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Comedy Cult Classic

Murder, musical numbers, and vaudeville chaos on the Berkshire stage.

BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL

FUN STARS ! TUNE-STARS! LOVE-STARS! Hep-steppers and Happy Honeys!

1942 · 1h · NR · Comedy / Crime / Musical / Mystery / Romance · IMDB TMDB

The members of a summer theater group get mixed up with spies and murder.

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Quick Answer

What is Behind the Eight Ball about?

Behind the Eight Ball is a 1942 American comedy crime musical directed by Edward F. Cline about a summer theater group turning to vaudevillians to solve a string of onstage murders.

Programmer's Pick

A splashy backstage mystery where the Ritz brothers trade bathroom towels for murder suspects, and slapstick collides with suspense. If you've ever wondered what happens when vaudeville amateurs are your last resort in a real-life crime, here's your answer.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Set in a summer theater in the Berkshire Mountains, Behind the Eight Ball blends murder mystery, comedy, and musical flair. When two guest stars are gunned down in front of the audience on consecutive nights during Joan Barry’s (Carol Bruce) musical production, panic sweeps the company. Detective McKenzie (William Demarest) returns everyone to the scene to restage the show and catch the killer, but with no seasoned performer willing to risk the fatal role, Joan hires the Three Jolly Jesters (played by the Ritz brothers), who have more moxie than experience. Vaudeville meets whodunit, as the world of showbiz and an ongoing police investigation collide onstage.

Details & Specs

Director
Edward F. Cline
Writers
Stanley Roberts, Mel Ronson
Release
1942
Runtime
1h
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Comedy, Crime, Musical, Mystery, Romance

Cast & Crew

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Director: Edward F. Cline Writers: Stanley Roberts +1 more
Al Ritz Al Ritz Al Jester Jimmy Ritz Jimmy Ritz Jimmy Jester Harry Ritz Harry Ritz Harry Jester Carol Bruce Carol Bruce Joan Barry Dick Foran Dick Foran Bill Edwards Grace McDonald Grace McDonald Babs Johnny Downs Johnny Downs Danny William Demarest William Demarest McKenzie

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Why Cult

Vaudeville Meets Murder

The Ritz brothers bring vaudeville energy to a summer theater beset by an actual killing spree, blending screwball antics with deadly stakes.

Onstage Double Murder

The action centers on two shocking murders during live performances, with the investigation unfolding right in the theater.

Behind-the-Scenes Showbiz

With Broadway ambitions and off-Broadway chaos, the film offers a peek into theatrical rivalries, suspense, and backstage intrigue.

Spy Ring Intrigue

The murder mystery isn’t the only threat—the theater group becomes entangled in a web of spies, framing, and lies.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Onstage murders at a summer theater

Threat

Unknown killer targeting performers

Effect

Creates panic and suspicion among cast and audience

Countermeasure

Detective orchestrates a restaging to catch the culprit

Setting

Berkshire Mountains summer theater

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Behind the Eight Ball? +

Behind the Eight Ball was directed by Edward F. Cline.

How long is Behind the Eight Ball? +

Behind the Eight Ball has a runtime of 60 minutes.

What genre is Behind the Eight Ball? +

Behind the Eight Ball is a comedy, crime, musical, mystery, and romance film.

Where can I watch Behind the Eight Ball? +

Behind the Eight Ball is available to watch on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips

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