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Foul Play

Play trailer Poster for Foul Play PG 1978 1h 56m Mystery & Thriller Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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74% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Librarian Gloria Mundy (Goldie Hawn) leads a relatively uneventful life. When she looks to shake things up, she somehow winds up in the middle of an assassination plot against the pope. Calling the police, Mundy meets the hapless detective Tony Carlson (Chevy Chase), who takes the case. During the course of the investigation, the two fall in love, but the assassin (Marc Lawrence) is still after Mundy -- and anyone with her -- to keep her from foiling the plot.
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Foul Play

Foul Play

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Critics Consensus

Entertaining and charming like its charismatic leads, Foul Play is a rollicking homage to the master of suspense for those who prefer mysteries with gags on top.

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Critics Reviews

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Gary Arnold Washington Post 05/09/2017
One recognizes the romantic comedy impulse behind the sexual sparrings of Hawn and Chase. It's the execution that leaves everything to be desired. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 10/30/2007
Writer Colin Higgins makes a good directorial bow. Go to Full Review Time Out 01/26/2006
Unsatisfactory as a whole, the film is hilarious and tense in bits. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Mar 11
4/5
a sub-Hitchockian thriller that doesn’t get too bogged down in reality. In a very 1978 anything-goes mode, it’s got pet snakes, dope-smoking cops, two songs from Barry Manilow, Dudley Moore dancing to the Bee Gees; it’s a time capsule of past times…. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 05/06/2025
3/4
This breezy picture was clearly inspired by the Alfred Hitchcock filmography. Go to Full Review Frank J. Avella The Contending 04/28/2025
A-
Foul Play may not date as well as one would like but still prove to be charming, often-hilarious and a fabulous vehicle for one of the screen’s greatest female stars. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jason H @RT50328122 4d Some of the humor in this comedy/mystery/thriller - especially in its third act - is too silly for its own good. See more Nick C. @dmcrra35 Nov 7 Great chemistry with chase, moore and hawn. Loved it. See more Robin H @RT03192037 Oct 23 The interview with Gloria near the beginning is still the funniest thing on film. As a whole it is delightful nonsense. Dudley Moore is great in it. I remember watching the bedroom section as a teenager when that stuff was still a bit shocking. See more Melinda W @RT36270041 01/03/2025 My daughter and I love, love, love this movie, and we can quote it word for word. I grew up watching this movie in the 80s when the first house on our street got a VCR! See more S R @ScottR 09/04/2023 Unlike anything I've ever seen. It was so bad it was good. Props for the Mikado, Hitchcock dwarves, Japanese Tourists and the not being able to decide between suspense and romantic comedy. It was on YouTube. See more isla s @RT89656869 09/03/2022 This is a pretty cheesy film - cheesy but amusing. There are some pretty big names present in the cast, from Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase to Dudley Moore. It dates from 1978 and it has some pretty sexist moments. I felt frustrated for the female character - goodness knows Goldie Hawn has had to play scared young(ish) women for a long time, who often male characters take what's said with a pinch of salt. It's an easy watch and is fairly entertaining and I sort of liked the quirkiness aspect of it but it's not the kind of film I'm likely to remember in much detail or want to see again really. The old 'damsel in distress' plotline feels so outdated and uncomfortable to me but that's just my opinion. There are some surprisingly amusing pieces of dialogue present, that aside. It's worth a watch if your particularly interested in it I suppose but otherwise I wouldn't say its worth paying much to see as such. An alright film, mildly amusing and cringe-y at the same time. Esme - how many times do I have to tell you? don't eat the cigarettes! See more Read all reviews
Foul Play

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Colin Higgins

Director

Goldie Hawn

Gloria Mundy

Chevy Chase

Tony Carlson

Burgess Meredith

Mr. Hennessey

Rachel Roberts

Gerda Casswell

Eugene Roche

Archbishop Thorncrest

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Foul Play

Foul Play (1978) Foul Play (1978) Foul Play (1978) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Librarian Gloria Mundy (Goldie Hawn) leads a relatively uneventful life. When she looks to shake things up, she somehow winds up in the middle of an assassination plot against the pope. Calling the police, Mundy meets the hapless detective Tony Carlson (Chevy Chase), who takes the case. During the course of the investigation, the two fall in love, but the assassin (Marc Lawrence) is still after Mundy -- and anyone with her -- to keep her from foiling the plot.
Director
Colin Higgins
Producer
Thomas L. Miller, Edward K. Milkis
Screenwriter
Colin Higgins
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 14, 1978, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Jan 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 56m