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Radioland Murders

  • 1994
  • PG
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
Mary Stuart Masterson and Brian Benben in Radioland Murders (1994)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:44
1 Video
95 Photos
ParodyWhodunnitComedyCrimeDramaMusicalMysteryRomance

A series of mysterious crimes threatens the existence of a new radio network.A series of mysterious crimes threatens the existence of a new radio network.A series of mysterious crimes threatens the existence of a new radio network.

  • Director
    • Mel Smith
  • Writers
    • George Lucas
    • Willard Huyck
    • Gloria Katz
  • Stars
    • Brian Benben
    • Mary Stuart Masterson
    • Ned Beatty
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    4.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mel Smith
    • Writers
      • George Lucas
      • Willard Huyck
      • Gloria Katz
    • Stars
      • Brian Benben
      • Mary Stuart Masterson
      • Ned Beatty
    • 57User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Radioland Murders
    Trailer 1:44
    Radioland Murders

    Photos95

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Brian Benben
    Brian Benben
    • Roger Henderson
    Mary Stuart Masterson
    Mary Stuart Masterson
    • Penny Henderson
    Ned Beatty
    Ned Beatty
    • General Walt Whalen
    George Burns
    George Burns
    • Milt Lackey
    Scott Michael Campbell
    Scott Michael Campbell
    • Billy
    Brion James
    Brion James
    • Bernie King
    Michael Lerner
    Michael Lerner
    • Lieutenant Cross
    Michael McKean
    Michael McKean
    • Rick Rochester
    Jeffrey Tambor
    Jeffrey Tambor
    • Walt Whalen, Jr.
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    • Max Applewhite
    Christopher Lloyd
    Christopher Lloyd
    • Zoltan
    Larry Miller
    Larry Miller
    • Herman Katzenback
    Anita Morris
    Anita Morris
    • Claudette Katsenback
    Corbin Bernsen
    Corbin Bernsen
    • Dexter Morris
    Rosemary Clooney
    Rosemary Clooney
    • Anna
    Bobcat Goldthwait
    Bobcat Goldthwait
    • Wild Writer
    Robert Walden
    Robert Walden
    • Tommy
    Dylan Baker
    Dylan Baker
    • Jasper
    • Director
      • Mel Smith
    • Writers
      • George Lucas
      • Willard Huyck
      • Gloria Katz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews57

    6.24K
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    Featured reviews

    halle95

    could see this one many many times!

    Radioland Murders is a movie that should be seen more than once because it is so fast-paced and contains lots of inside jokes....it helps to have worked in radio (i've been a control board operator for 6 yrs) to catch some of the adsurdity. In my opinion, it's mostly about "timing" because in radio "dead air" is a no-no....one program must flow into another (with commercials in between, of course)....the audience has no idea of the confusion going on behind the scenes! Watch the contrast of the writers' hectic schedule and the actors performing whatever they are given so smoothly...this script is well-written, I think. Dissect the lines and they work, like when Billy tells Mr. Henderson, "that's quite a reach, Mr. H". Just say it out loud and it has a rhyme to it. I love the part where the cops are staring at the TV test pattern!! Some of the silly parts were a bit too long for my taste, but the movie works on many humorous levels. I also enjoyed the 1930 popular lingo as dialog in places. And the last script Mr. Henderson delivers IS a pip and pulls it all together!
    9FiendishDramaturgy

    Highly Underrated and Under-Appreciated!

    This film is a niche film, in that it IS a who-dunnit, but deeper than that, there seems to be a gap between modern audiences and the pre-television world of pop-culture radio. This, in part, accounts for some of the lack of popularity this film experienced.

    However...

    This film is intriguing in that it features some great performances, manic and frantic dialog indicative of the behind-the-scenes and on-the-air intonations of the age, and a slick style which elevates this work far above the rating it currently enjoys here at IMDb.

    The filming style is mesmerizing. The long shots of the outside of the radio building contributes to the feeling of isolation from the rest of the world, as the body count begins to accumulate. The sponsors just won't be sold on the station, everything which can go wrong is, and the station is dying to go into national syndication. All while the intrigue builds into suspense without generating the atmosphere of a thriller, which this is not. It was a difficult balance to maintain, but it never slips, never fails.

    I have no idea why this was universally thrashed. This was delightful! It rates an 8.9/10 from...

    the Fiend :.
    7TheMrFrog

    Extremely Undervalued

    If you're looking for a serious mystery--or for that matter, a serious anything--don't watch this movie.

    If you just want a fun movie that you can watch again and again, this one is for you! It takes place in the studios of radio station WBN on the night of its national debut. The station managers, directors, writers, and actors, already stressed with the debut and pleasing the affiliates, are shocked when a trumpet player in the orchestra is poisoned and killed. The station crew then has to keep the programs going while the police investigate and the writers go on strike. After more murders are committed, writer Roger Henderson, the innocent prime suspect, has to simultaneously evade the police, rewrite scripts for shows about to air, and solve the crime to prove his innocence.

    There are some discrepancies and parts I'm sure critical people split hairs over. Don't expect a masterpiece, just some good fun.
    8bannonanthony

    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.
    dogood

    Great Film

    This is a wonderful, obscure film completely lacking subtlety which is why some people may hate it but exactly why I like it. The countless visual and verbal puns mean you can watch this film 20 times and never find them all. AND eventhough you KNOW what is coming next, you will still laugh at the punchlines.

    Great story movement, dialogue; every stereotype known to Hollywood and YET, every stereotype seems to get violated; its like stereotypes of stereotypes. The only weakness is the movie keeps interupting some great songs.

    One of my favorites. OK, so I don't have great tastes. Its still a really fun movie.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      George Lucas has stated that the two main characters, Roger and Penny Henderson, are actually the parents of Richard Dreyfuss' character Curt Henderson from American Graffiti (1973); making this film a bit of a semi-prequel.
    • Goofs
      The portrait in Gen. Whalen's office shows the general wearing a service dress green uniform which was not adopted by the U.S. Army until the mid-1950s. In 1939, when the movie is set, the general would have worn a khaki uniform.
    • Quotes

      Penny Henderson: I told Dexter not to smoke. If you ask me, they oughta put warning labels on those packages.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Love Affair/Wes Craven's New Nightmare/Exit to Eden/Hoop Dreams/The Specialist/Little Giants (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      That Old Feeling
      Written by Lew Brown and Sammy Fain

      Performed by Rosemary Clooney

      Courtesy of EMI Feist, Inc. and Bienstock Publishing Co.

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    FAQ

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 21, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 幕後殺手
    • Filming locations
      • EUE/Screen Gems Studios - 1223 N 23rd Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Lucasfilm
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,316,865
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $835,570
      • Oct 23, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,316,865
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • DTS-Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1
      • 2.35 : 1

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