Product: Murder by Death (1976)
Rating: 4.0
Clever Spoof
Noted playwright Neil Simon wrote this amusing spoof of 30s and 40s detective films. Truman Capote stars as Lionel Twain, an eccentric millionaire who assembles five top sleuths, which includes send-ups of Nick and Nora Charles, Sam Spade, and Miss Marple. He tells the group that a murder will occur at midnight with a million dollars going to the first person to identify the culprit. "Murder by Death" gently pokes fun at seemingly every mystery movie convention - the eccentric butler, a mansion engulfed in fog and rain, a cut phone wire, and an appropriately convoluted, silly ending. Because the humor is so good-spirited, even fans of the originals are likely to laugh. The fast pace also helps keep things on track. In addition, the acting talent is top-notch, with a who's who of 70s film: Alec Guinness, David Niven, Peter Sellers, Maggie Smith, Peter Falk, and Eileen Brennan. Recommended for fans of detective films and 70s comedies.