Radioland Murders

Infobox Film
name = Radioland Murders


image_size =
caption =
director = Mel Smith
producer = Rick McCallum
Fred Roos
writer = Story:
George Lucas
Screenplay
Willard Huyck &
Gloria Katz and
Jeff Reno &
Ron Osborn
narrator =
starring = Brian Benben
Mary Stuart Masterson
music = Joel McNeely
cinematography = David Tattersall
editing = Paul Trejo
distributor = Universal Studios
released = October 21, 1994 (USA)
runtime = 112 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget = $35,000,000 (estimated)
gross = $1,299,060 (USA)
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0110939

"Radioland Murders" is a 1994 comedy directed by Mel Smith from 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 (in his final film appearance), Rosemary Clooney, Harvey Korman, Robert Klein, Joey Lawrence, Billy Barty, Tracy Byrd, and Bobcat Goldthwait make cameo appearances.

Plot

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.

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

Release

The film has been released on home video three times. It received a VHS and DVD release in. Universal released the film again on DVD in 2005, with anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 sound.

Reception

The film was a commercial failure at the box office, grossing only $1,299,060 on its original U.S. release.

External links

*Official|http://www.lucasfilm.com/films/other/radioland.html
*Imdb title|id=0110939|title=Radioland Murders