Murder in Movieland

In The Murder Game, my heroine Gwen creates a murder mystery game for the party guests to play. Unfortunately, the game is interrupted by murder and never finished.

So now I thought I should finish the game and you could help me.

It is Hollywood, 1935, a time of changes, talkies were in, many of the silent stars not making the transition. Color was just making its debut, but black and white was still the norm. Film genres were becoming popular, including gangster films, screwball comedies, cartoons, western, and horror. Actors and actresses included John Wayne, Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, the Three Stooges, Shirley Temple, Johnny Weismuller. Katherine Hepburn, Boris Karloff, Basil Rathbone. Many made their screen debut. On the screen, Bride of Frankenstein, Captain Blood, Dangerous, David Copperfield, Les Miserable, The Littlest Rebel entertain thousands.

Movie mogul C.V. Moss is hosting a party in honor of his latest film A Jump From The Bridge, cast and crew are present, along with the press and other Hollywood luminaries.

At 9:30 in the evening a security guard discovered the body of C. V. Moss in his study. He appeared to have been bludgeoned to death with a fireplace poker. His forehead was bloody with a crushed appearance. The bloody fireplace poker lay beside the body. He was still wearing the clothes he had been wearing earlier, a red velvet smoking jacket and ascot. A fire burned in the fireplace. The office had been searched, desk drawers pulled out and dumped. The heavy ashtray he kept on the desk for visitors was wiped clean, but scattered on the hearth were cigarette butts, some with lipstick of several different hues. From a display cabinet is missing a jade statue. There were three ways into the office, from the living room, from the secretary office which opens on the back hallway, and through French doors onto the patio.

So where do we go from here? Let's take a look at the guests.

When you are creating a murder mystery game, you start by trying to figure out who might be involved with the victim. In this case, director, writers, actors, press, staff such as housekeepers, security guards. Then you try to figure out why they might want to kill him. Motive. At this point you are thinking all kinds of crime. Then you identify 6 to 8 of the most likely suspects and have each of them plot to kill the victim.

I am going to list the suspects that Gwen created, but you can create your own character.

Use the comments feature to create a character.

Name: Name your Character. Usually a silly name.
Role: What is their title, role or relationship (i.e. director, wife, etc.)
Description: Describe the character. What is their background.
Secrets: What are their hidden secret fears, motives, desires.
Costume Suggestions: How do they dress or appear? Costume suggestions.
Crime: Motive. Why would they kill C.V.? What kind of trouble are they involved in?
Opportunity. Each the suspects has to have the opportunity to kill C.V.. They may or may not do it, but it must appear that they had the opportunity to do it, thereby making them suspect. The easiest way is to first plot out that they actually did do the crime. What happened prior to the crime, what was the catalyst that forced them to kill, how did they commit the crime, and what did they do afterward to cover up.

Have fun creating your character.

For every character you create or idea you have to improve one of Gwen's characters, you get 5 entries into MURDERX5 CONTEST, Grand Prize is a gift certificate for a murder mystery game to download and play with your friends from www.Host-Party.com. Host Party has the largest selection of murder mystery games on the Internet, including my Killer International games.

To enter, send an email to contest@playmurder.com, place character on the subject line,
and in the body indicate the name and role of your character and the name you posted the comment under.

Lawrence Van Hise

CV Moss - 1930 movies mogul Maroon velvet smoking jacket

Grant Van Hise

Gwen turned to Grant. “You’re the director of the movie. You were once a good director, but your work is failing, so you’ve blackmailed C.V. with dirty pictures into letting you do this movie.”

“Did you have to make me so disreputable?”

“Like any soap opera, we need lots of grist for the murder wheel. Let’s make you look a bit more like a movie director.” Gwen held up a safari jacket, a bright red scarf and the megaphone.

Grant picked up the megaphone and put it to his lips. “Lights. Camera. Action.” His voice had a hollow sound. Everyone laughed and Gwen began to relax.
-- Excerpt from THE MURDER GAME

Name: Vince Grand

Role: Director

Description:

Secrets:

Costume: Old fashion director's megaphone. Safari jacket.

