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Foul Play (1978)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Colin Higgins (writer)
Release Date:
14 July 1978 (USA)
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Tagline:
A new comedy-thriller from Paramount for Summer '78 more
Plot:
A shy San Francisco librarian and a bumbling cop fall in love as they solve a crime involving albinos, dwarves, and the Catholic Church. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 8 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Josh Wolk's Pop Culture Club talks 'Vacation': Does it make you yearn for (or dread) Chevy Chase's return?
(From EW.com - PopWatch. 27 August 2009, 7:30 AM, PDT)
Comedian Chevy Chase To Guest Star On NBC's "Chuck"
(From iCelebz. 15 January 2009, 12:57 PM, PST)
(From EW.com - PopWatch. 27 August 2009, 7:30 AM, PDT)
Comedian Chevy Chase To Guest Star On NBC's "Chuck"
(From iCelebz. 15 January 2009, 12:57 PM, PST)
User Comments:
"The bad guys are after your ass. It's my job to get there first."
more (66 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Goldie Hawn | ... | Gloria Mundy | |
| Chevy Chase | ... | Tony Carlson | |
| Burgess Meredith | ... | Mr. Hennessey | |
| Rachel Roberts | ... | Delia Darrow / Gerda Casswell | |
| Eugene Roche | ... | Archbishop Thorncrest / Archbishop's brother | |
| Dudley Moore | ... | Stanley Tibbets | |
| Marilyn Sokol | ... | Stella | |
| Brian Dennehy | ... | Fergie | |
| Marc Lawrence | ... | Rupert Stiltskin | |
| Chuck McCann | ... | Theatre manager | |
| Billy Barty | ... | J.J. MacKuen | |
| Don Calfa | ... | Scarface | |
| Bruce Solomon | ... | Bob Scott | |
| Cooper Huckabee | ... | Sandy | |
| Pat Ast | ... | Mrs. Venus |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Killing Lydia (USA) (working title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
116 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.78 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:L |
Netherlands:12 |
Singapore:PG |
Argentina:13 |
Finland:K-16 |
Sweden:15 |
USA:PG |
UK:PG |
Australia:M
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Steve Martin read for the part of Tony but did not get it.
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Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Scotty is driving in the car with Gloria he tells her he has only three cigarettes left and asks Gloria to hold them, when he slips the film into the cigarette pack, it shows four cigarettes.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
References The Racket (1951)
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Soundtrack:
I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (66 total)
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Perky librarian Gloria Mundy (Hawn) has stumbled on to a plot to assassinate the pope. Now she has an albino, a dwarf and a scarfaced killer "after her ass." She turns to Det. Tony Carlson (Chase) and together they crack the case. The plot, including the obligatory car chase through the streets of San Francisco, is totally by the numbers, but this movie has a lot of minor delights. Witty dialog and a brilliant supporting cast help a lot. As for the leads, Hawn was in her prime. Even in the bad seventies makeup, hairdos and clothes she is adorable. Chevy Chase doesn't have a lot to do, as the script gives most of the heroic moments to Hawn. Even so, he turns out to be quite a charmer. I'd forgotten that, back when he was young and handsome, his bumbling schtick actually worked. The best part of seeing Foul Play now is spotting the multitude of 70's anachronisms. Just a few that stand out: Gloria thinks nothing of picking up a hitchhiker. She's a non-smoker but lets someone light up in her car. Chevy Chase's character, a police detective, smokes a joint now and then. Ah, those were the days. If this movie appeals to you, I would strongly suggest "Silver Streak" (1976), another comedy/romance/thriller also written by Colin Higgins. These two films share a similar sensibility, and I'd love to see them at a revival house as a double feature.