Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Woody Allen

Writers (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by) and
Marshall Brickman (written by)

Release Date:

18 August 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Mystery | Crime

Plot:

A middle-aged couple suspects foul play when their neighbor's wife suddenly drops dead.

Plot Keywords:

Investigation | Neighbor | Husband And Wife Sleuths | Marriage | New York City

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Larry Lipton
Diane Keaton	...	Carol Lipton
Jerry Adler	...	Paul House
Lynn Cohen	...	Lillian House
Ron Rifkin	...	Sy
Joy Behar	...	Marilyn
William Addy	...	Jack, the Super
John Doumanian	...	Neighbor
Sylvia Kauders	...	Neighbor
Ira Wheeler	...	FMS Doctor
Alan Alda	...	Ted
Anjelica Huston	...	Marcia Fox
Melanie Norris	...	Helen Moss
Marge Redmond	...	Mrs. Dalton
Zach Braff	...	Nick Lipton

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language, and for elements of violence in a comic murder mystery.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (Mono)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:6 | Ireland:PG | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-10 | Germany:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

21 Club - 21 West 52nd Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

Lead role written for Mia Farrow, but Diane Keaton got the role following Farrow's breakup with the film's director Woody Allen.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Marcia is giving her ideas to Larry, Carol and Ted regarding the murder, at one point she excuses herself to go to the restroom. As she leaves, in the long shot, Carol puts her hands behind her head and interlocks her fingers to rest her head against them. In the next closeup shot, her hands are down.

Quotes:

Carol Lipton: Did you see this? This man in Missouri killed twelve victims, dismemebered them, and ate them.
Larry Lipton: Really? Well, it's an alternative lifestyle.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Tout sur moi: Montreal Murder Mystery (#3.9)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Have You Met Miss Jones

Light comedy from Woody Allen

This is a nice and light Woody Allen comedy about a death in a building that could be a murder. At least Diane Keaton's character thinks so, without really having a reason for that. She plays Carol Lipton, married to Larry Lipton (Woody Allen). They have just met their neighbors Paul (Jerry Adler) and Lillian House (Lynn Cohen) when Lillian dies. Because Paul is not that sad and is too ready to move on Carol becomes suspicious. When she is realizing certain strange events that has occurred her suspicion grows. Larry thinks it is pretty stupid but when a friend named Ted (Alan Alda) does believe her and helps her with the investigation he gets jealous and offers to help after all.

Whether a real murder has committed is not the point, I guess. Allen gives us standard movie situations, ridicules them a little, and betters them then. There is a scene where Allen and Keaton go from an elevator into a basement when the lights fall out. It is completely dark, something we have seen more in thrillers, and for some reason Allen is able to make this cliché thriller scene suspenseful. There are more of these moments. Since this is an Allen film there are a lot of links to other famous movies (the script itself is a little like Hitchcock's 'Rear Window') and famous scenes, the ending in particular does a terrific job in reliving one of the most memorable scenes out there. (It has to with mirrors, I guess you know what movie I am talking about). This light Allen comedy is a terrific mystery story with brilliant touches that will be liked not only by Allen-fans, but by everyone who loves either comedy or mystery suspense.