Radioland Murders (1994)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Mel Smith

Writers (WGA):

George Lucas (story)
Willard Huyck (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

21 October 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

At station WBN, the hits just keep on coming.

Plot:

In 1939, WBN, a fourth radio network, is about to take to America's airwaves. As if the confusion of the premiere night wasn't enough...

Plot Keywords:

Radio | Fire Hose Used As Rope | Radio Station | Radioland | Indiana Jones Spoof Scene

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 17

1:00 PM

HBO

Cast

Brian Benben	...	Roger Henderson
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Penny Henderson
Ned Beatty	...	General Walt Whalen
George Burns	...	Milt Lackey
Scott Michael Campbell	...	Billy
Brion James	...	Bernie King
Michael Lerner	...	Lieutenant Cross
Michael McKean	...	Rick Rochester
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Walt Whalen, Jr.
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Max Applewhite
Christopher Lloyd	...	Zoltan
Larry Miller	...	Herman Katzenback
Anita Morris	...	Claudette Katsenback
Corbin Bernsen	...	Dexter Morris
Rosemary Clooney	...	Anna

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:PG | Argentina:13 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Castle Hayne, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Lucasfilm

Trivia:

In the long shots of Milt Lackey, a double was used to stand in for the 99 year old George Burns.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the film the camera pans up to the top of the building, showing the damaged WBN logo. However, the holes where the letters came out of the wall are missing.

Quotes:

Milt Lackey: [pointing to his outstretched finger] That's it. That's the only thing I got that still works.

Movie Connections:

References King Kong (1933)

Soundtrack:

That Old Feeling

What is everyone's problem with this film?

I am glad to say that I have this picture on video now, and it is still one of my favourite movies. I think the film brilliantly captures how a radio station (or a stage production even) can be controlled chaos at times.

This film was unfairly maligned in my opinion. I like the murder mystery/comedy genre. At times, it can be badly done, but here it is very well-handled. Brian Benben, Mary Stuart Masterson and the squad of celebrities who cameo, handle their scenes very well. My only real complaint would be that Christopher Lloyd and Michael McKean have very little to do.

But the plot twists and the resolution both pay off excellently and Mel Smith directs the piece with panache. There are also several great musical numbers thrown in as well. I give this film 8/10.