Before Chevy Chase became famous for such characters as Ty Webb in 1980’s Caddyshack, Clark Griswold in five National Lampoon’s Vacation films, and as Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher in 1985’s Fletch and 1989’s Fletch Lives, he portrayed a cop named Tony Carlson in 1978’s Foul Play.
What is considered Chevy Chase’s first leading role after standing out in the debut season of the long-running Comedy show Saturday Night Live between 1975 and 1976, at this point, Foul Play is probably in the distant memory of most, but this does not mean it is any less enjoyable. Released on July 14, 1978, at the time, Foul Play was one of the hottest films at the box office. As a matter of fact, it was one of the top films of 1978, taking in an estimated $45,000,000 and standing up there as one of the best Comedies of the year alongside National Lampoon’s Animal House, the stoner classic Up in Smoke.
Written and directed by the late Colin Higgins (best known for other films like 1980’s 9 to 5), Foul Play had the benefit of a big studio like Paramount Pictures behind it, and with that, a stellar cast besides Chevy Chase. First, there was rising star Goldie Hawn (before her rise to stardom with films like 1980’s Private Benjamin and 1987’s Overboard), standing side by side with Chase as a co-star. Hawn, portraying sweet, innocent Gloria Mundy in Foul Play, is the victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Much more than she bargained for, she soon finds herself on the run with her eyes peeled for a dwarf out to get her.
In a hard-to-believe story, Hawn’s Gloria Mundy must convince the authorities that what is happening is real. As luck would have it, she has caught the eye of the charming Lieutenant Tony Clason, who vows to help her through the mess. Wild, amusing, and full of awkward situations, Foul Play unfolds as a mix of Comedy, Thriller, and Romance all in one neat package.
Assisted by great supporting character such as Burgess Meredith (famously known for many roles including Micky in the Rocky films) as Gloria Mundy’s protective elder neighbor Mr. Hennessey who has a snake named Esme, there is also the up-and-coming Dudley Moore (who would go onto stardom with films like 1981’s Arthur) as Stanley Tibbets, a lonely guy who also seems to find himself in the least ideal circumstances. Beyond this, there is also Brian Dennehy (who would become well-known for films such as 1982’s First Blood and 1985’s Cocoon) in an early role as Inspector “Fergie” Ferguson.
Altogether, Foul Play has an engaging quality that makes it feel like it could be a Horror film at times, but then it swiftly reminds you there is plenty of humor to be had. With that in mind, these attributes clearly resonated because the film received seven Golden Globe Award nominations and even inspired a short-lived ABC television series that aired in 1981, starring Barry Bostwick and Deborah Raffin.
Rather interesting, considering time has made Foul Play a bit more obscure. Fortunately, it made it to DVD in 2004, but over two decades later, it gets even more attention with a Blu-ray and 4K UHD release. Put out on April 22, 2025, by Kino Lorber as part of their KL Studio Classics collection, it marks the first ever 4K release of Foul Play. Exiting for fans, it is also an excellent opportunity to revisit the film in the most pristine quality ever offered to home media. Featuring a 4K scan from the original 35mm camera negative, the quality is dramatically improved from the DVD, plus with better supplement content.
For the 4K UHD edition, you get two discs (4K UHD and Blu-ray) in a case featuring original film artwork on the sleeve and a nice slipcover. Furthermore, extras include auto commentary from journalists/authors and a new feature called Fair Play, which pays homage to Colin Higgins, who sadly died at only forty-seven in 1988.
Any way you slice or dice it, this is the best edition of Foul Play ever put to market. That is why if you consider yourself a fan of classic Comedy, it is a must-add to your collection. Cryptic Rock gives the 4K Ultra HD release 4.5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment