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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Not short on murder, mayhem, or any other screwball '70s conventions, Foul Play is a wonderful vehicle for Goldie Hawn. She plays Gloria, a librarian "ready to take a chance again," who ends up the target of an assassination ring. Chevy Chase, fresh off of Saturday Night Live, does the closest thing to real acting he would ever achieve (okay, maybe Fletch) as Tony, the cop assigned to protect Gloria. Dudley Moore made an indelible impression on American audiences as Stanley Tibbets, a surprisingly kinky symphony conductor. But it's the quirky things that make this film: the grandmothers playing Scrabble with expletives, Burgess Meredith's snake Esme, the old Japanese couple in the back of the careening limo. From the opening credits with Barry Manilow crooning the title song, this is a fond trip down memory lane. --Keith Simanton
Product Description
A librarian is propelled into a world of chase scenes and bizarre attempts on her life after she hears a secret code.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: 9-AUG-2005
Media Type: DVD
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: 9-AUG-2005
Media Type: DVD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
66 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
After his meteoric rise in popularity from starring in the inaugural season of the ongoing, late-night TV comedy variety show "Saturday Night Live" (1975-), now veteran film actor Chevy Chase effectively began his big-screen career along side veteran big-screen comedic actress Goldie Hawn in the hilarious 1978 film "Foul Play". Taking place in the beautiful city of San Francisco, the single librarian Gloria Mundy (Goldie Hawn) becomes unwittingly entangled in a mysterious terrorist plot to kill Pope Pius XIII (Cyril Magnin, 1899-1988) when (while visiting San Francisco) he attends a performance of the 1885 opera "The Mikado" by William S. Gilbert (1836-1911) and Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900). After Gloria witnesses a brutal killing and escapes an attempt on her own life, she is interviewed by bumbling San Francisco police detective Lt. Tony Carlson (Chevy Chase). Not totally convinced about her seemingly outlandish story of being attacked by an albino (William Frankfather, 1944-1998, in his big-screen debut) or the warnings she received about a dwarf, Tony nonetheless keeps a watchful eye upon Gloria whom he is attracted to. As Gloria continues to evade the killers, she meets the satyrical musical conductor Stanley Tibbets (the hilarious Dudley Moore, 1935-2002) and mistakenly confuses a short & innocent bible-salesman, J.J. MacKuen (Billy Barty, 1924-2000), to be the infamous dwarf. With a myriad of chase scenes, wistful dialog, unusual characters, Hitchcockian mystery and 1970's nostalgia, "Foul Play" is sure to bring a smile to most viewer's faces.
Memorable scenes in the film include Gloria meeting Stanley for the first time, Stanley's apartment, J.J. MacKuen at Gloria's front door, Gloria visiting J.J. at the hospital, the "massage" club, Gloria's friend & landlord Mr. Hennessey (Burgess Meredith, 1908-1997) taking on Delia Darrow (Rachel Roberts, 1927-1980), trying to get to the opera house, the Japanese couple (Rollin Moriyama, 1907-1992, and Mitsu Yashima) and the "Mikado" performance. Other memorable characters include Gloria's friend Stella (Marilyn Sokol), Archbishop Thorncrest/Archbishop's brother (Eugene Roche, 1928-2004), Rupert Stiltskin (Marc Lawrence), The Turk (Ion Teodorescu, 1934-1985), the truck driver (M. James Arnett) and Esme the snake (Shirley Python). Overall, I rate "Foul Play" with 5 out of 5 stars and am very happy to see it finally released on DVD. In an interesting bit of trivia, the name "Gloria Mundy" was derived from the Latin phrase, "Sic transit gloria mundi," which means, "So passes the glory of the world."
Memorable scenes in the film include Gloria meeting Stanley for the first time, Stanley's apartment, J.J. MacKuen at Gloria's front door, Gloria visiting J.J. at the hospital, the "massage" club, Gloria's friend & landlord Mr. Hennessey (Burgess Meredith, 1908-1997) taking on Delia Darrow (Rachel Roberts, 1927-1980), trying to get to the opera house, the Japanese couple (Rollin Moriyama, 1907-1992, and Mitsu Yashima) and the "Mikado" performance. Other memorable characters include Gloria's friend Stella (Marilyn Sokol), Archbishop Thorncrest/Archbishop's brother (Eugene Roche, 1928-2004), Rupert Stiltskin (Marc Lawrence), The Turk (Ion Teodorescu, 1934-1985), the truck driver (M. James Arnett) and Esme the snake (Shirley Python). Overall, I rate "Foul Play" with 5 out of 5 stars and am very happy to see it finally released on DVD. In an interesting bit of trivia, the name "Gloria Mundy" was derived from the Latin phrase, "Sic transit gloria mundi," which means, "So passes the glory of the world."
