Neil Simon's screenplay is a clever spoof on murder mysteries in which eccentric millionaire Lionel Twain (Truman Capote) invites the world's greatest detectives to his home and challenges them to solve the perfect murder. Among the sleuths that try to solve the case are Milo Perrier (James Coco), Sam Diamond (Peter Falk), Jessica Marbles (Elsa Lanchester), Dick and Dora Charleston (David Niven and Maggie Smith), and Sidney Wang (Peter Sellers), all of whom are easy-to-guess but altogether sharp parodies of beloved literary characters.

Playwright-screenwriter Neil Simon whipped up this frothy parody of several famous sleuths, who gather in an Agatha Christie-style setting.
A gaggle of brilliant detectives -- including Sam Diamond, Milo Perrier, Miss Marbles, Sidney Wang, and Dick and Dora Charleston -- attends a party hosted by the filthy-rich Lionel Twain in his dark mansion.
Soon it's clear Twain and his help have more on their minds than hospitality and hors d'oeuvres.

Color by Metrocolor.

Additional cast: Richard Narita (Willie Wang) and Myron (Dog).

Released theatrically in the USA June 24, 1976.

The character sketches in the beginning of "Murder By Death" were drawn by "Addams Family" cartoonist Charles Addams.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Letterbox - 1.85
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital Mono - English
Dolby Digital Mono - Spanish
Additional Release Material:
Trailers
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Selection

Eileen Brennan: American Actress
James Coco: American Actor
Peter Falk: American actor, COLUMBO
David Niven: British Actor, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (1956)
Alec Guinness: British Actor, BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI
Elsa Lanchester: British Actress
Peter Sellers: British Actor/1925-1980
Maggie Smith: Oscar-winning British actress, THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE

Robert Moore: American TV Director

Ray Stark: American Producer/Agent

Neil Simon: Playwright/Screenwriter