Not as bad as some think. Critics hated it and I can see why. The comedy is not funny it is like a Three Stooges or Abbot and Costello movie with very bad and very tired slapstick. BUT this film is a joy to look at though. The art deco sets are great (actually best I ever seen in a out of era film), great costumes, color photography is done well, as are the radio acts and 1930's songs and commercials. Too bad the writer did not make a straight mystery drama instead of a mystery "slip on a banana peel" movie. Actors are fine especially Michael McKean as the fey, obviously gay bandleader and Corben Benson as the debonair radio announcer. Brian Benben is another story though, very annoying and grates badly. Anyway blame the failure on the writer(s) of this and casting Benben. Original story was by George Lucas. I wonder if his story was a bad comedy though? I have a fondness for this film that transcends the bad points. Amazingly I saw this in 1994 on opening night at a large mutiplex in Chicago. I was the ONLY person in the theater. Opening night at 7:00PM! Never had that happen before or since. If you like the 1930-1940 era you will probably enjoy this film albeit I doubt the furious slapstick. Film is dedicated to the wonderful Anita Morris who played the sultry torch singer, who died during filming.
Review of Radioland Murders
