RADIOLAND MURDERS
A film review by Martin Wendelborg
Copyright 1997 Martin Wendelborg
(6 Microphones out of 10 possible)
Running Time 112 Minutes Director Mel Smith Writers George Lucas (story), Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz, Ron Osborn, Jeff Reno Producers George Lucas (excecutive), Rick McCallum, Fred Roos Language English Aspect Ratio 2.35:1 Anamorphic Actors Brian Benben, Mary Stuart Masterson, Ned Beatty, Stephen Tobolowsky, Corbin Bernsen, George Burns, Larry Miller, Anita Morris
"Radioland Murders" was a long time pet project for Excecutive Producer George Lucas, who first thought it up after finishing "American Graffiti" in 1973. He had his friends, who also helped him write "American Graffiti", Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck (also responsible for films like "Howard the Duck" and "Best Defense") write a screenplay, which was subsequently rewritten by sitcom writers Osborn and Reno before the movie finally went into production in 1993.
The movie takes place in 1939 and concerns a struggling radio station, WBN in Chicago, that plans to take on the three major radio networks in America. It is opening night, and the cast of zany characters have to cope with last-minute script changes, hostile sponsors and MURDER. Brian Benben plays Roger Henderson, one of the writers for the radio station. He is dead set on winning back his soon-to-be ex-wife, Peggy Henderson (Mary Stuart Masterson), secretary to the station manager (Ned Beatty). Peggy is convinced that he has been unfaithful with the sex-crazed Claudette Katzenback, the "va-va-va-voom" girl (Anita Morris), who is married to the station's owner (Larry Miller, with a terrible german accent). In reality, Claudette has been getting it on with everyone at the station except for Roger, especially the director (Jeffrey Tambor), who is being blackmailed by the trumpet player. When the trumpet player is killed, things start going to hell...
The premise holds some promise for great comedy, but the writers seem to have confused "frantic action" with "humor" too much of the time. During the too-long 112 minutes you are hit over the had with gag after gag, too many of which fall flat. The cast contains many familiar faces, so many in fact, that you fail to make an emotional connection with any of them. Some, like Bobcat Goldthwait, Cristopher Lloyd, Harvey Korman, George Burns and many others, play so small and pointless characters that you wonder why they are even there.
Nevertheless, there are many things about "Radioland Murders" that actually work. Brian Benben (from the TV series "Dream On") is quite a good leading man, and manages to evoke smiles and laugter from time to time, as do Michael Lerner and Dylan Baker as a pair of detectives. The production design and overall look of the film is excellent, and you'd never know the movie was shot with a budget of only $10 Million. After all, with George Lucas, the owner of the THX programme and Industrial Light & Magic, on board you can excpect top-notch a Audio- and Visual experience.
However, the hyperactive pace of the film and the inscessant cross-cutting between events, on stage and off, detracts from the overall enjoyment of the film. If the filmmakers had only taken it easier (and allowed some more re-writes) it might have been better. Still, if you are rested and prepared for 112 minutes of mayhem and craziness and you manage to overlook the 50% of jokes that don't work, you will find that Radioland Murders is a movie quite unlike any other, frantic and flat in places, but still amusing and interesting to watch.
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