Rating: Summary: OPENING CREDITS BY CHARLES ADDAMS (...and that's about it!) Review: A comedy that delivers much less than it promises. Quite disappointing, really, given the magnificent talent behind it. Not that they didn't try. In fact, they try too hard! So hard, they should have titled it "Murder by Overkill"! To waste a cast like that in such silliness ought to be punishable by law, for rather than a witty parody on the great detectives of fiction the film ends up spoofing those "Wacky Races" cartoons, where teams of allegedly "funny" characters -each with its own gimmick- try to outwit the others to win a prize. They even drive distinctive cars accordingly! So don't expect this to be "The Ladykillers", just to kill some time.
Rating: Summary: A Comedy film noir. Can you guess who the killer really is? Review: You're in for a real treat! I consider this film a comedy film noir, but serious enough for the viewer to enjoy a good crime-mystery. This film has a few twists to it. Just when you think you know who the killer is, SURPRISE, they gotcha. There is plenty of fun and adult humor along the way. There is an excellent all-star cast here to enjoy: Alec Guinness, David Niven, Maggie Smith, Peter Sellers, Richard Narita, James Coco, James Cromwell, Eileen Brennan, Peter Falk, Nancy Walker, Estelle Winwood and Elsa Lanchester. If Truman Capote seems to be a little, well...different. Well, you've guessed something else, unintentionally. Yes, Truman Capote, respectfully, lived a different lifestyle. He was gay. He played "Lionel Twain" and made it a memorable performance. Maggie Smith is such a delight in this film. Sometimes I will watch this film again just for her comedic preformance. Her delivery of lines is perfect. David Niven always a class act. Peter Falk wears a trenchcoat again, which of course reminds us of his "Lt. Columbo" character which over thirty years now he is still playing on television in brand new tv-movies. It's neat to see Eileen Brennan in a good, funny role. Nancy Walker has a gem of a role. We remember her in the film, "Best Foot Forward" and the tv series "Rhoda". On this DVD version is a ten-minute conversation with Neil Simon about the casting and the making of "Murder By Death". What would have been nice is if they would have had a cast reunion for audio commentary or on-camera interviews. If you liked "Murder By Death", you might like the follow-up The Cheap Detective (1978). Peter Falk, Eileen Brennan,James Coco and James Cromwell are also showcased in this film with another different all-star cast. There is also another film simular to , but not as good as, "Murder By Death" called "Clue" (1985), based on the board game. This film also has an all-star cast, including Eileen Brennan.
Rating: Summary: FUNNY FROM TEENAGE YEARS TO OLDER... Review: My friends and I would watch Murder By Death (and Monty Python's Holy Grail) once a month on a sunday. We laughed hard over this mystery spoof; every single month. There is a wonderful array of stars in this movie with a plot that constantly keeps you confused and amused. To this day I still love this film and recommend it to anyone I know who loves a side-splitting whodunnit!
Rating: Summary: Classic comedy Review: There's no shame in starring in a spoof. I showed Murder By Death to my grandparents (my grandfather was mostly immobile due to health), and they cracked up throughout the whole movie. Not only did they get all the one-liners but they knew everyone in the cast from Yesteryear. This is one funny flick with several talented actors and actresses.
Rating: Summary: The Funniest Ever Review: I just loved this film the first time I saw it. The oneliners are priceless. My favorite ones are the ones that are between Peter Falk and Truman Capote(My favorite author of all time). Here are some examples Truman:"That drives me crazy!" Peter:"That's a short ride." Truman:"I'm the greatest, I'm number one! Peter: " You look more like number two, you know what I mean? These are just two of many oneliners that make this movie great. I recommend it to anyone who loves a good comedy, as well as a good time.
Rating: Summary: This is one funny movie!! Review: This movie is hilarious!! I found it amazing because this film was truely a pionear of its genre(parody). This was before Lethal weapon and even before the movie "Clue" it is indeed one of the first of its kind. It follows the same basic premise as most other murder mystery movies but it turns all of the stereotypes on their head. For example-The butler is blind and this is but one many things that make this movie unique. You can tell the producer and director had a lot of fun making this one. The first time you watch it you can have a dozen different guesses for how the movie turns out but you will not be right. I love this movie!!
Rating: Summary: One of my all time favorites. Review: "Murder by Death" is one of those gems that has been overlooked thru time. Usually when I ask someone if they've ever heard of it most of the time they say, "no". When I show them the movie they fall in love with it. It's not complicated whatsoever. Just listen carefully or else you will miss some of the more subtle jokes.
Rating: Summary: aka "Death by Laughter" - A Comedy Classic! Review: Gather all of the best known (ficticious) super-sluths of the mid-20th century at a dark and dreary mansion for the most challenging who-done-it assignment of their lives, and you've got one of the most hilarious spoofs the genre has offred to date. The all-star cast is brilliant, especially Elsa Lanchester (who really always plays HERSELF) in the role of Miss Marple and her nurse (who by now is quite frail and lovingly cared for by Miss Marple - a hilarious "twist" in itself!). Eileen Brennan is at her usual comic best, as are Peter Falk, Maggie Smith and David Niven. Truman Capote is the icing on the cake as the excentric millionaire host of the party. The countless one-liners and retortes to stupid questions are priceless. This is a DVD that you will pop in over and over again, it's THAT GOOD! I've seen a lot of great films, and this one easily ranks in the five-star league!*****
Rating: Summary: an old stand-by Review: This is the movie we watch when nothing else is on the tube. It dosen't matter how many times we've seen it, it gets better each time.
Rating: Summary: Great Film...but it is missing and end Scene Review: This film has been one of my all-time favorite comedies! I have fond meories of watching this movie everytime it was aired on Television. When I saw it was available for DVD I bought it. The movie is great and that is why it should get five stars.... but Scene 28 on both "Widescreen" & "Fullscreen" formats are missing sections of the film. Namely the shot with all the cars crossing the bridge home for a final time, as well as Peter Sellers last joke for the movie regarding the arrival of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson looking for the manor they were just at. I wrote to Sony Pictures....I hope I get an answer to my complaint. For those of you who haven't seen the movie...it is worth it...however if you want your movie's complete....well you know what is missing in this DVD.
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