Review of Murder by Death (1976) by Monsieur R — 24 May 2011

Almost as hilarious as Airplane but more subtle humor, IF you know the subject matter. In an isolated mansion, dinner is held for the worlds great modern era detectives. Non-stop one liner jokes ensue.

While being a bit Disneyish (hence the 10% deduction), I found this subtle humor as hilarious as Airplane. While not having the sight gags of Airplane, it relied solely on dialog for spoofing the detectives of old.

Charlie Chan (Peter Sellers) is stereotypically a Chinese, overbite character that brings with him his number one adopted son.

The host of this evening of spoofdome is none other than Truman Copate. Even he denounces Charlie for his "pidgeon" English, a racist slap if there ever was one. Here Simon gets demerits for cheap laughs.

David Niven (never different in any film) plays The Thin Man character along with his co-actor Maggie Smith as wife.

Niven caught taking a whiz in the bathroom is priceless.

Peter Falk plays Sam Spade, wearing out the accent of Bogart to ad nauseum. His secretary Eileen Brennon (The Sting) plays Falk's adoring and deprived lover. [This was the worst impression of me I have ever seen on film].

Alec Guinness is just a riot, playing a blind butler that is asked to stamp envelopes by Copote in the early scenes. (Making light of handicaps is the source of Neil Simon's comedy concerning Guinness' character. This got to be a little disturbing to me and dates the humor.).

Unfortunately, Neil Simmon has comedy coming from stereotypes. The speaking of Charlie Chan is made fun of. The blind butler is given lots of laughs by his handicapps.

Even old folks have gas attacks.

There is some sophomoric humor beginning and after. Lionel Twain, of course a spoof of Lionel Train. Then there is that address: 22 Twain, of course that sounds like Chew Chew Train.

NOTES about the film:

1 In the special features, catch the conversation about the film with writer Niel Simmon himself. He brings out some interesting comments.

2 Truman Capote was not the first choice of the film makers. Orson Welles was the first choice, but he was doing things. Orson didn't think Capote, a non-actor, was appropriate. He told Simon about Capote, "You have to be kidding".

3 Simon viewed this film as "cashing in" on all the old detective novels he had read as a child and felt tricked. He was considering a sort of payback for the literary cheats of the time. At one point in the film, a rather rightous speech is made about the matter.

4 Sherlock Holmes was not part of the film.***.

Simon was, of course, only using modern day detectives.

Actually, the entire film is a denunciation of tricks used by the detective masters to make crimes unsolvable by readers.

5 a rare acting performance by In Cold Blood author Truman Capote. The film was presented at the Venice International Film Festival in 1976.

6 The scream heard coming from the doorbell is Fay Wray's scream from King Kong.

*** Author Ron Haydock states that an early draft of Neil Simon's script featured Holmes and Watson actually solving the mystery, but their roles were reduced to a cameo appearance and finally deleted because the lead actors felt they were being upstaged.

Murder by Death is Simon's chance to humiliate the world's famous detectives for their dishonest works in literature.

Or so it seems to me. Simon himself says so in so many words himself.

Never mind Simon's motives for making this clever and fast paced hilarious comedy, it was funny to near hysterical to me. You really have to know these detective greats to catch some of the humor.

The only problem? Sherlock Holmes was not part of the film.

Simon was, of course, only using modern day detectives (although why then Charlie Chan?).

Taking pot shots at Conan Doyle's pre-eminent Holmes would have been decidedly, not humorous.

Murder by Death stars Alec Guiness, Peter Falk, David Niven, Maggie Smith (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie), James Coco, Peter Sellers, Nancy Walker, Eileen Brennan (The Sting) and veteran old lady Estelle Moore.

Murder by Death is a killer.

Directed by Robert Moore.

Produced by Ray Stark.

Written by Neil Simon.

Starring Truman Capote.

James Coco.

Peter Falk.

Alec Guinness.

Elsa Lanchester.

David Niven.

Peter Sellers.

Maggie Smith.

Music by Dave Grusin.

Cinematography David M. Walsh.

Editing by Margaret Booth.

John F. Burnett.

Distributed by Columbia Pictures.

Release date(s) June 23, 1976.

One disc dvd, color, English or Spanish, subtitles in six languages, closed captioned, dolby digital, rated PG.

Running time 94 minutes.

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