Radioland Murders

Amazon.com

Despite George Lucas's name in the credits (as executive producer) and several experiments in computer-generated imagery (seamlessly included but to little avail), this film qualifies as a major dog, a door-slamming farce in which the doors are funnier than the people slamming them. Set in a radio studio on a night in 1939 that a new radio network is being launched, the frenetic and scattered story blends a growing pile of corpses, network and sponsor politics, the crazed efforts involved to put on radio shows, and the on-again, off-again marriage of head writer Roger (Brian Benben) and secretary Penny (Mary Stuart Masterson), the only one who seems to have it together. Benben has a Groucho-like sense of timing and delivery, but he can't elevate surprisingly weak comic material. --Marshall Fine

Description

From the mind of George Lucas, Radioland Murders is a star-studded, madcap murder-mystery that brings back the heyday of live radio and will keep you laughing and guessing until the show-stopping finale! An all-star ensemble cast comes together in this side-splitting whodunit that lovingly recreates an era known for its big band sound and art deco look.

Customer Reviews:

Radioland Murders.......2007-07-03

You can't go wrong with this movie, it's funny and entertaining all the way through. Star packed, based on an old radio program, it's fun.

Premeditated chaos.......2007-03-24

I hear this was George Lucas' pet project for years, that during the late eighties/early nineties he refused to make another Star Wars until this was made. Unfortunately, the end result is a mess.

Growing up I used to enjoy listening to recordings of classic radio shows, but this film fails to capture any of the magic from those broadcasts. I've never seen so many people strain so hard to be diversely entertaining and come up with such humdrum results. It's as if "Bean" director Mel Smith was aiming a gun at everyone in the cast saying, "Act wacky, or else!"

For me, what makes screwball comedy work is an illusion of spontaneity, and no matter how chaotic "Radioland Murders" got, I always had the feeling the material had been left out on the counter for several days, with the heat on. The film also makes it hard to care when hardly any time is invested in character development -- instead, from the outset the audience is thrown into the blender along with the rest of the talented cast, and screenplay.

There's a terrific Barbara Stanwyck movie from 1943 called "The Lady of Burlesque" that accomplishes much of what "Radioland Murders" attempts story wise, only in a 30's burlesque setting. "Radioland Murders" might be interesting to some wanting a behind the scenes look at the Golden Age of Radio, but for me it was just too ridiculous to take seriously in this respect.

I Heart Dr. X.

Credit due for an inspired start.......2007-01-08

While I was overall disappointed in the movie, I feel credit is due for a fabulous first 20 minutes or so. Granted I'm an impressionistic viewer, and one who likes period pieces - an easy touch for a good soundtrack and colorful costumes - but that first segment, at least - before it unraveled - showed something approaching comic genius. It's worth watching just for this beginning part. It left me with the sense that either writers switched or the writer and director mad inspired initial efforts they simply couldn't sustain. If one can content themselves with enjoying part of a movie, then I say watching the first segment alone is well worth the viewing; you'll know when the roll has ended. And, if curiosity compels watching the entire film, as can easily happen, one may well lament for what might have been, had production sustained that initial burst of brilliance.

Fast Paced Slap-Stick with Mystery Murders.......2006-11-17

I was into amateur DX AM and shortwave radio once, and I really got a charge out of this movie. I could figure out that the radio station WBN in Chicago was supposed to be WGN-just like the TV series WKRP in Cincinatti is supposed to be WKRC in Cincinatti!
There were plenty of pretty chorus girls and fast moving slapstick humor and action. You had to be alert to catch all the jokes! As I was doing a personal study of the prophet Ezekiel at the time the weird line inserted into a radio play dialog-"Die, you infidel Dog, die!-The Curse of Nebuchadnezzar be upon you!" really cracked me up since the prophecy of Ezekiel was set in ancient Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar was emperor. There is, of course, no such curse!
In real life I heard on a history TV show that the man who invented TV in the 30's had it patented; and yet no one bought his patent; but the corporations waited until the patent expired and waited after WWII and then took the invention from the man for free. This is a real danger of producing intellectual property! Obviously the mystery killer in the movie had a genuine legitimate grudge!

Radioland Murders.......2006-07-04

It must be just my sense of humor, but this movie completly cracks me up. Dig this, I don't even like Brian Ben Ben, yet I adore this movie. Nearly breaks my ribs laughing every time I watch.

Average customer rating:

Radioland Murders
Premeditated chaos
Credit due for an inspired start
Fast Paced Slap-Stick with Mystery Murders
Radioland Murders

Radioland Murders
Starring: Brian Benben , Mary Stuart Masterson , Ned Beatty , George Burns , and Scott Michael Campbell
Director: Mel Smith
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Farce | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Screwball Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: 6305077533
Release Date: 1998-03-11

Amazon.com

Description

As Chicago radio station WBN celebrates its first night on the air, someone is murdering the company employees one by one, and the station's secretary and her estranged writer-husband must join forces to find the killer. From the mind of George Lucas, creator of "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones," comes this mystery-comedy-adventure set in the heyday of live radio. It's an enegetic, fast-paced romp, sparkling with a brilliant cast, dozens of guest stars, hilarious complications, and a toe-tapping melange of musical standards.

Customer Reviews:

Radioland Murders.......2007-07-03

You can't go wrong with this movie, it's funny and entertaining all the way through. Star packed, based on an old radio program, it's fun.

Premeditated chaos.......2007-03-24

Credit due for an inspired start.......2007-01-08

Fast Paced Slap-Stick with Mystery Murders.......2006-11-17

Radioland Murders.......2006-07-04

It must be just my sense of humor, but this movie completly cracks me up. Dig this, I don't even like Brian Ben Ben, yet I adore this movie. Nearly breaks my ribs laughing every time I watch.

DVD:

DVD

DVD