Murder by Death is a 1976 comedy thriller released by Columbia Pictures boasting a who's who of the day's hottest stars and filmed from an Academy Award nominated screenplay by prolific playwright Neil Simon. At the manor of the eccentric, wheelchair-bound Lionel Twain (Truman Capote), six of the world's greatest detectives are assembled at Twain's invitation to solve a murder that hasn't taken place yet. Among the notables: Inspector Sidney Wang (Peter Sellers, A Shot in the Dark, Lolita, Dr. Strangelove), who might easily be mistaken for Charley Chan; Dick and Dora Charleston (David Niven and Maggie Smith, Hook), dead ringers for Nick and Nora Charles of the Thin Man series; Miss Marbles (Elsa Lanchester, The Bride of Frankenstein) and Milo Perrier (James Coco), who slightly resemble the Agatha Christie creations Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot; and Sam Diamond, played by Peter Falk (Columbo, The Princess Bride) as only he, or Humphrey Bogart, can. Also starring Eileen Brennan (The Sting).moreless