Product: Murder by Death (1976)
Rating: 3.0
NOSTALGIC STEP BACK IN TIME WITH OLD FRIENDS
I was reading an article in Vanity Fair about Truman Capote and MURDER BY DEATH was mentioned so I thought it was time to see this film. The major plus of this film is the chance to see some beloved and popular actors..most of whom are long gone. Sadly, the younger generation may not recognize the names in this film and the great esteem these actors were held in. Several of the actors in MURDER BY DEATH had already been stars for decades when this film was released in 1976.So for those of us of a certain age, it is a joy to see several beloved actors "alive" again. What a dream cast with Petter Sellers, David Niven, Maggie Smith, Nancy Walker, Eileen Brennan, James Coco, Peter Falk and Eileen Brennan. There is also a young James Cromwell in the cast. Maggie Smith is still going strong as the grand dame of acting and it is fun to see her young and sexy. MURDER BY DEATH is based on a Neil Simon play so we know already it will be a great show. Each of the actors is doing a comedic take of literary and film detectives from the past. Peter Falk is hilarious as Humphrey Bogart/Sam Spade. There is Elsa Lanchester as Jessica Marbles. Peter Sellers is a totally send on Charlie Chan--making a politically incorrect even more incorrect. Of course, this is all in fun and is giving us a laugh on famous characters. David Niven and Maggie Smith are Dick and Dora Charleston. Again, you need to know classic film to get the joke here. I am afraid a lot of the humor could be lost on people not familiar with older films. There is James Coco as Milo Perrier. Coco is an actor I remember fondly who we lost too soon and who sadly, probably is not remembered by most today.I do feel the film loses steam once all the characters are introduced and we descend further and further into silliness. How do a blind butler and deaf mute maid communicate? But after a while, the joke is lost and we are replaying the same gags over and over. The film does seem very dated but of course, it is from the mid-70's. The real fun in this film is not the story as much as seeing some great actors together.