Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase get up to some Foul Play. The 4K UHD comes courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The Film
The comedic thriller may be one of the trickiest of the genre mashups to pull off. The tone is a high wire act that favoring either can topple the enterprise as a whole. Writer/Director Colin Higgins’ masterfully funny and thrilling Foul Play juggles that tone so well it’s a shock that the film was a bigger hit and a staple viewing of all cineastes. Anchored by the winning team-up of Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase, it’s a film so charming you’ll forgive its minor inconsistencies.
Gloria Mundy (Hawn) is down on her luck in love. The librarian, just when she thinks she’s got it all figured out, and a date with Scotty (Bruce Solomon), he’s murdered in the middle of the movie they’ve made plans to see. The problem is that after she’s screamed for help, Scotty’s body is gone. Adding to matters, it appears an Albino (William Frankfather), a scar-faced man (Don Calfa), and someone called the dwarf are all after her. Anytime they get close, and she goes for help, they disappear. As much as Lieutenant Detective Tony Carlson (Chase) wants to believe her, he’s having a hard time of it, considering there’s no evidence. Though quickly, Gloria and Tony find themselves embroiled in an assassination plot that’s getting in the way of their chance at a love connection.
Foul Play trades both on screw ball comedies of the 1930s and Hitchcock’s wrong man thrillers with equal aplomb. Much like the deranged lunacy of Bogdanovich’s perfect What’s Up Doc?, Higgins’ film uses San Francisco’s beautiful cityscape to maximum effect. Much like Bogdanovich’s film finds its lead performers’ charm and star power set to 10. Hawn and Chase seem to be perfectly suited for this sort of nimble, sexy comedic thriller. Neither misses a chance to show why they were stars, and when they’re together, the film is at its best. The biggest critique of the film is the lack of time that Hawn and Chase share the screen, because much of the first half is spent setting up the plot.
Higgins’ film is filled with supporting players who elevate the film from good to great. Brian Dennehy, Rachel Roberts, Billy Barty, and Don Calfa all to excellent work. It’s Burgess Meredith and Dudley Moore who shine in their respective scene-stealing roles. Meredith’s martial arts-minded neighbor and Moore’s creepy wannabe pickup artist give their roles more than just one note. Moore’s leach of a character in anyone else’s hands would have come off as the cringiest of characters, but somehow makes a comedic meal out of it where Hawn’s character isn’t in a moment of danger. Meredith as Mr. Hennessey makes a meal out of every scene, including his final moment going mano-a-mano against one of the film’s villains, is truly a comedic delight.
Fights, car chases, and an attempted assassination at an opera house, all while managing to have the lightest of comedic moments that never take away from the dangerous moments. Foul Play is one of those rare films that builds on top of itself until it’s deliriously fun and funny finale. One where you’ll be sad to see it end.
The Transfer
The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative looks amazing. The respect Kino Lorber’s recent 4K transfers have shown for all their recent releases is staggering, that can be especially so with this transfer for Foul Play. The work done here is simple jaw dropping. The film literally looks like it was filmed yesterday. The transfer is sharp, clean without any hints of scratches or blemishes on the negative. The color reproduction and contrast levels because of the Dolby Vision encoding are both deeper in their details giving us a darker luminous and far more textured and beautiful image. There isn’t a scratch, blemish or issue with the picture. It is free of any sort of digital artifacting or DNR to remove grain. Foul Play in its 4K UHD iteration is near a perfect transfer as you can get.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
- NEW Audio Commentary by Entertainment Journalists/Authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
- NEW Audio Commentary by Entertainment Journalists/Authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry
- Fair Play: Remembering Colin Higgins
- Theatrical Trailers
- TV Spot & UK Radio Spot
The all-new Audio Commentary by Entertainment Journalists/Authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry begins with Evry’s personal affection for the film. Some of the details include a discussion of the persona that Chevy Chase cultivated both here in his first role and through the first half of his career in films like Fletch, Caddyshack, and other films; a great discussion of the career and personal history of Chase – including the highs and lows; a great and hilarious discussion of a critical writings (not from them) of Fair Play and Stanley Kubrick’s The Shinning; the use of Barry Manilow’s music – including the opening track, the success of the film, and awards it was nominated for; the fact that they use the Nuart – which is a Los Angeles theater not a San Francisco; the fact that the posters featured at the Nuart are not real films and what are the real films they use in the theater; a discussion of the development of the film and how it came to be Foul Play starring Hawn and Chase after the critical and cult success of Harold and Maude – who wrote the script; casting what if’s for both female and male leads; the career and personal history Dudley Moore – and how Chevy Chase was a huge part in getting Moore cast in the film, and how it lead to 10 and Arthur; a discussion of the production and budget of the film – including some great anecdotes and interview quotes from various cast and crew; as great larger discussion about actor Burgess Meredith about his late career bloom – including some quotes by the actor; a larger discussion of the career and work of Brian Dennehy; a discussion of the television series based on the film; a remake that never happened in 2008 that would have starred Kate Hudson; the work and career of star Goldie Hawn – including some of the push back during the production with her character’s here; the work and career of Billy Barty; a discussion of the personal and professional life of writer/director Colin Higgins; and much more. Reesman and Evry provide another great informational commentary track.
Fair Play: Remembering Colin Higgins (15:56) – is an all-new interview with the film’s Sound Editor and director Colin Higgins’ friend Nicholas Eliopoulos. The director of the Higgins documentary, Celebrating Laughter: The Life and Films of Colin Higgins, discusses how, after the success of Silver Streak, the Harold and Maude screenwriter was able to direct Foul Play. Some of the details include Goldie Hawn was the director’s first choice; writing the parts once Chevy Chase and Dudley Moore were cast; the fact that Higgins wanted the Snake laughter to be his cameo; Great story about 9 to 5 and the animated sequence within the film; some of the troubles that occurred during The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; The Man Who Lost Tuesday – an unrealized project; Wizard’s Fool – another unrealized project that would have starred Richard Pryor; the sequel to 9 to 5 called Washington Girls; why he had to pass on Three Men and a Baby – which leads to a discussion of his untimely passing to AIDs in the late 80s; and more.
TV Spot (0:34)
UK Radio Spot (0:31) – plays over an image pulled from the film of Goldie Hawn.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Foul Play [HD] (1:49); Foul Play [Original 1.33:1] (1:50); Bird on a Wire (2:25); Deceived (1:47); Fletch (1:35); Fletch Lives (1:35); The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1:09)
The Final Thought
Kino Lorber continues to curate wonderful titles like Foul Play for their 4K UHD releases, giving them terrific special features and transfers. Highest possible recommendations!!!