Little Murders

Starring:Vincent Gardenia, Elliott Gould, Lou Jacobi, Jon Korkes, Martin Kove, John Randolph, Doris Roberts, Marcia Rodd, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Wilson
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Description

Based on jules feiffer's play about a man who marries the girl who saved him from muggers.

Customer Reviews:

Why a new one, so soon?.......2007-04-05

I just saw that on April 10, 07, this great film will be comming out again, and I don`t think there are any additional special features. This is such a great film, I even remember seeing it back in mid June of 71, on a double bill with Midnight Cowboy. Why can`t FOX put out other titles that have never been on DVD before, like; The Flim Flam Man, John Goldfarb Please Come Home, It Happens Every Spring, The Sicilian Clan, & Homeboy, just to name a few.

The gold standard of dark comedy.......2006-12-30

I stumbled on "Little Murders" on HBO back in the 70's and loved the dark and intellectual humor. Recently, I bought a copy and snuck it into our family movie night rotation. Having not seen it in so many years, I was a little worried it might not live up to my recollection. However, it did not disappoint. Quite the contrary... it turned out to be one of the best movie viewing experiences I've had in years. I saw both my wife and daughter laughing, though to be fair.. I think they expected things delivered a little faster.

In my opinion, Little Murders is the gold standard of dark comedy. Generally, attempting to analyze why a particular piece of art "works" is a silly exercise, but some comments on the high points for me... First, the cast. Vincent Gardenia was one of the finest character actors ever to stand in front of a camera and this was, in my opinion, his magnum opus. Alan Arkin too holds a very special place in "comedies for people who think" and he delivers in Little Murders as well. The underlying vision of the film takes "dark" to never-seen-again levels, and gets there primarily under the power of five of the all-time most perfect rants/soliloquies in the history of film:

* Lou Jacobi as a judge speaking on the presence of The Deity in marriage vows gives a brilliant, extended, passionate rant on how difficult life was for his generation. The camera angles are *perfect*. The details are perfect. I would have paid just to watch this.

* Vincent Gardenia, who is to avant garde 70's comedy what Steve McQueen is to prison camp escape movies, delivers an exquisite, progressive, meltdown as he finally gets his arms around, and then recongizes his place in, the mega-apocalyptic nature of the NY he lives in... I wept. (Example: [police are taking a Stepford Wives looking woman out in a body bag as Vincent and his wife step past and around it, barely taking notice] - Wife: "I saw that nice detective again today.. he was here investigating another murder." Vincent: "Who got it this time?" Wife: "I don't know.. some woman from the other wing" Vincent: "Thank *GOD*.").

* Alan Arkin was the director and had a cameo as the detective.. His attempt to reassure the family after 347 unsolved murders in their neighborhood is spectacular.

* The marriage vows scene with the radical priest Donald Sutherland interacting with the rest of the cast is rich in exquisite detail.

* Finally, this introspective, quiet moment with lead character Elliot Gould in the dark.. unfolding very slowly.. when he recounts how he once monkey wrenched his FBI mail watcher in college.. It was slow and intellectual.. It didn't advance the plot of the movie.. but when you were done watching it, you were left sitting there reeling from the brilliance of the scene. It too was almost it's own short subject.

If you enjoy dark comedy, find some quiet time and watch this film. Give it time to build. It does start slowly if you compare it to modern films, but I promise you will enjoy it.

one of the greatest dark comedies of all time.......2006-10-24

if not for the bleak social commentary, if not for the heady tibalt-ian presence of lou jacobi or the glorious chaos-in-the-weeds direction of first time director alan arkin, if not for the unforgettable vincent gardenia performance, buy this for the "righteous" 20 minutes that donald sutherland blazes the screen in one of the funniest supporting roles of all time. one viewing of this, and a person comes away with the knowledge of where wes anderson and the coens came from, even if they weren't directly influenced by it. it is the very defintion of black comedy and it goes places few dare to go today. why can't writers write anymore?

True or not true.......2006-08-04

Not only do I remember this movie from its original release, I loved it for what it had to say about the absurdity and deterioration of the social compact. I also remember the reviews that appeared at the time, saying that the main idea was so farfetched it could never be real.

I suggest those reviewers, at least those who are still alive, take another round, and reanalyze the movie in view of what has happened in Washington, Virgina, Arizona, New York City, and other places where similar random events take place. I'm sure they will change their reviews and describe the movie as prescient.

Parts Greater Than The Sum.......2006-03-25

I originally saw the movie in a theater back in the 70's. What struck me about it was that it was more a collection of finely crafted scenes and dialog than a "movie." Yes, there's Alfred taking pictures of dog poop, the wedding scene where the name of the deity is not said, and Alan Arkin's rant about the murders. For me, the scene that I will always remember is when Alfred delivers the long monologue about his mail being opened.

