I Finally Watched Murder By Death, Which Everyone Compares To Clue, And I’ve Got A Take

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There’s nothing quite like the 1976 comedy Murder by Death coming out in theaters today, and honestly, that’s probably for the best. I finally got around to watching it after wanting to for years, and I was pretty disappointed. I chose it as my first movie of the year to celebrate the great films from 1976, a truly special year for cinema. Hopefully, the rest of my classic movie viewing will be more enjoyable!

I Was Really Excited To Watch This Movie

I recently watched Murder by Death – a film I had to see thanks to my YouTube subscription! It’s often compared to the 1986 movie Clue, and I can see why. That’s actually what made me decide to finally watch it. Like Clue, it boasts an incredible cast, including familiar faces like Peter Sellers, Eileen Brennan (who also played Mrs. Peacock in Clue), Maggie Smith, Alec Guinness, Peter Falk, David Niven, Elsa Lanchester, and James Coco. It even features early performances from James Cromwell and the surprising addition of Truman Capote! The plot, much like Clue, centers around a murder – this time, the victim is the butler (played by Guinness) – and it all takes place in a creepy old house.

The film features actors playing detectives inspired by famous literary characters – one reminiscent of Sam Spade, and another like Hercule Poirot. As a fan of classic detective novels by authors like Agatha Christie and Dashiell Hammett, and a long-time admirer of Neil Simon’s writing, I had high hopes. Despite having all the elements for success, I didn’t enjoy the movie from the beginning, and it never managed to win me over.

Sellers Is One Of My Favorites. This Was Not My Favorite Role Of His

I’m a big Peter Sellers fan – I grew up watching The Pink Panther films, and Dr. Strangelove is a classic dark comedy. But in this movie, where he plays a character inspired by Charlie Chan, his performance is deeply problematic. He uses outdated and offensive stereotypes, performing in what’s known as “yellowface” with a caricatured accent and questionable costuming and makeup. It’s uncomfortable at best, and genuinely offensive at worst.

I generally avoid judging older films by today’s values, but Peter Sellers’ performance in this movie is hard to defend. If we rightly criticize Mickey Rooney’s problematic portrayal in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, we need to hold this performance to the same standard. While it’s not quite as bad as Rooney’s, it’s still a performance that wouldn’t be accepted by modern audiences – and for good reason.

The Rest Of The Movie Isn’t Any Better

Okay, let’s talk about Murder by Death. People keep bringing up Clue, and yeah, on the surface they’re similar – a mansion, a group of suspects, a murder. But that’s where the comparison stops. Honestly, Clue is just a much better film. It’s endlessly quotable and genuinely charming, while Murder by Death… well, it doesn’t really leave much of an impression. There are a few moments that are memorably weird, but not in a good way. The biggest distraction? Truman Capote’s appearance. He plays the host, and every time he showed up – thankfully it wasn’t often – or even just spoke, it completely took me out of the movie. It just didn’t work for me.

The only genuinely funny performance comes from Peter Guinness, who plays the blind butler, Bensonmum. The rest of the talented cast doesn’t land any laughs. While Clue gives every character a memorable moment and plenty of quotable lines, Murder by Death attempts the same thing but fails with each character. The ending twist in Murder was easy to see coming, and the added “double twist” felt unnecessary and frustrating.

No, It’s Not Because It’s ‘Old’

It’s not just Peter Sellers’ performance, or the film’s age, that makes Murder by Death fall flat. I’m planning to rewatch The Bad News Bears from 1976 this year, and while it’s known for being offensive, I’m still looking forward to it. Ultimately, Murder by Death simply isn’t funny, even with a great cast and a script by a renowned playwright. It just doesn’t work.

Comedy is especially sensitive to changing times and what people find funny, but that’s not the main issue here. While tastes and acceptable humor definitely play a role, the biggest problem is that this just isn’t funny, regardless of the era. It wouldn’t have been funny in the past, and it isn’t funny now.

I Haven’t Been This Let Down By A Movie In A Long Time

I think I went into watching Murder by Death with expectations that were too high. I’d built it up in my mind, and honestly, I was disappointed. Despite having several elements I thought I’d enjoy, I ended up disliking it. I was hoping for a fun, lighthearted movie, but instead, I found myself struggling to get through it from the beginning.

I went into this movie expecting the worst, and it still managed to disappoint me. I started writing this review almost immediately because I was so frustrated, and honestly, the more I think about it, the angrier I get. I usually try to consider my own expectations when I dislike something, but this movie just isn’t good. I’m almost relieved it hasn’t gotten much attention. It doesn’t even come close to being as good as Clue.

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2026-01-16 16:12