Murder is afoot at the grand opening of a Radio Station in the George Lucas-produced Comedic Murder Mystery Radioland Murders. New to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.
The Film
Radioland Murders, thirty years later, is the same sort of witty murder mystery of yesteryear. It’s of the same cloth that made Clue a cult favorite. Even sharing co-star Michael McKeanen. The fleet-footed screwball comedy whodunit mashup is as fresh as it was the day it was released in 1994. It’s old-fashioned script by Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck has only gotten crisper in the intervening years. No matter its clever albeit archaic references, the film manages to give its leads Brian Benben and Mary Stuart Masterson stylish comedy roles that highlight their talents and chemistry.
On its opening night, Chicago’s newest radio station, WBN, has more than its share of problems. Its main sponsor (played by Brion James) wants to bully changes to all the scripts. The writers haven’t been paid. The actors are on edge. The band is jazzy. The Assistant Director Penny (Masterson) is about to get a divorce from her “cheating” husband, writer Roger (Benben). To top it off, there’s a murderer on the loose! As the bodies begin to pile up, the clues all point to the very innocent Roger. Can Penny and Roger not just figure out who’s framing him for the corpses but also figure out their marital woes?
Anyone who’s a sucker for murder mystery romp, if they don’t already love it, will find a new one to fawn over in Radioland Murders. Headed by a truly wonderful all-star cast (many who were not stars at the time) and a beautiful production, the film is a light on its feet 108-minute film. The film is almost exhausting at the pace it keeps, with the kind of roller coaster jolts every few minutes that you come to expect from a George Lucas production.
Director Mel Smith and cinematographer Gale Tattersall keep the handsomely shot widescreen visuals moving with the kind of zippy flair that recalls the era in which they’re trying to invoke. In fact, all of the below-the-line crew are all top-tier terrific with standout costuming by Peggy Farrell and clever production design by Gavin Bocquet.
For anyone who loved The Hudsucker Proxy, The Shadow, and the aforementioned Clue will find much to love in Radioland Murders.
The Transfer
The all-new HD Master – From a 2K Scan of the 35mm Interpositive is an excellent representation of the thirty-year-old film. The transfer is a sharp and clean presentation of Gale Tattersall’s evocative widescreen cinematography. The image is free of dirt or scratches. Kino continues to produce some truly great transfers.
The Extras
They include the following;
NEW Audio Commentary by Entertainment Journalists/Authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry
Brian Benben’s Radioland Murders Memories: NEW Interview with Actor Brian Benben
Theatrical Trailer (Newly Mastered in 2K)
The all-new Audio Commentary by Entertainment Journalists/Authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry. The duo opens with their credentials before diving into the homage that the film begins with producer and co-writer George Lucas. Some of the details include the rise of films about/set in the 30s and 40s; the pace and editing style of the film done to appeal to the 90s kids; the development of the concept by George Lucas, and how it was a part of three concepts he developed (along with American Graffiti and Star Wars); a personal and professional history of screenwriters Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz; a discussion of the various actors that would have starred in the first iterations of the project; a discussion of the early versions of the script and the finished film; the Star Wars radio parodies that that were in previous drafts; how director Mel Smith was hired on as director; the production schedule, budget, and where the production was located; the real life band leader Spike Jonze (not the film director) who’s played by Michael McKeanan; some great anecdotes about Robin Williams in this film and also was to be the voice of Howard the Duck; the chaotic nature of the production and a discussion of the various technical advances they tested out like CG VFX, digital photography, digital editing, previz, et. al.; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; a larger discussion of the various cameos in the film; and much more. Reesman and Evry provide a very detailed track, including quotes from the producer, cast, and crew.
Brian Benben’s Radioland Murders Memories (17:32) – is an all-new interview with star Brian Benben. The star opens with an honest assessment of the film before diving into being cast very late in pre-production. Benben goes on to discuss working with Mary Stuart Masterson; the fact that Radioland Murders is actually an American Graffiti prequel, and how; working and his friendship with Michael McKeanan; the future as envisioned by George Lucas and how accurate it was; working with Mel Smith; working with producer George Lucas; the chaotic nature of the production; and much more.
Murder is afoot at the grand opening of a Radio Station in the George Lucas-produced Comedic Murder Mystery Radioland Murders. New to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.
