This mystery movie has been the 1930 RKO film “Conspiracy,” by Robert Baker and John Emerson (note that IMDB says they are uncredited. Oops). With Bessie Love, Ned Sparks, Hugh Trevor, Ivan Lebedeff, Rita LaRoy, Gertrude Howard, Otto Matiesen (sic), Walter Long, Donald MacKenzie and Jane Keckley. Directed by Christy Cabanne, produced by William LeBaron. Scenery and costumes by Max Ree, screenplay by Beulah-Marie Dix, photography by Nick Musuraca.
I was interested in “Conspiracy” primarily because of this establishing shot of the Biltmore. What’s especially interesting is that this seems to be an early example of a zoom shot. And I have no idea how they pulled it off.
Here it is in mid-zoom.
And dissolve to…..
There are much better shots of the Biltmore in “For the Defense,” a Paramount picture, also from 1930.
The DVD is available from Warner Archive for $17.99.
Oddly enough, neither the New York Times or the Los Angeles Times reviewed “Conspiracy.” At least I can’t find any mention of it in either paper.
For Monday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Gertrude Howard.
For Tuesday, we have three mystery guests.
Update: This is Gladden James, Lucille Ward and Oscar Apfel.
Brain Trust roll call: Tucson Barbara (mystery movie and mystery guest).
For Wednesday, we have two mystery gents.
Update: This is Hugh Trevor and James Bradbury Sr.
Brain Trust roll call: Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mystery gent No. 2) and Tucson Barbara (Tuesday’s mystery guests).
For Thursday, we have a mystery gent. You would recognize him easily if you could hear his voice.
Update: This is Ned Sparks, but his strange “writer’s” costume makes him hard to recognize.
Brain Trust roll call: Tucson Barbara (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s Mystery Guest No. 1) and Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests and Wednesday’s Mystery Guest No. 1).
For Friday, we have a pair of mystery guests…. A mystery gent….
Update: This is Otto Matieson (Matiesen).
… and a mystery woman.
Update: This is Bessie Love.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery gent), Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery gent) and Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery gent).
ladailymirror.com 
Gertrude Howard in “Conspiracy.”
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Here’s an odd, but honest, guess. Eddie (Rochester) Anderson in drag.
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Interesting guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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Gertrude Howard on monday and at left Gladden James today in CONSOLATION MARRIAGE.
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Looks like Oscar Apfel on far right.
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Is it Madie Norman?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Looking closer I see that Oscar Apfel is at left today which means the film is CONSPIRACY and the lady in the center is Lucile Ward.
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Gladden James and Lucille Ward. Not sure who the second gent is; maybe Oscar Apfel.
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Hugh Trevor and James Bradbury, Sr.
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At left Hugh Trevor.
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CONSPIRACY. Gertrude Hwoard Monday, Gladden James and lucille Ward with Apfel yesterday, and Hugh Trevor and Otto Mateson today.
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Ned Sparks today.
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Ned Sparks
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Ned Sparks.
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Alastair Sim on Thursday?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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That looks nothing like Ivan Lebedeff and of course it’s Bessie Love.
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Otto Matieson, Bessie Love, and the uncredited Fulton F. Foxx
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A TOUGHIE!
Monday: Gertrude Howard
Tuesday: Gladden James, Lucille Ward, Oscar Apfel
Wednesday: Ned Sparks
Thursday: Hugh Trevor, Walter Long
Friday: Otto Matieson, Bessie Love
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Otto Matieson and Bessie Love.
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