Slither (1973)

Director:

Howard Zieff

Writer:

W.D. Richter (writer)

Release Date:

7 March 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Thriller | Crime

Tagline:

Kopetzky & Kanipsia together at last.

Plot:

While searching for a small fortune of embezzled money, an ex-con, a small-time bandleader, his doting...

Plot Keywords:

Bingo | Gun | Singer | Shootout | Diner

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

James Caan	...	Dick Kanipsia
Peter Boyle	...	Barry Fenaka
Sally Kellerman	...	Kitty Kopetzky
Louise Lasser	...	Mary Fenaka
Allen Garfield	...	Vincent J. Palmer
Richard B. Shull	...	Harry Moss
Alex Rocco	...	Man with Ice Cream
Seamon Glass	...	Farmer in Truck
Wayne Storm	...	Highway Patrolman
Diana Darrin	...	Band Singer
Stuart Nisbet	...	Buddy
Edwina Gough	...	Bingo Player
Al Dunlap	...	Man in Men's Room
James Joseph	...	Short Order Cook
Virginia Sale	...	Bingo Caller

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:AA (original rating) | Iceland:12 | Norway:16 | USA:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Goofs:

Continuity: During the period the film was set, the USA was changing its road marking from white to yellow. In various shots on country roads, you can make out the same section of road having white center stripes one minute and yellow the next. It is possible that the road had its lines repainted during the filming.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Slither (1974) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Deep Purple

Uneven, but still a winner.

One could find fault with elements of this movie, particularly pacing and continuity; but the laughs and the ambiguous, fascinating characters make it great fun.

Until the very end, we're never sure if anybody is who they seem to be. The quest for loot is fascinating, because it's not for a fortune, just a nice chunk of change that when split probably wouldn't amount to a year's wages at an average job. So the interest focuses on the people, their semi-silly adventure, and their uncertain relationships.

One reviewer didn't like it because it wasn't tightly plotted, and he's right-- it's more realistic/absurd than that. Same reviewer also didn't find it funny, which is dead wrong. Some of the comic bits are a little shaggy dog, or sometimes crude, but most people should get a lot of laughs from it.

Great cast, great acting, good enough dialog and "plot" add up to an under-appreciated (and, I suppose,under-seen) little gem.