Edit
Storyline
Despite not knowing him, the world's most famous detectives can't pass up the offer of a "dinner and murder" invitation from wealthy Lionel Twain. Each has no idea until their arrival at Two Two Twain who else will be in attendance. Those detectives are: amateur sleuths and New York socialites Dick and Dora Charleston, accompanied by their pet terrier, Myron; Belgian detective Monsieur Milo Perrier, accompanied by his chauffeur, Marcel; Shanghainese Inspector Sidney Wang, accompanied by his Japanese adopted son, Willie Wang; frumpish Brit Miss Jessica Marbles, accompanied by her invalid nurse, Miss Withers; and San Francisco gumshoe Sam Diamond, accompanied by his femme fatale sidekick, Tess Skeffington. The dinner part of the invitation runs into problems due to the non-communication between Twain's blind butler, Jamesir Bensonmum, and Twain's new deaf-mute and non-Anglophone cook, Yetta. On the murder side, the guests initially believe Twain will try to kill each of them. However, ... Written by
Huggo
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Taglines:
By the time the world's greatest detectives figure out whodunnit... you could die laughing!
See more »
Edit
Did You Know?
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.
See more »
Goofs
(at around 47 mins) When Lionel Twain is speaking to the group, Sam Diamond is leaning on the table with his right elbow the entire time. When the camera switches to just him, he is leaning on his left elbow.
See more »
Quotes
Sidney Wang:
Sh, sh, sh! Cow talk again.
See more »
Crazy Credits
"starring (in diabolical order)"
See more »
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.