Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round starts out with the murder of noted gangster/ gambler Sidney Blackmer. As is usual there are a flock of people with plenty of good reason to do him in on this voyage. But instead the film starts with the murder and then flashes back 48 hours to see how Blackmer interacted with the rest of the passengers and crew.
But we have more than a murder here. Jack Benny plays a Broadway and radio star who is bringing his troupe along which includes Nancy Carroll who has history with Blackmer and her brother Carlyle Moore who forged a check with Blackmer's name and now Blackmer has him working off the debt and a lot more so to speak. But those are just two of the people who have it in for him.
We get to see Benny's troupe perform on the voyage and among the performers are Patsy Kelly, the Boswell Sisters, Frank Parker and Mitzi Green. Green was mostly on Broadway and on radio and so this is a rare chance to see her. During her song she does a devastating impression of George Arliss. The troupe also does a satirical skit of Grand Hotel.
If the murderer didn't announce intentions during the film this would have been a great mystery and rated a notch or two higher. Still it's pretty good entertainment.
But we have more than a murder here. Jack Benny plays a Broadway and radio star who is bringing his troupe along which includes Nancy Carroll who has history with Blackmer and her brother Carlyle Moore who forged a check with Blackmer's name and now Blackmer has him working off the debt and a lot more so to speak. But those are just two of the people who have it in for him.
We get to see Benny's troupe perform on the voyage and among the performers are Patsy Kelly, the Boswell Sisters, Frank Parker and Mitzi Green. Green was mostly on Broadway and on radio and so this is a rare chance to see her. During her song she does a devastating impression of George Arliss. The troupe also does a satirical skit of Grand Hotel.
If the murderer didn't announce intentions during the film this would have been a great mystery and rated a notch or two higher. Still it's pretty good entertainment.