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Murder by Death (1976)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
23 June 1976 (USA) moreTagline:
By the time the world's greatest detectives figure out whodunnit... you could die laughing! morePlot:
Five famous literary detective characters and their sidekicks are invited to a bizarre mansion to solve an even stranger mystery. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination moreNewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Scenes We Love: Murder By Death (From Cinematical. 22 June 2009, 4:45 PM, PDT)
Movies That Deserve a Second Life: Comedy Edition
(From JustPressPlay. 5 April 2009, 10:00 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
A Comedy-Suspense Masterpiece! moreCast
(Complete credited cast)| Eileen Brennan | ... | Tess Skeffington | |
| Truman Capote | ... | Lionel Twain | |
| James Coco | ... | Milo Perrier | |
| Peter Falk | ... | Sam Diamond | |
| Alec Guinness | ... | Bensonmum | |
| Elsa Lanchester | ... | Jessica Marbles | |
| David Niven | ... | Dick Charleston | |
| Peter Sellers | ... | Sidney Wang | |
| Maggie Smith | ... | Dora Charleston | |
| Nancy Walker | ... | Maid | |
| Estelle Winwood | ... | Nurse | |
| James Cromwell | ... | Marcel | |
| Richard Narita | ... | Willie Wang |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
94 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
USA:PG (Approved No. 24496) | Portugal:M/12 | Belgium:Tous | Finland:K-12 | Iceland:L | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | Norway:15 | UK:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PGFun Stuff
Trivia:
Originally Katharine Hepburn was meant to play a character called Dame Abigail Christian (a spin on Agatha Christie). Hepburn dropped out after hearing Myrna Loy would not do the film. The character was changed to Dame Abigail Christmas, and Estelle Winwood took the role. After numerous re-writes Estelle became Nurse Withers to a new character, Elsa Lanchester's Miss Jessica Marbles. moreGoofs:
Continuity: When Inspector Milo Perrier is being driven to the home of Lionel Twain, the candy bar he is eating changes size inconsistently between shots. moreQuotes:
Sidney Wang: Very interesting theory, Mr. Charleston. However, leave out one important point.Dick Charleston: What's that?
Sidney Wang: Is stupid. Is stupidest theory I ever heard.
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FAQ
Who are the characters based on?more
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Eccentric millionaire Lionel Twain (Truman Capote) invites five of the world's greatest detectives, each allowed one guest, to dinner and a murder. Can the detectives, who turn out to be even more eccentric, stop the murder before it happens, and solve it if it does?
I first saw this film as a kid in 1976 with my parents at the theater. Although I could remember I liked it at the time, I hadn't seen it since, and it was at best a vague memory. I certainly didn't remember it being so hilarious and entertaining. Written by Neil Simon and directed by Robert Moore, Murder By Death is a very funny spoof of some of literature/filmdom's most famous detectives, set in a beautifully designed, creepy mansion, and at times, becoming a fine mystery film in its own right.
The jokes fly by very quickly and range from subtle to over-the-top, so attentiveness is required, and multiple viewings are rewarded. The cast is incredible, as you should expect by combining such luminaries as Peter Sellers, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, James Coco and David Niven.
A comic masterpiece--10 out of 10 from me.