to call for help.
01:18:46Oh, stop it.
01:18:47The princess gave me the money.
01:18:48Princess?
01:18:49Sounds like a stall to me.
01:18:50Please.
01:18:51Why, Mr. Rogers?
01:18:54Well, to produce my play.
01:18:55Okay.
01:18:55She wanted to get out of Burlesque.
01:19:02I heard her kill Laverne.
01:19:06Go on.
01:19:07Well, after Louis left, they were making cracks at me.
01:19:10And I went down to the princess' room.
01:19:13She wasn't there.
01:19:14She was up with Laverne.
01:19:16I heard them talking through the ventilator.
01:19:19Lolita knew about Toledo.
01:19:20And she'd been threatening to tell Foss' wife and crab the princess' racket.
01:19:23But last night, Naveena pretended she didn't mind paying off.
01:19:26That there was enough for both of them.
01:19:28They'd drink to it.
01:19:30I heard her fill the glasses and then Lolita gagged.
01:19:34And you sat by through that?
01:19:37After a couple of minutes, I went up.
01:19:39The princess was coming down from the third floor.
01:19:42When she left the room, she must have heard someone coming up.
01:19:44The strangler.
01:19:45Ducked upstairs.
01:19:47But on the way down, I saw her open the door and look in for a minute.
01:19:51Oh, don't you see?
01:19:52That's why she had to be killed.
01:19:52She saw you, perhaps.
01:19:54Did you come up to finish her job?
01:19:56You knew about the money.
01:19:57Oh, Lolita said she had it on her, but it was gone when I took the G-string.
01:20:00I ought to scare you your teeth for planting it on me.
01:20:02Well, I had to get rid of it.
01:20:03He makes me squirt.
01:20:05He's not a very strong character.
01:20:08Why should I kill the princess?
01:20:09Dead women tell no tales, Mr. Rogers.
01:20:11Oh, no, no.
01:20:12I couldn't do it.
01:20:13Believe me, I couldn't.
01:20:15No.
01:20:16I don't believe you could.
01:20:18Will you let me go?
01:20:19No, Mr. Rogers.
01:20:20It's a very uncomfortable thing to be an accessory after the fact.
01:20:26Take Mr. Rogers down to headquarters.
01:20:29Booking.
01:20:31Ruff.
01:20:32Oprah.
01:20:34You've got me in this.
01:20:35Take your filthy hands off me.
01:20:36Steady.
01:20:37Inspector, whatever I thought, well, I take it back.
01:20:43Well, it certainly makes me feel relieved.
01:20:44Me too.
01:20:45Well, I hope not too relieved.
01:20:47We have eliminated one suspect, Louie, and one mystery, the poison.
01:20:52But the strangler...
01:20:53Well, Miss Daisy, does your woman's intuition tell you Mr. Rogers is guilty?
01:21:00No.
01:21:02I must warn you all to stay as far away from the theater as possible.
01:21:06The murderer will probably strike again.
01:21:09In fact, it might be best to close the...
01:21:12Closed it.
01:21:14There will be no show tomorrow.
01:21:23You can come to my office for your checks.
01:21:25It's all.
01:21:26Wait a minute.
01:21:48I'm, uh, I'm not exactly used to making speeches.
01:21:51It isn't my beautiful diction that gets me by in burlesque, but here goes.
01:21:55But this murderer seems to have done pretty well what he tried to do.
01:21:58Closed the old opera.
01:22:00First he pulled the raid, and when that wasn't enough, he really started putting on the pressure.
01:22:04Now it looks like he's going to get what he wants.
01:22:06And darned if I'm for letting him get away with it.
01:22:08Well, darned if I'm for sticking around to get strained over my own beadwork.
01:22:12I've left a lot of jobs in my time, but I always stuck until the last kick in the pants, if the job was worth having.
01:22:17And I'm not going to be scared out of the best job I ever had by a couple of ghosts.
01:22:21We're all stockholders, aren't we?
01:22:23We've got a right to protect our property.
01:22:25We've got a stake in seeing that the old opera keeps going.
