It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

First let me tell you to ignore the 26 less than 7 star reviews, even the 15 less than 6 star reviews, the rest are pretty much spot on. Any of the one stars are just malicious and for no apparent reason. I saw this in the cinema in 1976 and hadn't seen it since until last week when it was on TCM and I still love it, so much so I'm going to buy the DVD.Sure all the detectives are caricatures of fictional ones, Er that's the point of the whole spoof, Sure perhaps in todays PC world you wouldn't get Peter Sellers playing a Chinese man, or someone else playing a Belgian one. Its' a comedy, don't get serious about it, it's a send up.All concerned play their parts well, especially Alec Guinness as the blind butler and Peter Falk as Columbo playing Humphry Bogart playing Sam Spade, terrific stuff. David Niven Plays David Niven and Maggie Smith is a sexy as ever, love redheads and lest we forget the wonderful Nancy Walker is so funny without saying a word.I've since learnt that there were some scenes cut, one of Holmes and Watson arriving late when the others are leaving. It would be fab if they release a DVD with these scenes replaced.One star? never! No less than ten, believe me.

a splendid parody. great actors. and a special form of fun. this is all. not only ironic, the film creates the right atmosphere of film noir in each detail. and the joy to discover illustrious literary detectives in middle of theirs job is the good point in a show who gives so many gifts - one could be the meet with Truman Capote in a role who completes the circle of performances in inspired manner. crimes and literary references. and, sure, a type of fun who remains seductive for its old fashion status.

MURDER BY DEATH is both a send-up of the whole detective genre along with a riff on the classic haunted house movies of old. The plot, like that of CLUE and others in this sub-genre, is simple in the extreme: a group of detectives arrive at a creepy old mansion and must club together to solve a murder.What I liked most about this film was the quality of the writing. Although the producers didn't have the rights to use real-life literary detectives, they're all obvious spins on the famous names: Poirot, Sam Spade, Miss Marple, et al. The jokes come thick and fast and there's barely a slow moment as these guys bumble their way through the plot and drop the ball on regular occasions. Not all of the jokes work, but there's a noticeably higher success rate here than in other spoofs and it never flags at any rate.And what a cast! David Niven's role as a plummy toff is a highlight, but I also have a soft spot for Peter Falk, coming across as a cross between Columbo and a '40s era pulp PI. Peter Sellers stands out as the Chinese detective, and before you cry racist, it's worth noting that he's spoofing the western actors who played Chinese detectives back in 1930s and 1940s cinema. Elsa Lanchester (THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) is also a hoot as a batty older lady. With the dialogue in the hands of such reliable stars, it would have been hard for it to all go wrong, and thankfully it doesn't. It's great fun.

On a dark and potentially stormy night, the world's five greatest living detectives are summoned to an old mansion, where they are asked to solve a "Murder by Death" that is about to happen. The five super-sleuths are: hard-boiled Peter Falk (as Sam Diamond as Sam Spade), buck-toothed Peter Sellers (as Sidney Wang as Charlie Chan), portly James Coco (as Milo Perrier as Hercule Poirot), dapper David Niven (as Dick Charleston as Nick Charles) and elderly Elsa Lanchester (as Jessica Marbles as Jane Marple). Their companions include chic Maggie Smith (as Dora), sexy Eileen Brennan (as Tess) and senile Estelle Winwood (as Withers)...Blind butler Alec Guinness (as Bensonmum) and deaf mute Nancy Walker (as Yetta) attend to the guests. Butterball criminologist Truman Capote (as Lionel Twain) offers one million dollars to the winning detective. There are fewer funny moments than there should be when this Neil Simon story works, mainly during the early running time. Those figuring out the ending should receive the million dollar prize money - probably, it has something to do with confusing and unsatisfactory endings.***** Murder by Death (6/23/76) Robert Moore ~ Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Nancy Walker