Customer Reviews

Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I agree with the other reviews , it is a funny , wonderful movie . It would be nice to have a good copy on DVD, letter boxed, as the video is grainy.

I vote also for a DVD.

This is an entertaining film with great performances and visuals. But the 1978 print looks like it's a 12th generation copy that is fuzzier than some video tapes I've seen. It's too bad. The Warners Archive project is a good one, with some releases (such as the late 50's "Captain Sinbad") actually look great. But this mystery/comedy with George Segal and Jacqueline Bisset isn't one of them. If you can rent it, do so to catch Robert Morley's great bombastic performance as a food magazine owner. There are a lot of famous European actors who have guest spots in the film as great chefs. This was an odd choice to relegate to archives as the film has an audience from years of broadcasts on cable TV in the 1980s.

This is NOT a review of the film, which is a favorite of my wife's and I purchased it for her. She loves the film and would give it five stars. Not my kettle of fish.

This is a review of the PRODUCT sold by Amazon as a "manufactured on demand" DVD. First, the DVD seems to play fine in both my wife's computer and on our somewhat older DVD player, as well as our newer one, so I'm not sure what those issues are.

The quality of the film on this DVD is poor, fair to average for a 20 year old VHS, and I have lots of those, so I know.

We already had an old pre-recorded VHS copy and I wanted to replace the VHS version for her with something better. This product isn't better, it's worse. I've rarely seen that, but this appears to be filmed off of a theater screen, with the occasional hair and so forth that you'd expect from an old Buster Keaton silent film restored from some time vault. Perhaps the original master was lost and all they had was the one that played for five weeks at a run-down theater and then was left uncared for in someone's garage for 20 years. My suggestion is to wait and tape it off TV with your old BETAMAX, you'll get a better quality recording.

So, don't waste your money on this, I wouldn't even sell this on Ebay, I'd be embarrassed.

This culinary delight was cooked up by screenwriter Peter Stone, famous for "Charade." Beautiful European locations, exquisitely filmed by photograper John Alcott, and a great score by Henry Mancini surround a delicious Jacqueline Bisset and very funny George Segal in this enjoyable comedy murder mystery.

It is Robert Morley's over-the-top performance as the famous food critic with an eye only for his next meal that makes this fim such a gem, however. Morley is absolutely hilarious as an insufferable prig who finds every chef he has placed on his list for the perfect meal murdered one by one in the very manner they prepare their specialty.

Since Natasha (Bisset) is the pastry chef, there is plenty of time for she and ex-husband Robert (Segal) to play detective before it's too late. Segal has some wonderful moments as the fast-food tycoon still jealous of his ex and trying to win her back in those few moments when he's not attempting to get one of the famous chefs to front his new chain of omelet shops!

Bisset is just as lovely and exquisite as the London, Venice, and Paris locations and the food is as much fun as the murder mystery in this stylish film. Morley's portrayel of the food critic who has quite literally eaten his way to the top and now finds himself having to curb his voracious appetite for health reasons is unforgettable. Director Ted Kotcheff's film, based on the book "Someone is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe" by Nan and Ivan Lyons hits a few slow spots when Morley is not the focus, but a great ending saves everything.

Those who miss this kind of fun at the movies will find this somehow forgotten film a true diamond in a pile of rocks. There is no telling how long it will take for this to become available on DVD so just bite the bullit and grab it up anyway. You don't want to wait around forever to enjoy this sweet confection.

I have to agree with every other reviewer, this is an outstanding movie. It has it all, intrigue, suspense, laughs, love....and above all, great food!
Please, Please, PLEASE put this on DVD!

This is one of my all-time favorite movies. My husband and I quote from it on a regular basis. With so many films now on dvd, I can't understand why this one hasn't made the list.
Amazon, please help.

This my favorite foodie movie of all time. Extremly funny the first time, but you catch more and more jokes each time you watch it. Well worth the money. I've lost track of the number of times I've watched it. One warning though, some of the scenes will make you very hungry.

Each time i purchase a blu-ray/dvd i always read the customer reviews and what i look for are comments regarding the quality of the transfer.Usually someone(thank you whoever you are) comments and these reviews are critical in obtaining a good quality product.In regard to this excellent comedy the transfer approximates a very poor v.h.s.tape.I would advise against purchasing this film until the production company re-masters the original.

I would just like to add my voice to the chorus of calls for a DVD release of the mouthwatering (in more ways than one) gem of a movie. Remaster it, letterbox it, and serve it up!

George Segal (who plays a conniving fast-food chain operator) and Jacquline Bassett (who plays a pastry chef) solve a murder mystery, involving famous chefs in europe. Robert Morely steals the movie as the irrassible editor of a gourmet food magazine. Great scenes of London, Paris and Venice and of famous restaurants. A little dated now, but a lot of fun.