Radioland Murders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Radioland Murders | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Mel Smith |
| Produced by | Rick McCallum George Lucas Fred Roos |
| Written by | George Lucas (story) Willard Huyck & Gloria Katz and Jeff Reno & Ron Osborn (screenplay) |
| Starring | Brian Benben Mary Stuart Masterson Michael Lerner |
| Music by | Joel McNeely |
| Cinematography | David Tattersall |
| Distributed by | Universal Studios |
| Release date(s) | October 21, 1994 (USA) |
| Running time | 112 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $35,000,000 |
| IMDb profile | |
Radioland Murders was a 1994 musical comedy directed by Mel Smith, with a story by George Lucas. It stars Brian Benben, Mary Stuart Masterson, Ned Beatty, Brion James, Michael Lerner, Michael McKean, Jeffrey Tambor, Stephen Tobolowsky, Christopher Lloyd, Larry Miller, and Corbin Bernsen. George Burns, Rosemary Clooney, Harvey Korman, Robert Klein, Joey Lawrence, Billy Barty, Tracy Byrd, and Bobcat Goldthwait make cameo appearances.
The film was a commercial failure at the box office, grossing only $1,299,060 on its original U.S. release.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
It’s 1939 on the night that WBN radio goes nationwide and the whole station is abuzz with activity. Roger Henderson (Benben) is the head writer and his wife Penny (Masterson) is an assistant to the director (Tambor). They are forced to deal with an unhappy sponsor who doesn’t like the scripts, unhappy writers who don’t like their working conditions and unhappy actors with inflated egos. During the opening musical number the orchestra’s trumpeter dies from a heart attack. Soon after, the station’s director turns up dead as well from an apparent suicide. However, it is revealed that both deaths are actually murders. The Hendersons attempt to solve the case while keeping the radio show going despite Roger becoming one of the primary suspects.
[edit] Cast
- Mary Stuart Masterson ... Penny Henderson
- Brian Benben ... Roger Henderson
- Scott Michael Campbell ... Billy Budget
- Ned Beatty ... General Walt Whalen
- Brion James ... Bernie King
- Michael Lerner ... Lieutenant Cross
- Jeffrey Tambor ... Walt Whalen, Jr.
- Larry Miller ... Herman Katzenback
- Anita Morris ... Claudette Katsenback
- Corbin Bernsen ... Dexter Morris
- Stephen Tobolowsky ... Max Applewhite
- Michael McKean ... Rick Rochester
- Harvey Korman ... Jules Cogley
- Jack Sheldon ... Ruffles Reedy
- Christopher Lloyd ... Zoltan
- George Burns ... Milt Lackey
- Joey Lawrence ... Frankie Marshall
- Rosemary Clooney ... Anna
- Robert Walden ... Tommy
- Dylan Baker ... Jasper
- Jennifer Dundas ... Deirdre
- Leighann Lord ... Morgana
- Pam Stone ... Dottie
- Bobcat Goldthwait ... Wild Writer
- Robert Klein ... Father Writer
- Peter MacNicol ... Son Writer
- Anne De Salvo ... Female Writer
- Candy Clark ... Mrs. Budget
- Bo Hopkins ... Mr. Budget
- Billy Barty ... Dwarf Singer
- Tracy Byrd ... Cowboy singer
- Paul Garner ... Double Bass Player
- Ellen Albertini Dow ... Organist
- Norm Woodel ... Announcer
The Miller Sisters- Bridgett Newton, Amy Parrish, and Nina Repeta
The Dead Tones- Frank Trimble and Kevin Scott Warner
[edit] Songs
- Love Is on the Air Tonight - Bridgett Newton, Amy Parrish, Nina Repeta, Frank Trimble and Kevin Scott Warner
- Welcome to Radioland
- WBN/Logo/Applebaum Shorts
- Guy What Takes His Time - Anita Morris
- Back in the Saddle Again - Tracy Byrd
- Gene's Pork and Beans
- You Rascal You
- Suspect Roundup/Spy Story
- That Old Black Magic - Billy Barty
- Crazy People - Bridgett Newton, Amy Parrish, and Nina Repeta
- Java Jive
- In the Mood
- Interrogation Opera [Grand Inquisitor's Aria from Verdi's Don Carlo [Gr
- King's Washing Machines/WBN Logo
- That Old Feeling - Rosemary Clooney
- I Miss You So
- Hudson Automobiles/Darabont's BBQ Sauce
- Tico, Tico/Don't Let Your Love Go Wrong/WBN Logo - Bridgett Newton, Amy Parrish, Nina Repeta, and Michael McKean
- What'll I Do? - Joey Lawrence
- Gork, Son of Fire
[edit] Trivia
- Many of the sets, including the exterior of the broadcast building, many of the interior walls, and a biplane buzzing a signal tower, were computer generated.
- George Lucas has stated that the two main characters, Roger and Penny Henderson, are actually the parents of Richard Dreyfuss' character from Lucas' American Graffiti (1973); making Radioland Murders a semi-prequel.
- Final film appearance of George Burns.
- One of the last lines when Penny says, "You really are the only guy for me," and Roger answers, "I know," is a tribute to the Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back line where Leia says. "I love you." and Han Solo answers. "I know."
- Anita Morris died shortly after the filming of this movie, and the film is dedicated to her memory.
- The musician who does all the music for WKB is based on Spike Jones, including his trademark checkered suit. The film's credits thank "The Estate of Spike Jones."
- Was announced as early as 1978 as "George Lucas' next movie." Steve Martin was said to have accepted a role.
- In the background of one scene, you can barely hear an opera singer performing. Her voice (they never show the singer in the movie) is from the soundtrack to the movie Amadeus.
- After Dexter is killed, a replacement named Tom McCallum is hired. This character is named after producer Rick McCallum.
[edit] External link
 |
This 1990s comedy film-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