Crime:

Jacqueline Vitner

The doorbell rang. Quinta's footsteps sounded as she hurried to answer the door. Everyone stood frozen, waiting to see who had arrived.

A tall strawberry blonde entered. Hunter hurried forward to greet her. "Mother."

So that's Jacqueline Vitner, Gwen thought, having never met her before. Hunter's mother. She was everything Gwen had imagined. Bright, beautiful. She wore a chic watermelon colored gown embroidered with gold beads and pink sequins. Her shoulder-length hair was worn in one of those full, wavy styles that look so sophisticatedly casual.

"What's going on here?" she asked, as she presented her cheek for Hunter to kiss. "Don't tell me. Lawrence has gone into his second childhood."

"Of course not, Jacqueline dear," Lawrence said. "You know me better than that. But do come in and let me introduce you to Gwen Wilson, who is responsible for all this."

Jacqueline glided into the room. ...

...Quickly Gwen explained the murder game.

"What an intriguing idea," Jacqueline said. "Can we choose whom we want to murder?"

"I'm afraid not," Gwen said. "Jacqueline, you are a screenwriter, part of a husband and wife team. Nolan Karr will play your husband. He's rather weak, but you're exceptionally strong-willed. The producer, C.V. Moss, is attempting to blackmail you into going to bed with him, but so far you have managed to hold him off."

"I don't think I'll like C.V.," Jacqueline commented.

"You haven't for a long time," Lawrence chuckled.

"I should've known," she said.

Gwen felt the hostility in the air and hurried on.

Name:
Role:
Description:
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Crime:

Paul Vitner

"And let me introduce you to my husband, Paul."

Paul Vitner stepped forward. Shock went through Gwen. Neither Lawrence nor Hunter had mentioned that Jacqueline was married to a much younger man. Paul could be only three or four years older than Hunter.

Jacqueline clung to Paul's arm and gazed at him adoringly. "Paul is a very talented conductor." A becoming blush graced Paul's cheeks above his sculptured beard, making him look even younger.

"It was nice of you to invite us, Mr. Van Hise," Paul said.

"Not Mr. Van Hise," Lawrence interrupted. "Just plain Lawrence."

"Thank you, Lawrence. That’s quite civil."

"Despite what Jacqueline may have told you, I'm really quite civil."

Paul's blush deepened.

Gwen picked up a trench coat and handed it to Paul Vitner.

"Paul, you are an actor. The leading man. You play a detective in the movie, and think of yourself as a bit of a detective in real life. You have threatened to quit the picture if you don't get more money. You've been arguing a great deal with C.V. and the director."

Paul put on the trench coat, and Gwen handed him a fedora, which he tilted at a rakish angle. "Do I look like Mike Hammer, dear?" he asked his wife.

"Much more handsome, darling," Jacqueline said, giving a quick under-the-eyelashes look at Lawrence, but he showed no reaction to her comment.

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Crime:

Nolan Karr

"Nolan, as I said, you are rather weak, willing to do anything to keep your job, although you are very resentful about what C.V. and the director have done to your script. In your anger you’ve turned to alcohol." She handed him a brandy snifter, a bottle of cognac, and a labeled manuscript.

Nolan took the bottle of Courvoisier. "Well, at least I have excellent taste in liquor."

Name:
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Abigail

Abigail interrupted. "What am I?"

"The housekeeper."

"A housekeeper?" Disbelief filled Abigail's voice. "Certainly I’m better suited as a starlet."

"But I need a housekeeper. I assure you, it’s an important role."

"Don't be a spoilsport, dear," her mother admonished.

"I didn't mean . . . " Abigail protested. "I'll be happy to play whatever role you assign me. It should be easy. After all, we've had a live-in housekeeper for years."