01:22:30You know, once I thought I wanted to get out of burlesque.
01:22:35Now I'm not so sure.
01:22:39Maybe I'm not so snooty anymore.
01:22:40Maybe I just want to stick around with Gigi and Dolly.
01:22:50Fossey and Jake and Sammy and Alice and Mandy and...
01:22:56Come on.
01:23:01Who's going to be the first to chip in with me?
01:23:03Dixie, I'm with you.
01:23:05Count me in.
01:23:06I'm with you, Dixie.
01:23:07Yes.
01:23:08We'll stick and stick and stick.
01:23:11And stick.
01:23:12All right, you're all bats, but I guess I'm bats with you.
01:23:15Well, I guess I'll get dressed.
01:23:19Yeah, let's go.
01:23:26Surprising profession.
01:23:33Dixie, where are you?
01:23:34Dixie, I'm hurrying.
01:23:35I'm not scared.
01:23:35Dixie, I'm hurrying.
01:23:36I'm not scared.
01:23:45Believe me, matinees are going to feel a lot better than night shows for a while.
01:23:49Mr. Kelly said I was the bravest girl he'd ever seen.
01:23:53I'm going out with him tonight.
01:23:55And believe me, tonight's one night, I'll be glad to have a policeman beside me.
01:23:59What's the matter, Angel?
01:23:59Scared, don't joke about it.
01:24:01I still haven't decided whether I like you or not.
01:24:05Oh, go on.
01:24:07Well, I guess I'll have to get along without you tonight, Sarah Jane.
01:24:10I'll finish this at home.
01:24:13You didn't do that, Miss Stacey.
01:24:14Oh.
01:24:14I noticed nothing ever happens after I come on.
01:24:17I hear you have a little more excitement tonight.
01:24:19Yeah, a little.
01:24:20Yeah.
01:24:21So long.
01:24:21See you at the peerless.
01:24:22Okay.
01:24:23I'll be back in a minute.
01:24:24I want to get some cigarettes from the machine in the lobby.
01:24:25I'll be ready then.
01:24:26Bring me a pack, too.
01:24:29Where are you going, honey?
01:24:32Who, me?
01:24:33Well, I'm going down to the peerless bar and grill with the rest of you guys.
01:24:37For a midnight snack.
01:24:39And a whale of a time.
01:24:44You can't even scream.
01:24:45You can't even scream.
01:24:47Your throat is tight.
01:25:02Your tongue is dry.
01:25:03A few minutes, your friend said.
01:25:05You're hoping there won't be time.
01:25:09It took only a few seconds for Lolita.
01:25:13A little longer for the princess, but she wasn't half dead already.
01:25:15And now, another lovely lady, a burlesque, the loveliest of them all.
01:25:19I wanted to kill every woman on that stage.
01:25:20Close the old opera.
01:25:21She'd gone forever.
01:25:22Once it was a place of glory.
01:25:23You aren't afraid of ghosts?
01:25:24No.
01:25:25You're not afraid of ghosts?
01:25:26No.
01:25:27No.
01:25:28No.
01:25:29No.
01:25:30No.
01:25:31No.
01:25:32No.
01:25:33No.
01:25:34No.
01:25:35No.
01:25:36No.
01:25:37Dixie.
01:25:58Honey, you're all right.
01:26:03Dixie, honey.
01:26:04Diff.
01:26:05You sound like you're glad to see the face.
01:26:07I never was so glad to see a face in my life.
01:26:10What were you doing out there?
01:26:12Who, me?
01:26:13Yeah.
01:26:13Come on, sit down.
01:26:16Remember a little grandstanding that flat foot here misunderstood?
01:26:19Yeah, the maypole.
01:26:21And the reading matter I educated myself with in the clink?
01:26:24Yeah.
01:26:24Mr. Brannigan's taste in reading was unexpectedly useful.
01:26:27Very unexpectedly.
01:26:30Right in the middle of it, I found a dame's picture that looked familiar.
01:26:33Laverne's mother?
01:26:34Her mother, sure.
01:26:35But I didn't remember it till I got a flash of that torn picture and checked it upstairs afterwards.
