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Murder by Death

  • 19761976
  • ALAL
  • 1h 35min
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
36K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,981
588
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Murder by Death (1976)
Trailer 1
Play trailer3:14
2 Videos
56 Photos
ComedyCrimeMystery

Five famous literary detective characters and their sidekicks are invited to a bizarre mansion to solve an even stranger mystery.Five famous literary detective characters and their sidekicks are invited to a bizarre mansion to solve an even stranger mystery.Five famous literary detective characters and their sidekicks are invited to a bizarre mansion to solve an even stranger mystery.

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
36K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,981
588
  • Director
    • Robert Moore
  • Writer
    • Neil Simon
  • Stars
    • Peter Falk
    • Alec Guinness
    • Peter Sellers
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Moore
  • Writer
    • Neil Simon
  • Stars
    • Peter Falk
    • Alec Guinness
    • Peter Sellers
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 203User reviews
    • 62Critic reviews
    • 62Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos2

    Murder by Death
    Trailer 3:14
    Murder by Death
    Murder by Death
    Trailer 3:08
    Murder by Death

    Photos56

    Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Elsa Lanchester, and James Coco in Murder by Death (1976)
    Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, and Richard Narita in Murder by Death (1976)
    "Murder by Death," Peter Sellers 1976 Columbia
    "Murder by Death," Peter Falk 1976 Columbia
    "Murder by Death," Truman Capote 1976 Columbia
    "Murder by Death," Peter Sellers 1976 Columbia
    "Murder by Death," Maggie Smith 1976 Columbia
    "Murder By Death," Alec Guinness. 1976 /Columbia
    Peter Sellers, Peter Falk,  MURDER BY DEATH, Columbia, 1976, I.V.
    "Murder by Death," Truman Capote 1976 Columbia
    "Murder by Death," Truman Capote 1976 Columbia
    Murder by Death (1976)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter Falk
    Peter Falk
    • Sam Diamondas Sam Diamond
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • Bensonmumas Bensonmum
    Peter Sellers
    Peter Sellers
    • Sidney Wangas Sidney Wang
    Eileen Brennan
    Eileen Brennan
    • Tess Skeffingtonas Tess Skeffington
    Truman Capote
    Truman Capote
    • Lionel Twainas Lionel Twain
    James Coco
    James Coco
    • Milo Perrieras Milo Perrier
    Elsa Lanchester
    Elsa Lanchester
    • Jessica Marblesas Jessica Marbles
    David Niven
    David Niven
    • Dick Charlestonas Dick Charleston
    Maggie Smith
    Maggie Smith
    • Dora Charlestonas Dora Charleston
    Nancy Walker
    Nancy Walker
    • Maidas Maid
    Estelle Winwood
    Estelle Winwood
    • Nurseas Nurse
    James Cromwell
    James Cromwell
    • Marcelas Marcel
    Richard Narita
    Richard Narita
    • Willie Wangas Willie Wang
    Myron
    • Myron the Dogas Myron the Dog
    • (uncredited)
    Fay Wray
    Fay Wray
    • Screaming Door Bellas Screaming Door Bell
    • (archive sound)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Moore
    • Writer
      • Neil Simon
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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 (Truman Capote). 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 City socialites Dick (David Niven) and Dora Charleston (Dame Maggie Smith), accompanied by their pet terrier, Myron; Belgian detective Monsieur Milo Perrier (James Coco), accompanied by his chauffeur, Marcel (James Cromwell); Shanghainese Inspector Sidney Wang (Peter Sellers), accompanied by his Japanese adopted son, Willie Wang (Richard Narita); frumpish Brit Miss Jessica Marbles (Elsa Lanchester), accompanied by her invalid nurse, Miss Withers (Estelle Winwood); and San Francisco gumshoe Sam Diamond (Peter Falk), accompanied by his femme fatale sidekick, Tess Skeffington (Eileen Brennan). The dinner part of the invitation runs into problems due to the non-communication between Twain's blind butler, Jamesir Bensonmum (Sir Alec Guinness), and Twain's new deaf-mute and non-Anglophone cook, Yetta (Nancy Walker). On the murder side, the guests initially believe Twain will try to kill each of them. However, Twain eventually announces his rationale for the gathering: that one of the people at the dinner table will be murdered before midnight, and that Twain will consider himself the greatest detective if his guests, who are now trapped in the house until dawn, cannot figure out who committed the murder, that person also at the dinner table. If one does figure out who committed the crime, he or she will be the recipient of one million dollars and the exclusive rights to the story. So the guests anxiously await the stroke of midnight, with those still alive after that time trying to figure out motive and the opportunity to murder before the rise of dawn, and before the murderer has the opportunity to strike again on one or all of them. —Huggo
    eyes watching from behind a paintingmurderdetectivemansiondinner party76 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • By the time the world's greatest detectives figure out whodunnit... you could die laughing!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • AL
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The screaming woman sound used as a doorbell is Fay Wray's screams from King Kong (1933).
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 14 mins) Milo Perrier tells Sam Diamond, "I'm not a Frenchy... I'm a Belgie", referring to the fact he is from Belgium and not France. However, in discussing Twain's annual poodle hunt in France, he implies that's his home country, and later he says, referring to himself, that you should "never underestimate a Frenchman's nostrils."
    • Quotes

      Sam Diamond: The last time that I trusted a dame was in Paris in 1940. She said she was going out to get a bottle of wine. Two hours later, the Germans marched into France.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits: Starring (In Diabolical Order)
    • Alternate versions
      The original ABC Network broadcast of the film contained four additional scenes not found in the theatrical or DVD version. 1. Jessica Marbles' taxi driver (played by Peter Sellers) requests a large fare. 2. Dick and Dora Charleston narrowly avoid running over Tess Skeffington, who is walking back to Sam Diamond's car from a service station because she and Sam ran out of gas. Satisfied that Tess is all right, the Charlestons simply drive off, leaving her there. 3. When Willie Wang covers up the body of Twain, he finds a note in Twain's hand and smugly announces this to the others. 4. As the detectives drive away from Twain's house at the end of the film, Inspector Wang and Willie pass another car carrying Sherlock Holmes (Keith McConnell) and Dr. Watson (Richard Peel) heading towards the Twain home. When Willie asks his father "Why didn't you warn them?" Wang replies "Let idiots find out for themselves."
    • Connections
      Featured in 52nd Annual Academy Awards (1980)

    User reviews203

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A Comedy-Suspense Masterpiece!
    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.
    helpful•111
    18
    • BrandtSponseller
    • Jan 18, 2005

    FAQ1

    • Whom are the characters based upon?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 23, 1976 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Neil Simon's Murder by Death
    • Filming locations
      • Oakley Court, Windsor Road, Oakley Green, Windsor, Berkshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Rastar Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $38,200
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 35min
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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