Foul Play was released in 1978.
When Chevy Chase left Saturday Night Live after just one season to pursue a movie career, Foul Play would be his first film role.
The film starred:
Chevy Chase – Det. Tony Carlson
Goldie Hawn – Gloria Mundy
Burgess Meredith – Mr. Hennessey
Brian Dennehy – Det. Ferguson
Dudley Moore – Stanley Tibbets
Billy Barty – J.J. MacKuen
The On-Screen Chemistry between Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase was so good that the pair starred together again in 1980′s “Seems Like Old Times“.
While Hawn and Chase are real good, the movie is absolutely STOLEN by the great Dudley Moore in the few scenes in which he appears. Appearing as a sex-crazed, swinging Orchestra Conductor, the scene in which he tries to seduce Goldie Hawn in his bachelor pad, to the tune of “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees, is one of the funniest film sequences I have ever seen. “Staying Alive” might have been associated with “Saturday Night Fever“….but I automatically think of Dudley Moore in Foul Play whenever I hear the song.
The film earned Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Comedy, for Best Actress for Goldie Hawn, and for Best Supporting Actor for Dudley Moore.
Dudley Moore would use the notoriety from Foul Play to go on to films such as “10” and “Arthur“.
The film was directed by Collin Higgins and it was his first film. He would go on to direct only two more films, “9 to 5“, and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” before his untimely death at age 47.
Steve Martin auditioned for the Chevy Chase role in the film.
Farrah Fawcett was supposed to play Gloria but could not get out of her Charlie’s Angels contract to take the part.
After Foul Play, Chevy Chase went on to “Caddyshack“, while Goldie Hawn went on to “Private Benjamin“.
I remember watching this as a kid, and being terrified of Billy Barty. How ironic.
By: H.E. ELLIS on October 7, 2011
at 2:58 pm
H.E. ELLIS – Beware of the Dwarf!
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on October 7, 2011
at 3:02 pm
I do believe this is one that slipped under my radar. I promise to rectify this oversight at my earliest convenience. Thanks for the reminder!
By: John Erickson on October 7, 2011
at 3:18 pm
No-Hio – Good grief John…. You’re like a Movie Siberia up there!
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on October 7, 2011
at 3:48 pm
Wow. I had completely forgotten this movie. It was constantly on The Movie Channel with films like Under the Rainbow and Airport ’79, Giving me early day cable flashbacks.
By: JB Maddawg on October 7, 2011
at 5:08 pm
JB – Yeah…those were the good old days when they showed the same movies about 4 times a day each……
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on October 7, 2011
at 5:12 pm
I had forgotten just how funny this movie was until I saw the pic of Dudley Moore- hilarious!
By: amblerangel on October 7, 2011
at 5:26 pm
Amblerangel – That whole scene with him just cracks me up…
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on October 7, 2011
at 5:46 pm
Jeez, I haven’t seen this movie in ages. All I remember is that I thought it was pretty good and better than I expected it to be. Unfortunately, I think about that for a lot of movies and when I rewatch ‘em…well, I was wrong the first time.
By: John on October 8, 2011
at 7:14 am
John – Yeah…some movies hold up better than others……. those were pretty good days in movies back in the late 70′s/ Early 80′s…
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on October 8, 2011
at 7:47 am
This was a good movie. Goldie Hawn made a couple of entertaining ones.
By: Christine Grote on October 10, 2011
at 7:01 pm