MovieChat Forums > I Need To Know > Singer in "Sleuth" (1972) [PROBABLY FORE...

Singer in "Sleuth" (1972) [PROBABLY FOREVER AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY]


I'm sure somebody has posted about this before because it's seemingly such a big mystery (see http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/forum/displayquestion.php?topicid=7598, http://en.allexperts.com/q/Classic-Film-2786/Cole-Porter-Sleuth-movie.htm, and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069281/board/thread/10107549), so, if there is another thread about this, it would help me a great deal if someone can post a link to it.

The mystery is that just about no one seems to know who sang three Cole Porter songs--"Just One of Those Things," "You Do Something to Me," and "Anything Goes"--in the movie Sleuth (1972). Here's a link to a video of Laurence Olivier's character dancing to them in a scene from the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_VVr8ScGOc. One would think that by this time someone would have some idea of who sang them, but the identity of the singer just seems a mystery despite some promising leads over the years, none of which have panned out. Even more curiously, there is no singer identified in the end credits, and the three songs did not appear on the movie's soundtrack.


From what I could find, the last time that someone could look into this question was at the website "Soundtrack Collector" on March 5 of this year; the last poster stated that he had found "the exact song" of "Anything Goes" on Amazon Music for $1.29. After checking Amazon Music and looking through/previewing the many different versions of "Anything Goes," I was unable to find the song to which he referred and could not find the version from Sleuth. The poster immediately before him suggested that "You Do Something to Me" was on the soundtrack for Woody Allen's Magic in the Moonlight, but, after checking that, I discovered that that version was sung by Frank Luther for Leo Reisman's orchestra, a candidate considered since the beginning--and not the actual singer from Sleuth. The weird thing about the whole thing is that it seems so mysterious. Why should it be so difficult to find who sang three songs? Why wasn't the singer's name in the credits? Why didn't the soundtrack include the songs?


My only guess--and I concede that this is far-fetched--is that it's on purpose. The film is all about tricks, games, mysteries, puzzles, etc., and, unlikely as it sounds, I wonder if director Joseph Mankiewicz and screenwriter Anthony Shaffer made this mysterious singer so hard to find on purpose. That is to say, I wonder if the versions were specially created for the film or put together from other recordings (somehow)--or that it's someone whom we wouldn't suspect of being a singer (someone suggested Michael Caine himself, though I very much doubt it). More likely, of course, no one ever thought that anyone would be trying so hard to find this guy--but that still leaves the above questions unanswered. I apologize for going on so long, but I did want to provide all the background that I could. Thank you all very much--it would be great if someone could finally put this old question to rest!

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It's not Frank Sinatra, Perry Como or Bing Crosby is it? Or maybe Dean Martin? Sounds like it could also be Mel Tormé...maybe.

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Well, I've listened to about 30 different artists sing "Just One of Those Things" and the closest sounding were, Mel Tormé and Dean Martin. Mel's is a bit too jazzy but he's got the velvety voice and could've changed his singing style for that particular version in the film. Dean's sounded closest though, with nearly the same sounding music but his voice is a bit lower but, he could've changed it a little higher for the film version. Here's a couple links of them singing "Just One of Those Things".

Dean Martin

Mel Tormé

Sleuth

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Hi StyxNyx--

Thanks for your research.

However, I'm pretty sure it was neither Dino nor Mel Tormé--though, curiously enough, Tormé was proposed as a possibility all the way back on the Soundtrack Collector board. On that subject, though I'll have to quote mcneal_182 from that board: "For all of you who are suggesting that Mel Torme is a possibility I would seriously re-consider your speculations. This recording is clearly an early 1930s recording and surely not the vocals of an Italian from the early 1950s."

To be perfectly honest, we're pretty sure it's not even a '30s recording but a studio re-creation of one. A few links, where I've posted, that may interest you: http://imdb2.freeforums.net/thread/195/singer-sleuth-unsolvable?page=2&scrollTo=128832 , http://imdb2.freeforums.net/thread/1408/singer-sleuth , and https://www.imdforums.com/threads/singer-in-sleuth-unsolvable-mystery.523/page-2#post-8124 .

Thanks again for helping with the search! We'd make Andrew Wyke proud yet!


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You're welcome salzmank. 😊 Interesting links, looks like you've been very busy with this! I think, maybe, it's just some obscure singer who preferred to keep himself anonymous for those songs...for some odd reason, and maybe that's why it's such a big secret.

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Well, I do want to solve the darn' thing...

I wouldn't mind it at all if someone picked up the pieces where and when I leave off, especially as I've been busy and don't always have the time to devote to this. I know that, in the scheme of things, it's a relatively small matter, but it may just be that the human soul wants desperately to solve a mystery, especially when the pieces of the puzzle just aren't adding up... How's that for waxing philosophical? ;)

I suppose the great question is exactly why he should have wished to keep himself anonymous for the songs, especially after all these years. I mean, if he has since passed, I can understand that, but--I don't know!--his wife, his family, his employer all haven't come forward and said, "Ah, yes, that's...!"

