Five famous literary detective characters and their sidekicks are invited to a bizarre mansion to solve an even stranger mystery.Five famous literary detective characters and their sidekicks are invited to a bizarre mansion to solve an even stranger mystery.Five famous literary detective characters and their sidekicks are invited to a bizarre mansion to solve an even stranger mystery.
- Awards
- 3 nominations
Myron
- Myron the Dog
- (uncredited)
Fay Wray
- Screaming Door Bell
- (archive sound)
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe screaming woman sound used as a doorbell is Fay Wray's screams from King Kong (1933). Her unique scream has made her known as the "Scream Queen" of movies.
- Goofs(at around 1h 14 mins) Milo Perrier tells Sam Diamond, "I'm not a Frenchy... I'm a Belgie," referring to the fact he is from Belgium and not France. However, in discussing Twain's annual poodle hunt in France, he implies that's his home country, and later he says, referring to himself, that you should "never underestimate a Frenchman's nostrils."
- Quotes
Sam Diamond: Locked, from the inside. That can only mean one thing. And I don't know what it is.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits: Starring (In Diabolical Order)
- Alternate versionsThe original ABC Network broadcast of the film contained four additional scenes not found in the theatrical or DVD version. 1. Jessica Marbles' taxi driver (played by Peter Sellers) requests a large fare. 2. Dick and Dora Charleston narrowly avoid running over Tess Skeffington, who is walking back to Sam Diamond's car from a service station because she and Sam ran out of gas. Satisfied that Tess is all right, the Charlestons simply drive off, leaving her there. 3. When Willie Wang covers up the body of Twain, he finds a note in Twain's hand and smugly announces this to the others. 4. As the detectives drive away from Twain's house at the end of the film, Inspector Wang and Willie pass another car carrying Sherlock Holmes (Keith McConnell) and Dr. Watson (Richard Peel) heading towards the Twain home. When Willie asks his father "Why didn't you warn them?" Wang replies "Let idiots find out for themselves."
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 52nd Annual Academy Awards (1980)
Featured review
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.
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.
helpful•12724
- BrandtSponseller
- Jan 18, 2005
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Neil Simon's Murder by Death
- Filming locations
- Oakley Court, Windsor Road, Oakley Green, Windsor, Berkshire, England, UK(Twain Mansion exterior)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $38,200
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