Watch Foul Play

Foul Play is a 1978 American comedy-thriller film directed by Colin Higgins and starring Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, and Burgess Meredith. The film tells the story of Gloria Mundy (Hawn), a recently divorced librarian who unintentionally gets mixed up in a conspiracy to assassinate the Pope. The movie begins with Gloria attending a party in San Francisco where she meets a man named Bob Scott (Chase), who claims to be a police detective. They hit it off, and Gloria agrees to go on a date with him. However, Bob is not who he appears to be, and when Gloria is attacked in her home by a mysterious assailant, she discovers that Bob might be involved in a larger conspiracy.

As the plot thickens, Gloria becomes embroiled in a web of deception and murder, with only a handful of people willing to believe that she is in danger. One of these is Stella (Eileen Brennan), Gloria's best friend and coworker, who provides some of the film's most memorable moments with her quick wit and dry humor.

The action really picks up when Gloria travels to the Napa Valley, where she is supposed to meet with a man who might have information about the conspiracy. However, this meeting proves to be a trap, and Gloria finds herself running for her life through the vineyards, chased by a group of ominous-looking monks.

One of the film's major strengths is its supporting cast, which includes an array of quirky and memorable characters. In addition to Stella, there is also Burgess Meredith as a paranoid bookstore owner, Dudley Moore as an eccentric composer, and Billy Barty as a diminutive detective.

Another highlight of Foul Play is its humor, which is both witty and slapstick in equal measure. The film contains a number of laugh-out-loud moments, such as when Gloria accidentally locks herself in a confessional booth or when the bookstore owner explains his theory about the "Albino Alligator."

Despite its many comedic moments, the film also manages to maintain a sense of tension and suspense throughout. As Gloria gets closer to uncovering the conspiracy, the stakes become higher, and the danger becomes more palpable.

In addition to its humor and suspense, Foul Play is also notable for its strong female lead in Goldie Hawn. Gloria Mundy is a smart, resourceful, and independent woman, who is not afraid to take risks in order to save herself and others from harm. She is a refreshing departure from the typical damsel in distress, and Hawn plays the role with both charm and strength.

Overall, Foul Play is a delightful romp of a movie, with a strong cast, witty humor, and enough twists and turns to keep viewers guessing until the very end. While it may not be a classic of the thriller genre, it is certainly a film that has stood the test of time, and remains a beloved classic to this day.

Foul Play is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 54 minutes.