It's utterly remarkable. He seems like a ghost who existed just to sing these songs and then disappear into obscurity. Perhaps that is exactly why the mystery is so very intriguing.

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I can search some more from time to time as I'm quite curious about this mystery singer now, also. I've heard of people wanting to be kept anonymous in some other films as well...can't think of the film's names offhand, but I know there were a few. I don't know, some people just like to be mysterious I guess. 😉

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Hi there,

I am not going to make any pretensions about having any idea about who that voice could be. I am far too dumb for that. LOL

But I know that all these three songs were used in Cole Porter's musicals in the 1930s, and those musicals had a couple of revivals each before 1972. I am wondering...Do you know if these songs were re-recorded specifically for the purpose of this film, or could they be from am earlier recording, say from an official album containing the songs of that musical? If that is the case, you could go back to those musicals, figure out the actor who sung those songs and guess if its the same voice in this film. We would help you dig if needed, but that would be useless if you are sure that these songs were re-recorded for this film.

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Hi Moviefan--

No, you're not dumb at all, don't put yourself down like that!

In fact, you've given me a very good and useful suggestion.

I am not, to be sure, absolutely positive that these were created exclusively for the film. For all I know, there could have been a singer who gave these performances long before it. (I'm skeptical, however, that they were for a revival of the musical: they don't sound exactly as if they come from the stage or an album therefrom.)

With that said, I think the evidence leans in the "created for the film" direction, for various reasons that have been pointed out by several different individuals with whom I've spoken. For just one example, "Lyncounion" wrote, "More significantly, in 'Anything Goes' there are multiple instrumental verses after the vocal verse, which very conveniently occur exactly when the characters in the film start talking." (All of his comments are here: http://imdb2.freeforums.net/thread/195/singer-sleuth-unsolvable?page=2&scrollTo=128832#ixzz4bLxcpiXS)

That doesn't force us to stop searching, however, because I would think that the singer has sung some other time in his life, therefore suggesting another source or album, etc., especially as he's got such a great voice!

My thanks again for your response!


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Yeah, I checked the thread and it does it seem likely that this song was re-arranged. I guess another thing I could suggest is that you try to find out other work by Gary Hughes at the time and figure out the singers who typically featured in his work. If he re-arranged the song it is very likely that he chose the singer (who else would do it) and composers are known to be notorious for using the same singers over and over at set time periods. So if he re-arranged and composed similar songs in that time period, he may have used the same singer for those songs.

And by god, that Sleuth video you showed me gave me the goosebumps! I haven't seen the film, and now I have to watch it! Based on what I see, it is hard for me to believe that Joseph Manciewicz directed it! Again, I am not going to make pretensions that I know his work very well. I have only seen a few of his classic films from the 1950s, and he was a fine director for his time, capable of beautifully lighting his actors' faces, and also elucidating fine-tuned,heart-felt emotions from them. But the evolution that I see in him in this scene i.e. the manner in which he uses stillness and sound-images, is remarkable! It seems that he really caught up with the times! Gotta watch this movie!

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Actually, a few days I hunted down Hughes's other work--there's very little of it--on IMDb and tried exactly the course you suggested. Unfortunately, while he has done other re-arrangements, I didn't find anything else there for Cole Porter or set in the '30s or '40s. Ah, if it were only that easy! :)

I highly recommend "Sleuth." It's a fun, witty, literate movie with some clever plotting and surprisingly intelligent social commentary that, at the very least, made me think.

It may be less effective, in toto, than the play on which it was based, but the acting (Olivier and Michael Caine!), Mankiewicz's direction, and the set design (by Ken Adam) are so good that on the whole I don't mind.

Having seen some, not all of Mankiewicz's work, I don't see it as some kind of radical deviation. To be sure, it's different from "Julius Caesar," "Cleopatra," and such. But it has the same focus on plotting and dialogue that characterize many of Mankiewicz's smaller and, to my mind, better pictures, such as "Dragonwyck," "All About Eve," and "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir."

Mankiewicz had something of an inclination for whodunits, the genre "Sleuth" mocks, by the way. "The Honey Pot" is pure whodunit, though it is more reliant on the work of its actors, Rex Harrison in particular.





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Hey, everyone—

Jackpot!

I just received an e-mail from D'Arc. He states that, while this request is unusual and he normally couldn't do anything without my being a patron of the BYU library, because the mystery has been going on so long and he's curious about it now, he's going to start investigating anyway.

So, uh—how's that for news?

Of course, he may not discover anything and we'll have to go back to the drawing board once again, but it's a definite step in the right direction!

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Awesome!!!!!! Keep us posted salzmank!!

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Thanks, Moviefan.

He said he's out of town at the moment but that when he gets back he'll start doing some investigative work. If I hear back from him, he says, then he has found something. If not, then he hasn't.

I'll let you know if I hear back from him--which means, if I do, it'll (hopefully) be good news!

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I know it's probably deducible from the post, but, just to clarify, James D'Arc is the curator of the BYU Film Music Archive, which has John Addison's papers. Sorry, should have specified who he is!

