Throwback Review of the Week: Murder by Death

By Kevin A’Hern

If Condition Don’t Change, This Movie Funny

This week we take you back to the year 1976 where we look at one of the greatest comedies of all time, Murder by Death. The creative minds of writer Neil Simon and director Robert Moore bring a movie with laughs along the same lines as what can be found in Airplane and anything from Monty Python. So if you’ve seen these movies and others like them, you will absolutely love this masterpiece.

The story follows five well known murder mystery writers who are all brought together to a secluded house where they are put in a scenario that forces them to use the skills they have all developed over the years. The mystery they are all brought there to solve: A series of murders that occur right under their noses.

The magnificent cast includes the likes of Eileen Brennan (Clue), James Coco (The Cheap Detective), Peter Falk (The Princess Bride), Alec Guinness (Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope), Peter Sellers (The Pink Panther Strikes Again), and Truman Capote (author of In Cold Blood) amongst the many other talents that fill this comedy classic.

It is obvious that many people are afraid to go back this far into the past, but for this, as well as all the others mentioned above, it is a must see for anyone who claims to be a comedy fan. Given the time period it was shot in it is easy for one to pick apart any little issues their might be within it. But if you are able to look past any and all of those and just enjoy the greatness that is this movie, you certainly won’t be disappointed and will more than likely be drawn into any other movies these tremendous actors performed in.

And now, this week’s TBLEU (Throwback Lesson for Everyday Use)

Throwback Lesson: Never look too closely. See big picture. Things not always as seem, and seeming’s not always as thing. (watch movie and maybe you get word usage) And be weary of cow on wall.

Roasted Ripper Score – A