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Brian Benben, Mary Stuart Masterson, Ned Beatty, George Burns, Scott Michael Campbell ... see more see more... , Brion James , Michael Lerner , Michael McKean , Jeffrey Tambor , Stephen Tobolowsky , Christopher Lloyd , Larry Miller , Anita Morris , Corbin Bernsen , Dylan Baker , Billy Barty , Barry Bell , Mary Boucher , Candy Clark , Rosemary Clooney , Lou Criscuolo , Anne De Salvo , Ellen Albertini Dow , Jennifer Dundas , J. Don Ferguson , Wilbur Fitzgerald , Dave Hager , Mark Joy , Robert Klein , Harvey Korman , Gary Kroeger , Tammy Lauren , Joey Lawrence , Peter MacNicol , Mark Jeffrey Miller , Michael P. Moran , Richard K. Olsen , D. Anthony Pender , Jeffrey Pillars , Robert D. Raiford , Jack Sheldon , Pam Stone , Robert Walden , Bobcat Goldthwait , Harold Bergman , Randell Haynes , Rebecca Koon , Mark Fincannon , Linda Phillips-Palo , Rosalie Joseph , Bo Hopkins , Ed Lillard , Amy Parrish , Robert C. Treveiler , Charles Marsh

A blend of screwball farce and whodunit murder mystery, this madcap period piece was the brainchild of executive producer George Lucas. In 1939, Penny Henderson (Mary Stuart Masterson) is the harried ... read more read more...general secretary and de facto manager of a new fourth radio network, WBN. On the night that the Chicago station goes live on the air, a mysterious voice interrupts, and a series of murders soon follows, each one described by the same sonorous phantom. While Penny and her staff desperately try to keep WBN's roster of shows afloat during the unfolding crisis, her estranged husband Roger (Brian Benben), a staff writer, becomes the chief suspect. Roger is forced to dodge a detective, Lieutenant Cross (Michael Lerner), find the real killer, win Penny back, and perform last-minute script rewrites for an unhappy sponsor. As the backstage hysteria reaches a fever pitch, the show goes on with real-life radio-era pros such as George Burns and Rosemary Clooney. Although never explicitly pointed out in the film, Radioland Murders (1994) was a pseudo-prequel to an earlier Lucas feature -- Roger and Penny are the future parents of Curt Henderson (Richard Dreyfuss) from American Graffiti (1973). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

51% liked it

2,725 ratings

Critics

19% liked it

16 critics

PG, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Mel Smith

Release Date: October 21, 1994

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DVD Release Date: October 10, 2000

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Stats: 132 reviews

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A Stressed Director Roger Points Out The Killer That Old Black Magic Roger Is In Deep Writing George Burns' Final Bow Something Is Not Quite Right Rick On The Drums Radio Is A Drag Radioland Murders
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Flixster Reviews (132)

  • phubbs1
    May 12, 2012
    phubbs1
    It does come across that everything Mr Lucas has put his chubby finger to since Star Wars doesn't quite turn out so well (apart from 'Indy'), the recent 'Red Tails' for example.

    This goofy slapstick comedy on paper had promise and I was quite excited to watch it as the period se... read moretting plus the 'who dunnit' murder aspect I like. The whole thing sounded like a kind of 'Clue' or 'Haunted Honeymoon' type venture, that nice dated 30's to 50's setting with smart suits with well spoken chaps n dames all set within a spooky atmosphere.

    Unfortunately this film is really quite boring and insanely stupid, there is way too much slapstick in your face screwball comedy...and its not even very good, just forced. Everyone is falling arse over tit every five minutes and the editing is so damn choppy, you zip from one pratfall to the next as if they were individual sketches pasted together.

    Awesome cast line up, every well known character actor in Hollywood has been stuck in this but that can't save the film. Brian Benben was for me a bad choice of lead for the story, he's one of those guys that just fits TV roles better and he's also annoyingly unstable here with the most lame physical comedy display.

    Good ideas with a great era and concept to homage but this falls flat on its face, it should of been a classic but somehow its been fudged well and truly, damn it Lucas!
  • YosemiteSamFan
    August 17, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Gosh, almost as pedantic as a Woody Allen movie. The characters are cardboard cutouts against the CGI backgrounds, which were a test-phase for Star Wars prequels. It's claustrophobic and annoying. I didn't want to be there.
  • nathansunnyd
    January 7, 2012
    nathansunnyd
    This quirky murder mystery is far from Oscar worthy but it does provide entertainment for fans of the genre and those looking for typical 90s humor. The acting in the movie is often tastefully over the top, though the film's main protagonist becomes marginally less endearing as ... read morehis time on screen increases. Both the the film's plot and writing doesn't stray far beyond what is expected. The suspense is impressive for the movie's focus on comedy and the wit, along with the movie's clever use of its setting, spawns more laughs than its one-liners and attempts at slapstick. The film is worth a watch but is far from being a necessity for anyone's film collection
    12/24/2011
  • gienapp
    October 24, 2007
    gienapp
    After overcoming an initially awkward 20 minutes, this farcical period piece finds its groove and generates a sense of madcap mayhem it manages to sustain until the end credits. Once again, Brian Benben shows what a severely underrated comedic presence he is.
  • KimPierce1
    July 31, 2007
    KimPierce1
    What a harsh plot description! This is a film I grew up watching and always enjoyed, even though it is an incredibly close remake of the Abbott and Costello film 'Who Done It?' The film does an amazing job capturing the actmosphere of 1930's radio with the integration of spot on ... read moremusic numbers and comercials. I also thought the perfomances were very strong, making a great use of the amazingly stellar and versatile cast.

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Critic Reviews

Rory L. Aronsky
August 29, 2006
Rory L. Aronsky, Film Threat

What an inglorious pity. Full Review

Ken Hanke
March 1, 2004
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

What were they thinking?

Dennis Schwartz
January 27, 2004
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The cast must get an A for effort. Full Review

Fred Topel
July 14, 2003
Fred Topel, About.com

Not the slightest bit funny. Annoying and obnoxious attempt at retro '30s humor.

Chris Hicks
January 1, 2000
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City

The bottom line: If you can get past that sagging first third, there are some laughs to be had. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
September 7, 2011
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Brian Lowry
March 26, 2009
Brian Lowry, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

April 12, 2002
Globe and Mail

Click to read the article Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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  • What movie are these lines from: Claudette: Nobody enters my dressing room uninvited! What the hell do you think that star means? Roger: You're Jewish?   Answer »
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