As a satirical mystery-comedy, MURDER BY DEATH released in 1976 is a perfect example of how to combine the elements of mystery, comedy and a spoof together in a script in just the right proportion. Entertaining from the word go, this is an enjoyable comic-mystery with a well written script, a competent execution and all highly enjoyable acts that should not be missed.
As a parody of who-dun-it murder mysteries, the film has an exciting plot wherein a mysterious person invites many famous detectives to his palace and then announces a murder on the dinner table. Now all invited detectives have to show their individual skills & mastery to solve the mystery. And the names include takeoffs of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Earl Derr Biggers’s Charlie Chan, Dashiell Hammett’s Nick and Nora Charles (from THE THIN MAN movies) and Sam Spade (from THE MALTESE FALCON) played by a great cast ensemble of American and British actors including Peter Sellers, Alec Guinnes, Truman Capote and more.
Directed by Robert Moore and written by Neil Siman, the film offers an interesting interaction between various well-known characters and has a very fine mix of humour and suspense served along with the tension of a murder. The engrossing screenplay pulls you in from the first scene itself when everyone arrives at the palace finding it both strange and inviting together.
As an interesting addition, the basic concept of the film strongly reminds you of Christie’s famous novel ‘And Then There Were None aka Ten Little Indians’. And then its tagline ‘Guess who's coming to murder?’ also looks like a spoof on the movie GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER (1967).
In short, this is a light, fun filled, must-watch murder mystery to be seen with the young ones in the family, introducing them to the iconic detective characters of the past. In fact the title should clearly indicate towards the excellence in its presentation declaring MURDER BY DEATH.
Directed By Robert Moore
Starring : Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, James Coco, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Elsa Lanchester, David Niven, Peter Sellers, Maggie Smith, Nancy Walker, and Estelle Winwood.
Tags :
Murder By Death Review by Bobby Sing at bobbytalkscinema.com, Peter Sellers, Robert Moore, Murder Mystery, Suspense, Thrillers, Comedy & Suspense, Movies to See Before You Die, Must See Movies List By Bobby Sing
