Murder By Death
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Movie Reviews of Murder By Death
Movie Review: A Comedy film noir. Can you guess who the killer really is?
Summary: 5 Stars
You're in for a real treat! I consider this film a comedy film noir, but serious enough for the viewer to enjoy a good crime-mystery. This film has a few twists to it. Just when you think you know who the killer is, SURPRISE, they gotcha. There is plenty of fun and adult humor along the way. There is an excellent all-star cast here to enjoy: Alec Guinness, David Niven, Maggie Smith, Peter Sellers, Richard Narita, James Coco, James Cromwell, Eileen Brennan, Peter Falk, Nancy Walker, Estelle Winwood and Elsa Lanchester. If Truman Capote seems to be a little, well...different. Well, you've guessed something else, unintentionally. Yes, Truman Capote, respectfully, lived a different lifestyle. He was gay. He played "Lionel Twain" and made it a memorable performance. Maggie Smith is such a delight in this film. Sometimes I will watch this film again just for her comedic preformance. Her delivery of lines is perfect. David Niven always a class act. Peter Falk wears a trenchcoat again, which of course reminds us of his "Lt. Columbo" character which over thirty years now he is still playing on television in brand new tv-movies. It's neat to see Eileen Brennan in a good, funny role. Nancy Walker has a gem of a role. We remember her in the film, Best Foot Forward and the Rhoda: Season One tv series.
On this DVD version is a ten-minute conversation with Neil Simon about the casting and the making of "Murder By Death". What would have been nice is if they would have had a cast reunion for audio commentary or on-camera interviews. If you liked "Murder By Death", you might like the follow-up The Cheap Detective (1978). Peter Falk, Eileen Brennan,James Coco and James Cromwell are also showcased in this film with another different all-star cast. There is also another film simular to , but not as good as, "Murder By Death" called "Clue" (1985), based on the board game. CLUE (1985) also has an all-star cast, including Eileen Brennan.
There will be two biopic films about Truman Capote. Capote (2005) starring Philip Seymour Hoffman will be released September 30, 2005.
"Infamous",starring Toby Jones,with Daniel Craig (new "James Bond 007") as "Perry Smith", is also about Truman Capote, will premiere October 13, 2006.
Movie Review: A Dinner With Death...
Summary: 5 Stars
For all the fans of crime and noir movies, here comes one of the best satire's on the whole genre. Murder by Death is by far the funniest spoof on noir/mystery genre I have seen. Paying no respect to the stalwarts of the genre and taking the piss out of all and sundry, this movie should really rank up there in the noir-parody movies of all time. Made in 1976 by Robert Moore, in what could really be made into a sweet theatrical play, this is a forgotten classic.
Lionel Twain (played by Truman Capote no less), a bored/lonely/twisted oldman invites five of the world's top most private-eyes to dinner at his country mansion. One of the detectives will be murdered right after dinner but nobody who is being picked. The murder will occur before 12.00AM, and who ever solves the murder will be payed $1 million. But Twain does not show up at the dinner, preferring to talk through a taxidermy animal head trophy stuck on the wall. He keeps dropping hints and raising allegations, while giving his announcements, as the guests have their dinner. Naturally, all the guests are agitated but since they are the best detectives in the world, they rise up to the challenge of solving the mystery of who is going to be killer. As the night progresses, we are treated to high doses of hilarious dark humor. The only maids in the mansion are the blind butler (blind, why? since he was cheap to hire) and the deaf/dumb cook. Comedy of errors and comedy of terrors ensue as we get closer to midnight. Low, the butler is murdered, and Twain disappears. The ending will have you in splits, since its easily the most ludicrous parody of events.
Some of the finest acting is provided by Peter Sellers in his role as the "China-man" Sidney Wang, who strives hard to construct a sentence with an article, much to the chagrin of the well-bred Twain. Sidney Wang cracked me up when ever he opened his mouth. Also special mention to Pete Falk's Sam Diamond, a no-nonsense street smart, tough guy, who loves keeping naked pictures of musclemen in his closet, don't ask me why. This is truly a mad mad movie that will have you laugh all your worries away...2 thumbs up!
