Murder by Death (1976)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Robert Moore

Writer:

Neil Simon (written by)

Release Date:

23 June 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Mystery | Thriller | Crime

Tagline:

By the time the world's greatest detectives figure out whodunnit... you could die laughing!

Plot:

Five famous literary detective characters and their sidekicks are invited to a bizarre mansion to solve an even stranger mystery.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Butler | Blind | Detective | Mansion

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Eileen Brennan	...	Tess Skeffington
Truman Capote	...	Lionel Twain
James Coco	...	Milo Perrier
Peter Falk	...	Sam Diamond
Alec Guinness	...	Bensonmum
Elsa Lanchester	...	Jessica Marbles
David Niven	...	Dick Charleston
Peter Sellers	...	Sidney Wang
Maggie Smith	...	Dora Charleston
Nancy Walker	...	Maid
Estelle Winwood	...	Nurse
James Cromwell	...	Marcel
Richard Narita	...	Willie Wang
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fay Wray	...	Screaming door bell (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Moore

Writing credits
Neil Simon		(written by)

Produced by
Roger M. Rothstein	....	associate producer
Ray Stark	....	producer

Original Music by
Dave Grusin

Cinematography by
David M. Walsh		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John F. Burnett

Casting by
Jennifer Shull

Production Design by
Stephen B. Grimes		(as Stephen Grimes)

Art Direction by
Harry Kemm

Set Decoration by
Marvin March

Costume Design by
Ann Roth

Makeup Department
Joe DiBella	....	makeup artist (as Joseph Di Bella)
Charles H. Schram	....	makeup supervisor (as Charles Schram)
Vivienne Walker	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fred T. Gallo	....	assistant director
David Sosna	....	second assistant director (as David O. Sosna)

Art Department
Terry E. Lewis	....	property master

Sound Department
Jerry Jost	....	sound mixer
Joseph Kite	....	boom operator
Tex Rudloff	....	sound re-recordist
Frank E. Warner	....	sound effects editor (as Frank Warner)

Special Effects by
Augie Lohman	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Edesa	....	assistant camera
Norman Harris	....	gaffer
Richard Moran	....	key grip
Roger Shearman	....	camera operator (as Roger Shearman Jr.)
Mel Traxel	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tony Faso	....	costumer: men
Agnes G. Henry	....	costumer: women

Editorial Department
Margaret Booth	....	supervising editor
John Brice	....	apprentice film editor
Michael A. Stevenson	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
George Probert	....	music editor

Other crew
Charles Addams	....	title drawings
Frank Bueno	....	assistant to producer
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Shari Leibowitz	....	assistant to production manager
Mary Malin	....	assistant: Ann Roth
Vince Martinez	....	auditor
George Rondo	....	dialogue coach
Carol Shapiro	....	unit publicist
Julia Tucker	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Rastar Pictures

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (1985) (USA) (video)
• RCA / Columbia Pictures International Video (1989) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Benmil & Associates  production services
• Columbia Pictures Corporation  presents (as Columbia Pictures)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG (Approved No. 24496) | Portugal:M/12 | Belgium:Tous | Finland:K-12 | Iceland:L | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | Norway:15 | UK:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Oakley Court, Windsor Road, Oakley Green, Windsor, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

All of the detectives in the film are parodies of the work of three authors: Dashiell Hammett, whose Nick Charles and Sam Spade were the basis for Dick Charleston and Sam Diamond, respectively; Agatha Christie, whose Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple inspired Milo Perrier and Miss Marbles; Earl Derr Biggers Charlie Chan was the basis for Inspector Sidney Wang and his son.

Goofs:

Continuity: Sam Diamond extends his arm and points at Jessica Marbles at the dinner table when she deduces there are "two dining rooms". In the next shot, he is pointing with his opposite hand.

Quotes:

Tess Skeffington: I don't feel good about this, Sam. Maybe tonight's the night your luck runs out.
Sam Diamond: Maybe so. There's a number on the wall for all of us, angel, and if tonight's the night they pick mine, so be it. After you, sweetheart.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Murder by Death: A Conversation with Neil Simon (1999) (V)

A Comedy-Suspense Masterpiece!

Eccentric millionaire Lionel Twain (Truman Capote) invites five of the world's greatest detectives, each allowed one guest, to dinner and a murder. Can the detectives, who turn out to be even more eccentric, stop the murder before it happens, and solve it if it does?

I first saw this film as a kid in 1976 with my parents at the theater. Although I could remember I liked it at the time, I hadn't seen it since, and it was at best a vague memory. I certainly didn't remember it being so hilarious and entertaining. Written by Neil Simon and directed by Robert Moore, Murder By Death is a very funny spoof of some of literature/filmdom's most famous detectives, set in a beautifully designed, creepy mansion, and at times, becoming a fine mystery film in its own right.

The jokes fly by very quickly and range from subtle to over-the-top, so attentiveness is required, and multiple viewings are rewarded. The cast is incredible, as you should expect by combining such luminaries as Peter Sellers, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, James Coco and David Niven.

A comic masterpiece--10 out of 10 from me.