Murder by Death (1976)

First let me tell you to ignore the 26 less than 7 star reviews, even the 15 less than 6 star reviews, the rest are pretty much spot on. Any of the one stars are just malicious and for no apparent reason. I saw this in the cinema in 1976 and hadn't seen it since until last week when it was on TCM and I still love it, so much so I'm going to buy the DVD.Sure all the detectives are caricatures of fictional ones, Er that's the point of the whole spoof, Sure perhaps in todays PC world you wouldn't get Peter Sellers playing a Chinese man, or someone else playing a Belgian one. Its' a comedy, don't get serious about it, it's a send up.All concerned play their parts well, especially Alec Guinness as the blind butler and Peter Falk as Columbo playing Humphry Bogart playing Sam Spade, terrific stuff. David Niven Plays David Niven and Maggie Smith is a sexy as ever, love redheads and lest we forget the wonderful Nancy Walker is so funny without saying a word.I've since learnt that there were some scenes cut, one of Holmes and Watson arriving late when the others are leaving. It would be fab if they release a DVD with these scenes replaced.One star? never! No less than ten, believe me.

The movie enjoys an almost ensemble and all-star cast including already established then stars like David Niven, Maggie Smith, Peter Sellers and many others. I consider they have done a very good acting in their diverse comic roles and all emit a sense of vividness and youthfulness helped by the colour cinematography.Much of the action transpires in no more than a handful of sets, the dining room, the bedrooms and the kitchen and omitted possible sets as a gloomy corridor or a basement which I think flawed sensibly though not greatly the overall result as the film thus lost the chance to enhance a dark comedy approach which would feature a thread of thriller- horror flavour and suspense. The lack of suspense also lies on the fact that the viewer cannot believe that one of the sleuths is actually the murderer, so the canon that the sleuths are not suspect is difficult to discard. A great plus is Truman Capote as the sardonic but well-liked host, in a rare acting performance. His presence should of course be used more, as he would definitely cast a wonderful shadow of omnipresence had his voice used to scare the sleuths more frequently.

This is an amusing detective spoof movie by Neil Simon, where millionaire Lionel Twain (Truman Capote) has invited the five greatest detectives to a "dinner and murder." The detectives and their sidekicks are asked to solve a murder in the bizarre mansion, which is full of mysterious features like a blind butler (Alex Guinness), a deaf-mute maid (Nancy Walker), identical rooms, secret passageways, falling statues and deranged animals.Mixed in with the chaotic fun are unforgettable characters like the prim but pompous Dick Charleston (David Niven), the sarcastic wise-guy Sam Diamond (Peter Falk), the thoughtful and eccentric Sidney Wang (Peter Sellers), the sultry Tess Skeffington (Eileen Brennan) and the elegant Dora Charleston (Maggie Smith). Each and every of the characters' humorous, thoughtful, cynical and sometimes racy dialog will send you tearing up with laughter.The detectives solving the alleged murder will intrigue you, providing a somewhat suspenseful "whodunit" plot. But, the extensive and bizarre plot twists and turns leave this film unpredictable and may even confuse you if you're trying to solve the case on your own.There are plenty of laughs and suspense and, throw in a stimulating and attractive music score by Dave Grusin, you got an enjoyable weekend movie.Grade B+

Five eminent detectives are invited to a fog-bound mansion for a sleuthing contest, presided over by a blind butler, a mute maid and a lisping mastermind. What follows are a series of goofy gags and loony deceptions.What a treat for old movie fans. Sure it's an outrageous send-up of some of the popular amateur detectives of the period. But, thanks to writer Simon and a wickedly funny cast, the movie's a real hoot. I especially like Falk's no-nonsense Sam Spade, when he stomps on everyone's civilized pretensions. Then there's Sellar's Charlie Chan who can't seem to arrange his grammar to suit the snobbish Lionel Twain (Capote). Fact is that there's no telling where the next throwaway line will come from given the all-star cast, even as the gags just keep coming. One thing for sure, production didn't have to pop for more than one or two sets. Ordinarily, that would mean a cheap, boring movie, but not here. The appeal is all in the parody and gag lines, plus seeing notable stars in improbable roles. However, pity poor Guiness (the blind butler) who thought the movie would flop and so sold his share. Instead, the funfest was a major hit and I enjoyed catching up with it again, though I could have done without the very last twist.