Radioland Murders (1994)

In 1939, WBN, a fourth radio network, is about to take to America's airwaves. As if the confusion of the premiere night wasn't enough, Penny Henderson, the owner's secretary, must deal with... See full summary »

Director:

Mel Smith

Writers:

George Lucas (story), Willard Huyck (screenplay),

Stars:

Brian Benben, Mary Stuart Masterson, Ned Beatty

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brian Benben	...	Roger Henderson
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Penny Henderson
Ned Beatty	...	General Walt Whalen
George Burns	...	Milt Lackey
Scott Michael Campbell	...	Billy
Brion James	...	Bernie King
Michael Lerner	...	Lieutenant Cross
Michael McKean	...	Rick Rochester
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Walt Whalen, Jr.
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Max Applewhite
Christopher Lloyd	...	Zoltan
Larry Miller	...	Herman Katzenback
Anita Morris	...	Claudette Katsenback
Corbin Bernsen	...	Dexter Morris
Rosemary Clooney	...	Anna

Storyline

In 1939, WBN, a fourth radio network, is about to take to America's airwaves. As if the confusion of the premiere night wasn't enough, Penny Henderson, the owner's secretary, must deal with an unhappy sponsor, an overbearing boss and a soon-to-be ex-husband who desperately wants her back. As the broadcast begins, a mysterious voice breaks the broadcast and suddenly members of the cast turn up dead. It's up to her husband Roger, to find out whodunit as the police chase him through the halls of WBN.

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Plot Keywords:

radio | radio network | sponsor | writer | director | 

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Taglines:

At station WBN, the hits just keep on coming.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Musical | Mystery | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language, some farcical violence and brief nudity

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Asesinatos en la radio

Filming Locations:

Carolco Studios - 1223 North 23rd Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$1,299,060 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Lucasfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During a February 1995 appearance on "Howard Stern", Corbin Bernsen (who plays Dexter Morris) admitted that this is the only film he's left the theater during the middle of, and was persuaded to by his family who was also in attendance.

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Goofs

When Penny and Roger are first arguing, they go through swinging doors onto the stage. When the cut is made, in the middle of the conversation, they are suddenly in the middle of the stage and the doors are nowhere to be seen.

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Quotes

Billy: [dressed like Carmen Miranda, Roger pulls Billy into closet] Well, I'm busy, but I guess I can spare a few minutes.
Roger: [Billy leans in to kiss Roger, then Roger slaps him] It's me, you chowderhead!

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Connections

References American Graffiti (1973)

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Soundtracks

"I Miss You So"
Written by Jimmy Henderson, Bertha Scott and Sid Robin
Performed by The Voltage Brothers
Produced by Pjaye Scott
Courtesy of MCA Music

User Reviews

Lively comedy

If you liked 1982's MY FAVORITE YEAR, you'll probably enjoy this silly romp into the world of radio, in the late 1930s when radio was king. A radio station run by "General" Ned Beatty is trying to establish itself as the fourth national network, but its efforts are being thwarted by an unseen killer who is knocking off station personnel in fairly rapid succession. Brian BenBen is the hero of this Woody Allen-ish piece, a writer for the station who becomes a suspect in the killings. Mary Stuart Masterson is a rising radio exec and BenBen's soon-to-be ex-wife. A ton of familiar faces dot the landscape, including good old George Burns, and if you know your character actors well enough, you'll quickly figure out the killer's identity. The film moves at a relatively frantic pace and veers toward the satirical, and you can figures out what popular radio performers of the time are being lovingly mocked, including Frank Sinatra, Cab Calloway and the Andrews or McGuire Sisters (I wasn't sure which). Michael McKean and orchestra do an uncanny Spike Jones imitation. The film does not have the brilliance of MY FAVORITE YEAR, however, and feels sort of empty despite all the junks going on.