Foul Play (1978)

2 Stars (out of 4)

Goldie Gate Bridge

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Foul Play on DVD.

Set in San Francisco, this popular comedy was Chevy Chase's first big screen starring role, but it hasn't aged well. Written and directed by Colin Higgins and running a full 116 minutes, the film clumsily and sluggishly mixes humor and suspense and fails at both. The lowbrow jokes go on far too long and the poorly timed suspense is shamelessly lifted from Hitchcock. The scenes have a flat, plain look, and the unfunny third act -- with its gratuitous chase scene -- set the stage for many Hollywood comedies to come. Goldie Hawn stars as a shy librarian who comes into possession of some secret film and becomes the pawn in a murder plot, and Chase is the hero who helps her out. Dudley Moore co-stars as a orchestra conductor who has several embarrassing scenes. The film has some interesting San Francisco shots and Chase and Hawn have a nice chemistry together, but otherwise it's not recommended. Higgins was a successful screenwriter (Harold and Maude, Silver Streak) before making his directorial debut with this. He died of AIDS in the early 1980s. Paramount's new DVD comes with no extras.