Murder by Death | | Cast : | Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers | | Director : | Robert Moore | | Studio : | Columbia/Tristar Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | June 23, 1976 | | DVD Released Date : | December 18, 2001 | | Language : | Unknown (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 09, 2005 | | Summary | Super Sleuths on Trial | Content
 | Did you ever notice that many mystery novels are really unsolvable because they don't reveal the most necessary clues until the last three pages (or not at all)? Playwright and Screenwriter Neil Simon (THE GOODBYE GIRL) surely noticed this and he takes revenge on our behalf. He invites caricatures of these super-sleuths to a murder mystery party with a challenge to solve the murder of a wealthy eccentric portrayed by Truman Capote. The mansion is filled with all that can be expected, from secret passages, rainy weather and a suspicious butler played by soft-spoken Alec Guinness. Scattered throughout is the quick humor of Neil Simon.
The all-star cast includes David Niven and Maggie Smith as a NICK AND NORA like couple. James Coco is a HERCULE POIROT-like detective with a young James Cromwell (BABE) as his assistant. Peter Sellers makes a CHARLIE CHAN-esque appearance. Elsa Lanchester Brennan is a MISS MARPLE like sleuth and Peter Falk makes a fun spin on SAM SPADE with Eileen Brennan at his side. Nancy Walker portrays the house chef. The mystery takes second seat to the comedy;... But, this film is all about laughter. Followed up by a sequel, THE CHEAP DETECTIVE.
|
| Rating | | | Date | July 27, 2005 | | Summary | terrible DVD release.... | Content
| I got a copy but then sent it back. The disk was defective, the picture grainy and the sound muted, and worst of all, No Bonus Features. That's what the DVD was invented for, Bonus Features. If there is none, then it's a joke. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 01, 2005 | | Summary | When I first saw it in the theatre, I went right back! | Content
| I can't say I have ever laughed at anything so hard since. Neil Simon's parody of the 1930's and 1940's detective stories is superbly cast: Peter Falk plays Sam Spade, James Coco is Hercule Poirot, Peter Sellers is Charlie Chan, David Niven and Maggie Smith are reflections of Nick and Nora Charles. They're all summoned to Truman Capote's home to try and find out who is trying to kill them all. It's Simon intermixed with Clue and neither suffers for the blending. ENDORE! ENDORE! |
| Rating | | | Date | January 20, 2005 | | Summary | Don't let him park the car dickie | Content
| I have never laughed so hard at something so stupid in all my life. Where have movies like this gone. Proof that a good movie starts with good writing. Ironic since it is a spoof movie that makes fun of literary characters. The actors look like they are having fun too. watch for a young James Cromwell playing a driver/servant. |
| Rating | | | Date | December 12, 2004 | | Summary | Death Becomes Them | Content
| Murder By Death is an uproarious comedy, that benefits from a pitch perfect cast, a joke a minute screenplay by playwright Neil Simon, and a sure handed "ringmaster" leading the three ring circus. The film is pure lunacy and led the way for such spoofs as Airplane! and The Naked Gun films.
Eccentric millionaire Lionel Twain (Truman Capote--spoofing himself) invites the world's greatest detectives to his home and challenges them to solve the perfect murder. Among the sleuths that try to solve the case are Milo Perrier (James Coco), Sam Diamond (Peter Falk), who brings his secretary Tess (Eileen Brennan) along, Jessica Marbles (Elsa Lanchester), Dick and Dora Charleston (David Niven and Maggie Smith), and Sidney Wang (Peter Sellers), all of whom are sharp parodies of beloved literary characters. Twain informs his guests that one of them will be murdered at the stroke of midnight. The pay-off: $1 million to whoever lives through the night
Spoofing just about every cliche there is among the murder mystery genre, Murder By Death is a tour de force for the entire cast, which also includes Nancy Walker as Yetta the proverbial maid and Sir Alec Guinness who is wonderful as the blind butler, Jamesir Bensonmum. For me though Sellers steals the film as a parody of slueth Charlie Chan. Some of the jokes will seem very corny to a few. But director Robert Moore and the cast make it work, ensuring it all holds together, despite that. The whodunnit isn't as important as how much fun it is getting to the end. Both Simon and Moore are adept at making the most of the limited setting.
The DVD extras include a 10 minute interview with Neil Simon in which he gives us an all too short glimse behind the scenes. A full sized retrospective would have probably been better and more satifying. Theatrical trailers for the film as well as its follow-up The Cheap Detective (also recommended), static talent files and a production notes insert top off the bonus material.
What's not to like about Murder By Death? As long as you understand how silly it's going to get--you'll have a good time watching pros at work.
|
|