Movie Review: ONE OF THE FUNNIEST MOVIES EVER!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember watching this movie as a child and it absolutly terrified me. The dark setting; the maid who was unable to speak or hear; the murders; these were all so much for a young girl to handle. However, when I was away at college and since we were unable to afford cable my roommates and I would occasionally buy videos and watch them over and over and over... When I found a copy of Murder By Death for sale I thought of this as an opportunity to overcome the scarring this film had left me with as a child. We went home and popped the video in the VCR and for the next 94 minutes we laughed until we cried. I absolutly loved this movie! The casting was excellent! I couldn't imagine anyone else but those incredibly talented actors/actresses playing the richly developed characters. The setting was well done and the script is hilarious!!! By today's standards some of the jokes/lines can be considered to be very politically incorrect and the idea of a caucasian (Sellers)portraying an Asian would probably receive much protest. But considering the time the film was made this is not an issue for me personally (I'm part Asian). The set is beautiful and yet haunting and the costuming is wonderful. I dream of having a beautiful dress like the one worn by Dora Charleston (portrayed by the incredibly talented Maggie Smith).
I can honestly say that I watch this movie at least once a week and I know this film so well I can almost follow the dialogue line by line when watching it. I was so happy when it was finally released on DVD and I appreciate all of the little extras found on the DVD but I really would have enjoyed a Dirctor's Commentary to follow along with the movie. Overall I highly recommend this movie for anyone in need of a very good laugh.
Movie Review: Jessica Marbles: "Yes dear, we're going to have a lovely murderpoo."
Summary: 5 Stars
In Neil Simon's classic mid-70s farce MURDER BY DEATH, five detectives (based on such fictional characters as Sam Spade and Hercule Poirot) and their sidekicks are invited to an atmospheric mansion for dinner and an opportunity to solve a murder that will occur at exactly midnight. People, and even the house itself are not what they appear to be: false identities, trick rooms and hidden passages add to the challenge.
An all-star cast, Robert Moore's direction and one of Simon's wittiest scripts make this who-dun-it a delight throughout. (TRIVIA: The screaming doorbell is Fay Wray from the 1933 RKO feature, KING KONG.)
Also recommended:
Peter Falk reprised his Bogie imitation (as Lou Peckinpaugh) in THE CHEAP DETECTIVE (1978), also from the talented team of Moore and Simon.
Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.
(7.3) Murder By Death (1976) - Eileen Brennan/Truman Capote/James Coco/Peter Falk/Alec Guinness/Elsa Lanchester/David Niven/Peter Sellers/Maggie Smith/Nancy Walker/Estelle Winwood/James Cromwell/Richard Narita
Movie Review: Murderous Mayhem!
Summary: 5 Stars
Murder By Death is a movie we have enjoyed many times through the years.
We laugh every time we watch it! It's a spoof of some of the world's great literary detectives.
Peter Falk and Eileen Brennan lead a cast of notables who are invited to dine at a creepy mansion.
Just getting across a rickety bridge to get there is a feat of accomplishment!
Murder is the main course! They are informed that someone will be murdered at midnight.
The challenge: Stop it from happening! Money is on the line.
Who will live? Who will die? Is it true or is it a lie?
The Murderous Mahyem begins . . .
It's up to Sam Spade, Jane Marple, Hercule Poirot, Nero Wolfe,
Nick and Nora Charles, and Charlie Chan and his Number One Son to solve the case.
Our Number One Son, who is usually a blood and guts movie fan,
says this one makes him laugh no matter how many times he watches it.
Keeps you guessing right until the end. Another good movie is Clue.
Buy both and be as enjoyably confused as we were. ~ Mrs. B.