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This comedy has stood the test of time; don't listen to detractors. Leonard Maltin says the film is "protracted" but is perfect by today's standards (think about the 3-hour epics to which audiences readily flock). "Foul Play" is also an OBVIOUS homage to Hitchcock, not a "plagiarism of Hitchcock" as Maltin shortsightedly declares. Colin Higgins does a great job mixing suspense with comedy (something Hitch fans will recognize). Sure, this is Goldie's movie, and Chevy plays it laid-back (if Chase were to ham it up he'd be distracting); they make a terrific duo. Saying Goldie was the 70s Meg Ryan (as one reviewer did) is like comparing diamonds to junk jewelry (Meg Ryan is paste; Goldie's the gem). Supporting actors show inspired casting, especially Dudley Moore as the kinky conductor. Sets are pure 70s in full-tilt (a retro-decorator's dream). Car-chases with lots of point-of-view will induce vertigo on larger screen TVs (in the theater it was like riding a rollercoaster): it's grand scale entertainment! "Foul Play" can easily be judged a classic -- delightful, fluffy, colorful cotton-candy which should be enjoyed as such. If you're in the dumps, this film will pick you up. Paramount should have the good sense to release "Foul Play" to DVD in it's original theatrical aspect ratio...SOON!!!!
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This is one of my favorite "comfort" movies. You don't have to think a lot, and there's not much deeper meaning. But as homage to Hitchcock, Foul Play is just plain good entertainment. THIS NEEDS TO BE ON DVD IN WIDESCREEN FORMAT!
There. Now I feel better. Watch this one with your sweetie.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fa-a-a-a-rrr OUT!
Saw this movie in the theaters when it first came out. Missed a lot of lines because the audience was laughing so hard and so loud! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Richard Muller
Funny movie!
This is a great movie and still makes me laugh! Yes, you can tell it was made in the 70s but how cool is that?! Dudley Moore steals the scenes he's in. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Susan1961
good movie, gimme a break on this price
This movie is an excellent comedy suspense thriller. Loved seeing it in the theatre in 1978. But: $47 for the DVD is just plain ludicrous!!
Published 4 months ago by TF Fixer
foul play
good movie. I saw this movie when it came out at the theater in 1978. also had a good soundtrack.
Published 5 months ago by steve muhs
Soylent Dick Says: Brilliantly ballanced suspence and humour
This movie is a cracker! It moves at a fast pace, but leaves room for romance between Chase & Hawn. Brilliant drama really well balanced with humourous scenes (usually involving... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Topaz Pig
great service
Very happy with the new condition, packaging. It took a bit longer than I expected. But all in all fine service.
Published 10 months ago by inainity
A Keeper to Make You Laugh for Years to Come
The setting: San Francisco (late 70's)- The Genre: Comedy, Action, Thriller, Romance - The Cast: Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase (in their prime); supporting cast of Billy Barty, and... Read more
Published 10 months ago by David P. Craig
foulPlay finally owned..YIPPY Y DU...
I have wanted to see&own FoulPlay for the longest time..so when I searched
Amazon.com and found it for such a low price I was on it.. Read more
Amazon.com and found it for such a low price I was on it.. Read more
Published 10 months ago by queenkitty
Please, Goldie...Wear a Bra.
Viewed: 6/11
Rate: 2
6/11: I hate Hitchcock ripoffs where somebody is in grave danger after discovering some nefarious plot that leads to an assassination of... Read more
Rate: 2
6/11: I hate Hitchcock ripoffs where somebody is in grave danger after discovering some nefarious plot that leads to an assassination of... Read more
Published 11 months ago by John Doe
Chevy & Goldie were in their prime here...
Like my last two reviews from 1978, I couldn't leave this one out, although it wasn't that well recieved when it came out, it definately propelled the careers of Chevy Chase &... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Michael Pettinato
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