Foul Play (1978) - Blu-ray Evaluation

      Foul Play, 1978.

      Directed by Colin Higgins.

      Featuring Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, Burgess Meredith, Brian Dennehy, Dudley Moore.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Kino Lorber adds to its collection of lesser-known classics on disc with Foul Play, now available on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD. This Colin Higgins film marked the beginning of Chevy Chase’s film career and solidified Goldie Hawn's status in cinema. The release includes a visually appealing 4K remaster, alongside a new commentary track featuring film critics Bryan Reesman and Max Evry and a look at Higgins' unfortunately brief career.

      This film is particularly significant as it was Chevy Chase's first major film role following his departure from Saturday Night Live in 1976. While this wasn't Goldie Hawn's inaugural leading role, it played a key part in establishing her versatility as an actress capable of seamlessly transitioning between comedy and more serious themes.

      Overall, Foul Play leans more towards comedy. Hawn portrays Gloria Mundy, a shy, divorced librarian who meets the awkward Tony Carlson (Chase) at a party. Although they seem to connect, she turns him down initially.

      Motivated by a friend to embrace new possibilities for romance, Gloria soon meets a man named Scotty (Bruce Solomon), who entrusts her with a pack of cigarettes while he tries to quit smoking. Unbeknownst to her, Scotty has concealed something significant within the pack, and she quickly finds herself entangled in a plot involving some sinister characters trying to recover it.

      Meanwhile, she learns that Tony is actually a police officer, but both he and his partner, Inspector “Fergie” Ferguson (Brian Dennehy), are skeptical of her stories since the evidence tends to vanish after each incident. Eventually, they come to realize she’s been telling the truth, leading to a climax that involves an assassination attempt on the Pope during an opera.

      If that storyline seems reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s work, it’s because director and screenwriter Colin Higgins intended it that way. Foul Play is rich with nods to Hitchcock, embracing tropes like the “innocent individual caught in a complicated situation” and including a MacGuffin, the term coined by Hitchcock for the coveted item in a story.

      In general, the film holds up well as an entertaining journey through the San Francisco Bay Area, although Tony’s sporadic clumsiness may seem somewhat contrived in hindsight. I understand that Chevy Chase had gained fame for his amusing portrayals of President Gerald Ford, which may explain the inclusion of those moments, but they feel somewhat disconnected from the plot. You could easily remove them without diminishing the story.

      However, the scenes with Dudley Moore as an awkward aspiring ladies' man are quite humorous and also contributed to his Hollywood success. They fit well into the narrative, given Gloria's quest to find a decent date.

      This is yet another lesser-known classic presented by Kino Lorber with a new 4K restoration that revitalizes the film, making it look just as fresh as when it debuted in theaters in 1978. While it may not be a title that fans were eagerly anticipating in 4K Ultra HD, I'm confident that those who appreciate the film will be pleased with its appearance. The Blu-ray version also looks excellent.

      Whether choosing the 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray edition (I received the latter for this review), you'll find just a couple of bonus features. The first is a newly recorded commentary track with film critics Bryan Reesman and Max Evry, offering the kind of insightful discussion I always enjoy. They clearly come prepared to analyze the film in relation to its stars' careers and its place in Hollywood history.

      The other bonus is a 16-minute segment titled Fair Play: Remembering Colin Higgins, featuring an interview with Higgins’ friend Nicholas Eliopoulos, who created a documentary about him. (Unfortunately, Higgins passed away in 1988 at the young age of 47.) Eliopoulos, evidently a close friend, shares several details about the director's career beyond just Foul Play, including significant moments from his next successful film, 9 to 5.

      Included in the extras are a TV and radio advertisement, along with two trailers.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Brad Cook