Murder by Death

( 13 )

Overview

The '70s detective spoof Murder by Death arrives on DVD for the first time on Columbia TriStar. This two-sided disc offers both widescreen and full-screen versions with mono soundtracks in either English or Spanish. Subtitles are available in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai. Extra features include talent files for Robert Moore, Neil Simon, Truman Capote, Peter Falk, Peter Sellers, David Niven, Maggie Smith, and Alec Guinness. This DVD also contains production notes, an interview segment with Neil ...
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DVD (Wide Screen / Pan & Scan / Dolby 5.1 / Mono)
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More About This Product

Overview

The '70s detective spoof Murder by Death arrives on DVD for the first time on Columbia TriStar. This two-sided disc offers both widescreen and full-screen versions with mono soundtracks in either English or Spanish. Subtitles are available in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai. Extra features include talent files for Robert Moore, Neil Simon, Truman Capote, Peter Falk, Peter Sellers, David Niven, Maggie Smith, and Alec Guinness. This DVD also contains production notes, an interview segment with Neil Simon, and theatrical trailers for Murder by Death and The Cheap Detective. This is an excellent release of a star-studded comedy classic.
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Special Features

Exclusive interview: A conversation with Neil Simon; Theatrical trailers; Talent files; Production notes
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Dan Friedman
Murder by Death belongs on any list of the most overlooked comedies of the last few decades. A spoof on the mystery genre written by Neil Simon, the story involves caricatures of every prominent literary detective portrayed by a who's who of acting talent. Charlie Chan Peter Sellers, Hercule Poirot James Coco, Sam Spade Peter Falk, Nick Charles David Niven, and Miss Marple Elsa Lanchester all get the royal treatment, and the elaborate setup involves a recluse, played by Truman Capote, challenging them to a battle of wits. The jokes come like cannon fire and nearly every line of dialogue is a one-liner. Simon throws enough mystery elements into the script to keep things interesting, most exemplified by the blind butler played to perfection by Alec Guinness. One of the singular pleasures of this film is watching actors not ordinarily associated with laugh-out-loud comedy handle the material with tremendous amount of aplomb, particularly Niven, Guinness, and Maggie Smith as Niven's wife, who has perhaps the most sarcastic and funny part in the film. Capote is miscast, but the very fact of that makes his role even funnier. The mystery setup goes absolutely nowhere and there are shots of what could be assumed to be clues for the audience that are just red herrings. The whole thing is centered on the characters and the portrayals. Falk does a tremendous Humphrey Bogart impersonation and Sellers gives what has to be one of his more restrained performances, but hilariously funny, nonetheless. If there's one drawback it's that things may move too fast for a present-day audience. It seems more complicated than it really is, but Murder by Death is a good place to find consistent laughs.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 12/18/2001
  • UPC: 043396079342
  • Original Release: 1976

    • Rating:

  • Source: Sony Pictures
  • Region Code: 1
  • Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1), Theatre Wide-Screen (1.85.1)
  • Presentation: Wide Screen / Pan & Scan / Dolby 5.1 / Mono
  • Sound: Dolby Digital, monaural
  • Language: English, Español
  • Time: 1:34:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 1,299

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Eileen Brennan Tess Skeffington
Truman Capote Lionel Twain
James Coco Milo Perrier
Peter Falk Sam Diamond
Alec Guinness Jamessir Bensonmum, the Butler
David Niven Dick Charleston
Peter Sellers Sidney Wang
Maggie Smith Dora Charleston
Elsa Lanchester Jessica Marbles
Nancy Walker Yetta the Maid
Estelle Winwood Nurse Withers
James Cromwell Marcel the chauffeur
Richard Narita Willie Wang
Dog: Myron
Technical Credits
Robert Moore Director
Margaret Booth Editor
John F. Burnett Editor
Fred T. Gallo Asst. Director
Stephen B. Grimes Production Designer
Dave Grusin Score Composer
Jerry Jost Sound/Sound Designer
Harry R. Kemm Art Director
Augie Lohman Special Effects
Marvin March Set Decoration/Design
Ann Roth Costumes/Costume Designer
Roger M. Rothstein Associate Producer
Tex Rudloff Sound/Sound Designer
Roger Shearman Camera Operator
Jennifer Shull Casting
Neil Simon Screenwriter
Ray Stark Producer
David M. Walsh Cinematographer
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Scene Index

