Someone explain

I don't think any murder took place in the movie. But, I think the main suspect and host was Yetta. She was posing as Lionel Twain all along (notice that Yetta and Lionel Twain were never seen in a room at the same time). In the beginning, you see the butler talking to Lionel Twain, who was writing out the invitations. If you look closely, Twain's hands were feminine, meaning that they must of belonged to Yetta. If you put all the detectives' theories together, you can sort of figure it out: Miss Marbles said that Lionel Twain died five years ago; Mr. Charleston said that everything in the party was arranged (meaning the butler was hired for that one night); Mr. Wang said that the butler's body he examined was made of rubber, so the real butler must of been let go for the night. But, none of the detectives correctly guessed who the murderer was, so, Mr. Perrier's theory that the murderer was Lionel Twain's daughter Rita was incorrect. All the detectives left the night thinking that Lionel Twain planned the whole thing, but it was revealed at the end that he was Yetta in disguised all along. So, the detectives were fooled twice. Twain's dead body in the dining room was either a mannequin or Yetta in disguise. The mannequin of Yetta was made to throw off the guests. So, it was just one big game of whodunnit, but in realty, no murders took place.

Probably Twain's former maid who decided to take over his fortune.

Tess Skeffington had some information that she presented to Sam Diamond near the beginning of the movie, when they were driving up to the house. (Admittedly, the information was provided to her by Lionel Twain, but it does offer some possible insight into what was really going on, and it might be a reason why Truman Capote is Lionel Twain...)

Tess said that Lionel's parents were Catholic and Jewish (I forget which was which), marriage lasted only two hours, and when Sam asked, "Were there any children?" Tess said, "A girl." Lionel Twain was never Lionel. Or at least Lionel Twain was never a man. Or...well, you see where I'm going with this.

I'm still in the middle of rewatching this movie, it's been awhile since I have seen the full thing, but...Lionel or Rita or whatever her name is a master of disguise and disinformation, I agree with what others have said that Lionel/Rita played all of the extras, the butler, Yetta, the accountant, and Lionel.

The scenes where Yetta and the butler interacted with each other only happened in the kitchen, and were merely comic relief for the audience, and they never really interacted with each other. The butler was talking to nothingness, Yetta was there but she couldn't hear, and only the butler ever went out and interacted with the guests. What happened 'backstage' in the kitchen may never have really happened. Dummy butler and maid, certainly, but Lionel/Rita did inhabit them, I believe. Two of everything. Dummy Lionel got stabbed.

As long as there is space, I'm going to stare off into it.

Eileen Brennan