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Oh, ok...I was wondering about that. Thank you for all the info salzmank! 😃

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That's awesome news salzmank! Hope he can find the answer and settle this mystery...it would be nice! 😄😄👍👍👍👍

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I haven't heard the songs yet but I did come across this which may help track down if one of the singers is the one you are looking for...

List of singers

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Hey keybored, The link in your post is being redirected to the main moviechat page.

I think this link is the right one: www.geocities.jp/artanisjp/314Somet.htm

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[deleted]

[deleted]

Odd - it works for me when I click on it and goes to that page.

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Thanks for the link, Keybored--it's something I haven't seen!

(By the way, just like for Moviefan, the "list of singers" link isn't working for me, but the geocities one does.)

Unfortunately, I've just been through that list, and none of those singers is our man. If you're interested, the video in which the songs are played is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_VVr8ScGOc

Thanks again so much!

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Oh well, was worth a shot. There is also a list of singers on the Wikipedia page for it here -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_One_of_Those_Things_(song)

(can't go wrong with copying and pasting a link lol).

That's if you haven't seen it before.

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MMMM - Not sure but it sounds VERY much like the same singer here -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGjJRS_uvmA

though with the additional noise and bad recording i can't say for sure.

There is a huge list on there also of people that have sung the song in case there are any names you haven't come across yet.

Edit - also found this link which again the singer sounds very similar 'you do something to me'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V42nPAv06ag

Perhaps it is worth flipping through the archives from 1930's songs to see if it is an original and in there somewhere.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=1930%27s+HITS+ARCHIVE

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Thanks again, Keybored!

I don't think it's the first one, but...as for the second one...

That's Frank Luther singing with Leo Reisman's orchestra. That's who WillEd, some of whose posts are here (all of them are here: https://www.imdbarchive.com/board/p/12213/1/), thought it was at first, but he later came to the conclusion that it was not in fact Luther but, in fact, someone copying Luther's style. That was also the conclusion of MusicProf78, who had posted the Luther track to YouTube. That was one of the several reasons that WillEd, MusicProf, and "Lyncounion" all thought it was done exclusively for the film, because it was so similar to the Luther-Reisman version but not the same.

Thanks again, as always!

Salzmank

P.S. Yes, I have seen the list of Wikipedia: I haven't gone through every singer, but I have listened to most of them.




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Perhaps try from another angle. Instead of looking for who it was exactly that sang those versions, maybe find out who was around and alive and could have sang them during the 80's. Unless the person was a total nobody then it might be possible to track down a likely candidate and compare their voice for a match.

There is a list of living a dead crooners here on Wikipedia to start with, though there are some strange in there entries like John Barrowman, and Alan Dale listed as dead... I'm sure that is news to Mr Dale lol I doubt either of them are know for crooning either.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crooners


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Ohhhhh keybored, bless your heart! I searched for "Just One of Those Things" on YouTube a few days ago until I was blue in the face! I listened to, at least, 30 different singers sing that song and the closest I came up with was Mel Tormé and Dean Martin. This is such a mystery, I wanna pull my 45" long hair out...and that's a LOT of hair...lol! 😉

I really hope that James D'Arc guy comes through with the answer so we can all rest peacefully. 😊

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Yeah. Somebody out there must know who it was.

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You would think! I'm really curious to find out. 😊

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Keybored, your link directed me to moviechat's main page also. 😩

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By the way, I'm sure this goes without saying, but still no news from James D'Arc (since the last message) yet.

I had been hoping for some kind of response.

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No news from D'Arc, everyone—I've given up on him.

Has anyone here done more research, by any chance?

Many thanks!

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Write again. Don't give up! Someone out there knows the answer. It's just a case of finding them or someone that knows them.

Maybe try to find out somebody from the accounting department, because somebody got paid to sing those songs and there would be a paper trail.

I can't believe that nobody has come forward to say they know who it was after all this time.


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Thanks, Keybored!

I'm just as surprised as you are that nobody has come forward. I've been advertising this "mystery" all over; I hope that, one day, the singer or his family will read all this!

I haven't given up yet, but I have slowed down the search a bit--just out of a lack of time, more than anything.

I haven't tried contacting the London Symphony Orchestra, but I hadn't seen what Patrick Doyle had to do with Sleuth. I'm sure I missed something!

I have tried contacting Warner Bros. Publishing, to no avail. On this website (http://imdb2.freeforums.net/post/444116/thread), though, the user @carlcarlson1 was able to get a response from them--which didn't amount to much. He contacted the people the responder recommended; no response so far.

Again, many thanks for your help, Keybored.

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Then be like Andy in the Shawshank Redemption and write WBP a letter (email) a week till they do some investigating lol.

Patrick Doyle scored the music for remake (with the LSO), but it is possible he or they might know who it was due to having had the same jobs, or at least they may have some clues as to who it may have been. It's an outside of the box long shot but you never know.

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Did you ever try contacting Patrick Doyle or the London Symphony Orchestra??

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Also, don't know if you tried them yet but Warner Brothers Publishing were responsible for the arrangement of the Cole Porter songs, according to http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=54560. Might be worth contacting them.

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And I'll bump mine again, just in case...

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