Side #1 -- Widescreen
0. Scene Selections
1. Start [2:44]
2. The Invitations [2:06]
3. Dick & Dora Charleston [1:09]
4. Sidney Wang [2:24]
5. Milo Perrier [1:02]
6. Sam Diamond [2:01]
7. The Bridge Test [1:07]
8. 22 Twain [2:01]
9. Wang Meets Bensonmum [4:12]
10. The Charlestons Arrive [4:13]
11. Yetta [1:59]
12. Bensonmum & Perrier [2:57]
13. "I Don't Kiss." [6:09]
14. Before-Dinner Drinks [2:49]
15. Miss Jessica Marbles [1:40]
16. Wine Test [5:54]
17. Lionel Twain [5:44]
18. Chain of Fools [2:02]
19. Examining Bensonmum [3:49]
20. Filled With Empty People [3:55]
21. The Naked & the Dead [3:34]
22. Two of Everything [2:51]
23. Twain Murdered! [3:08]
24. Theories & Motives [8:15]
25. Murder by Death [4:20]
26. The Room Gets Shorter [1:32]
27. The Crime Is Solved? [5:46]
28. Simple & Direct Solution [4:56]
Side #2 -- Full Screen
0. Scene Selections
1. Start [2:44]
2. The Invitations [2:06]
3. Dick & Dora Charleston [1:09]
4. Sidney Wang [2:24]
5. Milo Perrier [1:02]
6. Sam Diamond [2:01]
7. The Bridge Test [1:07]
8. 22 Twain [2:01]
9. Wang Meets Bensonmum [4:12]
10. The Charlestons Arrive [4:13]
11. Yetta [1:59]
12. Bensonmum & Perrier [2:57]
13. "I Don't Kiss." [6:09]
14. Before-Dinner Drinks [2:49]
15. Miss Jessica Marbles [1:40]
16. Wine Test [5:54]
17. Lionel Twain [5:44]
18. Chain of Fools [2:02]
19. Examining Bensonmum [3:49]
20. Filled With Empty People [3:55]
21. The Naked & the Dead [3:34]
22. Two of Everything [2:51]
23. Twain Murdered! [3:08]
24. Theories & Motives [8:15]
25. Murder by Death [4:20]
26. The Room Gets Shorter [1:32]
27. The Crime Is Solved? [5:46]
28. Simple & Direct Solution [4:56]
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Menu

Side #1 -- Widescreen
   Play Movie
   Audio Set-Up
      English (Mono)
      Spanish - Español
   Subtitles
      English
      Spanish - Español
      Portuguese - Português
      Chinese
      Korean
      Thai
      Subtitles Off
   Special Features
      Exclusive Interview: "A Conversation With Neil Simon"
      Talent Files
         Robert Moore (Director)
         Neil Simon (Screenwriter)
         Truman Capote
         Peter Falk
         Peter Sellers
         David Niven
         Maggie Smith
         Alec Guinness
      Theatrical Trailers
         Murder by Death
         The Cheap Detective
Side #2 -- Full Screen
   Play Movie
   Audio Set-Up
      English (Mono)
      Spanish - Español
   Subtitles
      English
      Spanish - Español
      Portuguese - Português
      Chinese
      Korean
      Thai
      Subtitles Off
   Special Features
      Exclusive Interview: "A Conversation With Neil Simon"
      Talent Files
         Robert Moore (Director)
         Neil Simon (Screenwriter)
         Truman Capote
         Peter Falk
         Peter Sellers
         David Niven
         Maggie Smith
         Alec Guinness
      Theatrical Trailers
         Murder by Death
         The Cheap Detective
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 13 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(11)

4 Star

(1)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

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Sort by: Showing all of 13 Customer Reviews

  • Posted January 29, 2011

    I Also Recommend:

    The Cheap Detective

    Laugh your backside off

    Yes, this is one of the best spoofs ever. But why not? Written by the best! Acted by the best! But the topper was when this movie first came out and my brother said, "Hey did you see that new movie -- 'Death by Dying'" You'll also like "Cheap Detective" for the same reasons.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    A good laugh

    This movie is a classic with a terrific cast that will keep you laughing. I recommend it to anyone who likes Clue and other movies like that.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Absolutely splendid!!!!!!!

    This movie is by no doubt the most spectacular movie ever! The mystery is unlike any other, and the humor if it all is just priceless. Definately a must see.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    THE GREATEST COMEDY/MYSTERY

    I could go on and on forever on how good this mystery spoof is. I will limit it though. The jokes are clever, the actors are hilarious and the end is fantastic. Peter Sellers, Peter Faulk, Truman Capote, and the others are histarical. You will laugh so hard. If you are a mystery buff, or have seen the occasional Poroit, or any other mystery, this will be even funnier. They think of everyhting. You have to see this movie, or you will be missing out on one of the, or even the funniest comedy/mystery probably EVER!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    THE BEST COMEDY EVER

    I have watched this movie over 50 times and I would have to say I see something new every time. I obviously never tire of watching this movie. The humor is often subtle but always timeless. A real gem of a film.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    If you Are a Mystery/Comedy Buff...this is the altime best

    There is no one word to describe this halarious film. At shortest it would need 200,000,000 words or more. It is definatly the funniest spoof of a mystery ever made. If you are interested enough to read this review...you will apsolutly love and enjoy every minute, none the less every second of it.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Great!

    Murder By Death brings together some of the best actors and actresses for a murder mystery comedy that will keep you laughing through the whole movie! Maggie Smith, David Niven and Peter Sellers are the best parts of this movie but the entire cast is wonderful too. Highly Recommended!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    My All-Time Favorite!

    I first found this film about 20 years ago. It has ALWAYS been my favorite. When I was young, I just thought it was goofy. Now that I'm older and have seen many of the films it parodies, I feel it is brilliant. The acting is great, and the jokes are timeless. I would love to see a stage version somwhere. Watch this movie!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 9, 2003

    The Best Movie Ever

    If you like movies beofre they went Hollywodd and big budget, this is the one. It has someof the best acting byactors who know how to not take themselves too seriously. If you spent hours as a child playing the game of clue, then don't water your time with any other movie!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 10, 2000

    Awesome Movie!

    This movie is a great movie if you're in the mood for a suspensful comedy. I love it! Acting is supurb, casting is wonderful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 1, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 30, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 29, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 13 Customer Reviews