The Film
Radioland Murders, thirty years later, is the same sort of witty murder mystery of yesteryear. It’s of the same cloth that made Clue a cult favorite. Even sharing co-star Michael McKeanen. The fleet-footed screwball comedy whodunit mashup is as fresh as it was the day it was released in 1994. It’s old-fashioned script by Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck has only gotten crisper in the intervening years. No matter its clever albeit archaic references, the film manages to give its leads Brian Benben and Mary Stuart Masterson stylish comedy roles that highlight their talents and chemistry.
On its opening night, Chicago’s newest radio station, WBN, has more than its share of problems. Its main sponsor (played by Brion James) wants to bully changes to all the scripts. The writers haven’t been paid. The actors are on edge. The band is jazzy. The Assistant Director Penny (Masterson) is about to get a divorce from her “cheating” husband, writer Roger (Benben). To top it off, there’s a murderer on the loose! As the bodies begin to pile up, the clues all point to the very innocent Roger. Can Penny and Roger not just figure out who’s framing him for the corpses but also figure out their marital woes?
Anyone who’s a sucker for murder mystery romp, if they don’t already love it, will find a new one to fawn over in Radioland Murders. Headed by a truly wonderful all-star cast (many who were not stars at the time) and a beautiful production, the film is a light on its feet 108-minute film. The film is almost exhausting at the pace it keeps, with the kind of roller coaster jolts every few minutes that you come to expect from a George Lucas production.
Director Mel Smith and cinematographer Gale Tattersall keep the handsomely shot widescreen visuals moving with the kind of zippy flair that recalls the era in which they’re trying to invoke. In fact, all of the below-the-line crew are all top-tier terrific with standout costuming by Peggy Farrell and clever production design by Gavin Bocquet.
For anyone who loved The Hudsucker Proxy, The Shadow, and the aforementioned Clue will find much to love in Radioland Murders.
The Transfer
The all-new HD Master – From a 2K Scan of the 35mm Interpositive is an excellent representation of the thirty-year-old film. The transfer is a sharp and clean presentation of Gale Tattersall’s evocative widescreen cinematography. The image is free of dirt or scratches. Kino continues to produce some truly great transfers.
The Extras
They include the following;
The all-new Audio Commentary by Entertainment Journalists/Authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry. The duo opens with their credentials before diving into the homage that the film begins with producer and co-writer George Lucas. Some of the details include the rise of films about/set in the 30s and 40s; the pace and editing style of the film done to appeal to the 90s kids; the development of the concept by George Lucas, and how it was a part of three concepts he developed (along with American Graffiti and Star Wars); a personal and professional history of screenwriters Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz; a discussion of the various actors that would have starred in the first iterations of the project; a discussion of the early versions of the script and the finished film; the Star Wars radio parodies that that were in previous drafts; how director Mel Smith was hired on as director; the production schedule, budget, and where the production was located; the real life band leader Spike Jonze (not the film director) who’s played by Michael McKeanan; some great anecdotes about Robin Williams in this film and also was to be the voice of Howard the Duck; the chaotic nature of the production and a discussion of the various technical advances they tested out like CG VFX, digital photography, digital editing, previz, et. al.; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; a larger discussion of the various cameos in the film; and much more. Reesman and Evry provide a very detailed track, including quotes from the producer, cast, and crew.
Brian Benben’s Radioland Murders Memories (17:32) – is an all-new interview with star Brian Benben. The star opens with an honest assessment of the film before diving into being cast very late in pre-production. Benben goes on to discuss working with Mary Stuart Masterson; the fact that Radioland Murders is actually an American Graffiti prequel, and how; working and his friendship with Michael McKeanan; the future as envisioned by George Lucas and how accurate it was; working with Mel Smith; working with producer George Lucas; the chaotic nature of the production; and much more.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Radioland Murders [Newly Mastered in 2K] (2:05); The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1:27); Brain Donors (1:29); Cry-Baby (1:58); Kingpin (1:28); Mouse Hunt (2:04);
The Final Thought
Radioland Murders continues Kino’s streak of providing us with wonderful editions of cult classic films. Recommended!!
Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray Edition of Radioland Murders is out now.
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