"Here's your costume," Gwen said, picking up the black dress. Her fingers tightened, as she had a sudden vision of her mother in black. She thrust it at Abigail, along with the white apron, and stepped back.

"Surely, I don't have to wear this? Couldn't I just have one of those things with feathers to dust with?"

"I want this game as authentic as possible," Lawrence said.

"Abigail, you aren't the only one who will have to change," Gwen said, hoping to ease the situation...

...Hunter and Abigail returned, now as a security guard and a housekeeper. Abigail hadn't removed her diamond earrings, and they looked incongruous with the demure black dress and starched apron.

Name: Suzette

Role: Housekeeper

Description: You are a neat freak, which makes you a very good housekeeper. You carry a dusting cloth with you at all times. You continuously straighten and dust. You especially dislike dirty ashtrays. You would automatically throw out cigarette butts and wipe ashtrays.

Secrets: You are having an affair with C.V., you think you really mean something to him. But lately he has been giving a lot of attention to his new starlet, so you wonder.

Costume: Black dress, white apron, dust cloth, maybe even a feather duster.

Crime: You discovered a jade statue hidden in your room. You are terrified that you will be accused of being a thief. You try to put it back, but C.V. catches you. He makes a big scene and won't believe you when you tell him the truth. He fires you. Then you realize that it was all a ploy on his part to get rid of you. Without thinking you pick up the fireplace poker and hit him.

Afterward, you realize you must do something to protect yourself. You plant the missing jade statue on the starlet.

Hunter Van Hise

"Hunter, you're the security officer. For you, we have a complete uniform, right down to a shiny gold badge."

Hunter picked up the holster that lay on the table next to the uniform and withdrew the gun. "This is real."

"But unloaded," Gwen hurriedly assured him.

"Your idea, father?" Hunter said.

"Of course."

Hunter slipped the gun back into the holster and threw the wide leather belt over his shoulder, then he picked up his uniform. "Come with me, Abigail. I'll show you where to change." Holding the black dress gingerly, Abigail followed Hunter from the room.

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Crime:

Fancy Devane

Gwen picked up a red feather boa and handed it to Fancy. "You're the young starlet who will do anything to get what she wants." Fancy's dark eyes glittered as she draped the long boa around her neck. With the feathers trailing behind, she strutted the length of the room. The men followed her with their eyes.

Name: Honey Potts

Role: Starlet

Description: You are an up and coming young starlet. Your boyfriend, Lefthanded "Lefty" Pike, a famous gangster, got you a bit part in CV Moss' latest movie, A Jump from the Bridge. You played the young jumper in just one scene. But you want even more and will do anything to become a star.

The night of the party, CV Moss drapes a fabulous pearl necklace around your neck. The necklace belonged to the Romanoff's and CV Moss has made a deal to use the necklace in his next movie.

Secrets: CV Moss became infatuated with you and wants to make you his mistress. You are very ambitious and not above using sex to get what you want. You have hinted that if he gives you the leading role in his next movie, you will succumb, but you are just playing with him. After all you don't want to make your boyfriend mad, that could be deadly.

Lefty wants you to help him steal the necklace.

Costume: Something glamorous. A feather boa. A pearl necklace.

Crime:

Rose

That left one person without a role. "Rose, you are the snoopy gossip columnist." Gwen handed her a flowered Hedda Hopper style hat.

Rose Beckman put the hat on; the brim flopped over her eyes and she repositioned it. "It's definitely typecasting, or so my husband would say."

Conrad

Gwen quickly explained about the murder game. "Conrad, you are C.V.'s bodyguard." Now at last, Gwen understood why Lawrence thought it funny when he suggested Conrad for the bodyguard role. He would obviously rather kill Lawrence than protect him.

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Winnie

Gwen finished her assignments. "Winnie, you are the star of the movie. You are an old-time actress, a rather kind, motherly person. The young starlet wants your role." Gwen looked at Winnie. Yes, she did fit the role. She was middle aged, but still attractive, and her air of sadness only enhanced the attractiveness.

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