Average customer rating:

campy horror comedy--never tries to be serious
Good Corny Fun!
Wow
A Horror/Comedy that actually works!
BARNES IS NOBLE

The Backlot Murders
Starring: Priscilla Barnes , Corey Haim , Charles Fleischer , Brian Gaskill , and Carrie Stevens
Director: David DeFalco
Manufacturer: Razor Digital Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Slasher Flicks | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Demolition University
Fever Lake
Bloody Murder 2
National Lampoon's Last Resort
The Funhouse

ASIN: B0001LJCU2
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Customer Reviews:

campy horror comedy--never tries to be serious.......2006-08-19

This hysterical slasher makes you laugh out loud, and dedicated horror fans will even enjoy picking out some of the camera setups that are mimicking murder scenes from other films. Priscilla Barnes alone is reason to see this film--better comedy than anything she ever did on Three's Company. And teaming her with Charles Fleischer as a gay rock video director was brilliant. They steal the show. And shockingly, the murders seem really routine and standard throughout the film, but all of a sudden, at the end, we get a couple of harsh hardcore killings! To add to the fun, the guys and girls all play it up as ditsy pretty people just waiting to become victims...this one is great for party viewing.

Good Corny Fun!.......2005-02-05

This Movie is one of the best straight-to-video horror movies I have ever seen! I especially loved the part of having Priscialla Barnes in it! She was great in this film! The ending wasn't that shocking was sort of. The idea of this film was great! Most of the acting sucked but it was still an enjoyable film! Funny and Scary At Times! A Highly Enjoyable Film if you don't take it too seriously!

Wow.......2004-09-14

Imagine Corey Haim being one of the biggest stars at one time and now he ends up playing a 10 scene/10 line character in this crappy movie. No wonder he is hitting the spike!

Anyways, the movie is bad. I am not sure if it is the bad acting or the bad plot. There are a few good scenes that made me want to watch the movie further.

It is very predictable. Very annoying. Very bad.

Priscilla Barnes (Terry from Threes Company) plays on it, that was almsot worth watching the movie...

See it anyways if you want to wate some time. Perhaps you will enjoy it.

A Horror/Comedy that actually works!.......2004-05-07

In spite of its generic title, "The Backlot Murders" turns out to be a pleasant surprise. It's an often hilarious film that pokes fun at traditional slasher films while serving up some chills on its own.
Through some fortunate circumstances a down on its luck rock band(featuring former teen heartthrob Corey Haim as the guitarist) gets to film its first video on the Universal Studios back lot. The video's director is played by the scene stealing Charles Fleischer, who is so hilarious in this role it's a wonder he doesn't get more work. Some of his lines(particularly in his scenes with Priscilla Barnes, as the band's manager) had me laughing out loud.
Soon, the band and the video crew start getting bumped off by a masked killer. Is it the band's former bass player, who was unceremoniously dumped shortly before they landed their big break? Maybe... I'm not telling.
"The Backlot Murders" is a welcome change of pace over other slasher films with a similar premise that take themselves too seriously. If you're looking for a slice 'n dice bloodbath, look elsewhere. If you're looking for an entertaining horror/comedy, then look no further. "The Backlot Murders" delivers.

BARNES IS NOBLE.......2004-02-02

Okay, this movie is really, really bad....most of the acting is unbelievably horrid; the script is derivative and ludicrous (they even steal a murder right out of the original Friday the 13th), and the writer obviously thinks the F word needs to be in every other sentence; the girls are breasty to say the least, but bimbos one and all. Even Corey Haim, virtually unrecognizable, is wasted. In spite of some pretty funny references to slasher movies and such, this movie is far down on the horror food chain. Except for..and here's what's funny...Priscilla Barnes as the bitchy band manager (looking nothing like the model she once was) is outstandingly hammy and cool; she obviously was having a good time. And Charles Fleischer as the flaming video director delivers many unbelievable lines with a strength and beauty only a true professional could muster.
But, folks, rent it...don't buy it like I Did!!!!!

Average customer rating:

campy horror comedy--never tries to be serious
Good Corny Fun!
Wow
A Horror/Comedy that actually works!
BARNES IS NOBLE

The Backlot Murders
Starring: Priscilla Barnes , Corey Haim , Charles Fleischer , Brian Gaskill , and Carrie Stevens
Director: David DeFalco
Manufacturer: Framework Ent. Group
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Slasher Flicks | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Demolition University
Fever Lake
Bloody Murder 2
National Lampoon's Last Resort
The Funhouse

ASIN: B0000639G0
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Customer Reviews:

campy horror comedy--never tries to be serious.......2006-08-19

Good Corny Fun!.......2005-02-05

Wow.......2004-09-14

A Horror/Comedy that actually works!.......2004-05-07

BARNES IS NOBLE.......2004-02-02

Average customer rating:

Why a new one, so soon?
The gold standard of dark comedy
one of the greatest dark comedies of all time
True or not true
Parts Greater Than The Sum

Little Murders
Starring: Vincent Gardenia , Elliott Gould , Lou Jacobi , Jon Korkes , and John Randolph
Director: Alan Arkin
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video