Radioland Murders (1994)
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19% of critics liked it
(16 reviews) -
52% of users liked it
(2,800 ratings)
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 general secretary and de facto manager of a new fourth radio network, WBN. On the night that the… More 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 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
- Directed By
- Mel Smith
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Comedy
PG,
- In Theaters
- Oct 21, 1994 Wide
- Studio
- Universal Studios Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Rory L. Aronsky, Film Threat
What an inglorious pity.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
What were they thinking?
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The cast must get an A for effort.
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Fred Topel, About.com
Not the slightest bit funny. Annoying and obnoxious attempt at retro '30s humor.
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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.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Brian Benben
as Roger Henderson
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Mary Stuart Masterson
as Penny Henderson
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Ned Beatty
as Walt Whalen
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George Burns
as Milt Lackey
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Scott Michael Campbell
as Billy
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Brion James
as Bernie King
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Michael Lerner
as Lieutenant Cross
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Michael McKean
as Rick Rochester
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Jeffrey Tambor
as Walt Whalen Jr.
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Stephen Tobolowsky
as Max Applewhite
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Christopher Lloyd
as Zoltan
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Larry Miller
as Katzenback
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Anita Morris
as Claudette
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Corbin Bernsen
as Dexter Morris
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Dylan Baker
as Jasper
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Billy Barty
as Himself
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Barry Bell
as Cop #1
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Mary Boucher
as Soap Box Girl
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Candy Clark
as Billy's Mom
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Rosemary Clooney
as Anna
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Lou Criscuolo
as Cop #4
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Anne De Salvo
as Female Writer
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Ellen Albertini Dow
as Organist
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Jennifer Dundas
as Deirdre
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J. Don Ferguson
as Johnny Ace
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Wilbur Fitzgerald
as "Tortured" Actor
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Dave Hager
as Laughing Man
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Mark Joy
as Jack Granite
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Robert Klein
as Father Writer
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Harvey Korman
as Jules Cogley
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Gary Kroeger
as Gork Son of Fire
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Tammy Lauren
as "In the Mood" Bandleader
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Joey Lawrence
as Frankie Marshall
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Peter MacNicol
as Son Writer
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Mark Jeffrey Miller
as Cop #7
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Michael P. Moran
as Cop #10
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Richard K. Olsen
as "Lt. Cross" Actor/Pa
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D. Anthony Pender
as Revolving Stage Operator
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Jeffrey Pillars
as Nerdy Stagehand
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Robert D. Raiford
as Ben Butter
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Jack Sheldon
as Ruffles Reedy
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Pam Stone
as Dottie
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Robert Walden
as Tommy
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Bobcat Goldthwait
as Wild Writer
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Harold Bergman
as Affiliate
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Randell Haynes
as Difficult Actor/Interrogator
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Rebecca Koon
as Mildred's Mom/Ma
- Mark Fincannon
- Linda Phillips-Palo
- Rosalie Joseph
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Bo Hopkins
as Billy's Father
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Ed Lillard
as Loud Affiliate
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Amy Parrish
as "The Miller Sisters" Member
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Robert C. Treveiler
as Cop #14
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Charles Marsh
as Upside Down Yodeller
