Watch Murder by Death

"Murder by Death" is a 1976 comedy-mystery directed by Robert Moore and written by Neil Simon. The film stars Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Maggie Smith, Eileen Brennan, James Coco, Nancy Walker, and Elsa Lanchester. The movie is a parody of classic detective stories and features a group of famous detectives who are invited to a dinner party in a remote mansion by the wealthy Mr. Lionel Twain (Guinness). The detectives, who come from various parts of the world and with distinctive sleuthing styles, include Sam Diamond (Falk), Sidney Wang (Sellers), Dick and Dora Charleston (Coco and Brennan), and Jessica Marbles (Smith).

After all the guests arrive at the mansion, Twain reveals to them that he has arranged a game of murder. Twain promises that a real murder will take place by the end of the night, and the detectives must find out who the murderer is. If they fail, they will all be killed in the same manner as their famous literary counterparts.

As the night wears on, strange things begin to happen, and one of the guests is found dead. The detectives must use their wit and ingenuity to unravel the web of clues and secrets before they become the next victims.

The movie is filled with hilarious moments, witty one-liners, and silly spoofing of various detective tropes. Each detective is given their moment to shine, and the chemistry between the all-star cast is fantastic. Peter Falk, in particular, gives an outstanding performance as the hard-boiled Sam Diamond.

The film also features some clever nods to classic detective stories, such as Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians" and Dashiell Hammett's "The Thin Man." The mansion itself is a nod to the classic detective setting, with hidden passages and secret rooms.

At its core, "Murder by Death" is a love letter to the classic detective genre, poking fun at the tropes while still respecting the source material. The film's tongue-in-cheek humor and self-awareness make it a joy for fans of the mystery genre.

Overall, "Murder by Death" is a classic comedy-mystery that still holds up to this day. It's a must-see for fans of detective stories and anyone who enjoys a good laugh.

Murder by Death is a 1976 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 62.