01:26:38Then all I had to do was look at the name.
01:26:40Statiero.
01:26:41Now, everybody knows how statue or statiero here was sour on burlesque.
01:26:45Must have really thrown him off his nut when he found his own granddaughter was working here.
01:26:49Granddaughter?
01:26:50Sure.
01:26:51You never know where you'll find a relative in show business.
01:26:53But grandpappy's pride couldn't swallow us.
01:26:55You mean you figured that out all by yourself?
01:26:57Some grandstanding, huh?
01:26:59Now, the way I figure it, while he was hiding in the cellar during the raid,
01:27:02he sees you trying for the cold shoot, and he really goes bats.
01:27:05Next, he tries his little strangling act on Laverne.
01:27:07The princess catches him at it, so that makes it her turn next.
01:27:10And while I'm upstairs trying to sell this story to these two,
01:27:13I hear about Gigi being dumb enough to leave you alone so he could finish what he started.
01:27:16Why didn't you just send him an engraved invitation, honey?
01:27:20Well, that does it.
01:27:22Why, you hammond bushling Hawkshaw.
01:27:25Dixie had a hunch it was statue ever since she spotted his hands in the mailbox.
01:27:28The hands are trying to choke her to glory.
01:27:30So she framed all this.
01:27:31I've been sitting down the stairs with him, waiting for something to happen.
01:27:35What we didn't know was the statue was already in the room.
01:27:38What I didn't know was that I'd be too scared even to scream.
01:27:40But I had to try my hunch out some way.
01:27:43Nobody seemed to think a lot of my intuition.
01:27:45As I said before, burlesque is a surprising business.
01:27:49So surprising, you took a couple of burlesques to figure this out.
01:27:52Mr. Kelly, where were you?
01:27:54I was waiting.
01:27:56We, uh, I, uh, we had a, uh...
01:27:58You mean statue?
01:28:00Mm-hmm.
01:28:01Oh, the things that happen around here.
01:28:04Alice!
01:28:05Are you all right?
01:28:06Oh, of course I'm all right.
01:28:07I think I'm afraid.
01:28:08I've probably got to knock them down and switch them away.
01:28:10I didn't like one.
01:28:11I couldn't keep them away.
01:28:12Oh, that's why you don't like me.
01:28:14Hey!
01:28:16Hey!
01:28:18I thought you were the girl who didn't like comics, even from a distance.
01:28:22Well, from close, this one isn't bad.
01:28:24Say, what is this routine?
01:28:26Oh, it's the same old routine.
01:28:28But maybe with a different finish.
01:28:30I want a blonde.
01:28:32You want a blonde?
01:28:33What kind of a blonde?
01:28:33Any kind.
01:28:34One like this, or one like this, or one like this.
01:28:37You look like you're a blonde at heart.
01:28:39Maybe I feel like one.
01:28:40Hey, lady, you left your motor running.
01:28:42You started it.
01:28:43And I bet I can finish it.
01:28:47Run again?
01:28:53Run again?
01:28:55Invite the gang, Gigi.
01:28:56We're dunking donuts at a wedding breakfast.
01:28:59Ouch!
01:28:59Oh!
01:29:00Oh, Dixie!
01:29:09Look!
01:29:11Well...
01:29:11Isn't love thrilling?
01:29:18Oh, it sure is.
01:29:20Yeah.
01:29:21If only you'd speak up or do something.
01:29:24Oh, I thought that you and that fella in there, you're always...
01:29:27Oh, don't be silly.
01:29:29Never did like big fellas.
01:29:32Then...
01:29:33Then you mean that you would...
01:29:35That is, you could...
01:29:37Oh, you make me so...
01:29:43glad.
01:29:44Oh, I'm being so proud, yeah.
01:29:52So, we're so happy.
01:29:53Odd.
01:29:53And remember...
01:29:53fans.
01:29:54We did what?
01:29:54Goodbye.
01:29:54My love...
01:29:55Oh!
01:29:55Oh, my God.
01:29:56Oh!
1:29:53
|
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