Once upon a Crime (1992 film)

Once Upon a Crime...
Once Upon a Crime...
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Eugene Levy
Written by	Charles Shyer; Nancy Meyers; Steve Kluger
Based on	Crimen; by Rodolfo Sonego; Giorgio Arlorio; Stefano Strucchi; Luciano Vincenzoni;
Produced by	Dino De Laurentiis
Starring	John Candy; James Belushi; Cybill Shepherd; Sean Young; Richard Lewis; Ornella Muti; Giancarlo Giannini; George Hamilton;
Cinematography	Giuseppe Rotunno
Edited by	Patrick Kennedy
Music by	Richard Gibbs
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	March 6, 1992;
Running time	94 minutes
Language	English
Budget	$18 million
Box office	$8.6 million

Once Upon a Crime... is a 1992 ensemble black comedy mystery film, starring Richard Lewis, John Candy, James Belushi, Cybill Shepherd, Sean Young and Ornella Muti.^[3] The film was directed by Eugene Levy. It is the remake of Mario Camerini's 1960 Italian comedy film Crimen.

Plot

A series of couples are in Monte Carlo, Monaco and their lives get intertwined during a murder investigation. Augie Morosco is a reformed gambler whose wife Elena Morosco is concluding a business deal, while Neil Schwary is a gambler looking to strike it big and whose wife Marilyn Schwary is hoping to buy some designer clothes. Julian Peters and Phoebe met each other in Rome and are attempting to return a dachshund to the wealthy Madam Van Dougan.

Madam Van Dougan is found murdered and the interactions between Julian and Phoebe and the other couples begin to look increasingly suspicious, as Inspector Bonnard needs to unravel the clues. Over the course of the film, Augie returns to gambling, Elena has an affair and Julian sells and repurchases the dog.

Cast

John Candy as Augie Morosco
James Belushi as Neil Schwary
Cybill Shepherd as Marilyn Schwary
Sean Young as Phoebe
Richard Lewis as Julian Peters
Ornella Muti as Elena Morosco
Giancarlo Giannini as Inspector Bonnard
George Hamilton as Alfonso de la Pena
Roberto Sbaratto as Detective Toussaint
Joss Ackland as Hercules Popodopoulos
Ann Way as Housekeeper
Geoffrey Andrews as Butler
Caterina Boratto as Madame de Senneville
Elsa Martinelli as Carla the Agent
Eugene Levy as Casino Cashier (uncredited)

Reception

Janet Maslin of The New York Times said the film was not funny, and adding "As a general rule, films whose plots revolve around lost dogs are apt to be short on comic inspiration, and this one is no exception."^[4] The film was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress for Sean Young, which she lost to Estelle Getty in Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.^[5]

Adaptation

In 2006, Abbas–Mustan known for directing thriller movies in Bollywood, adapted this movie as 36 China Town starring Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor. It is a frame-by-frame, shot-for-shot imitation of Once Upon a Crime.^[6]

References

^ "Once Upon a Crime". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
^ "Once Upon a Crime". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
^ "Once upon a Crime". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
^ Maslin, Janet (March 7, 1992). "Review/Film; Lost Dachshund and Other Complications". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
^ "Ceremonies Presented at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel Oscar Room, March 28, 1993". razzies.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
^ Pugsley, Peter C. (24 February 2016). Tradition, Culture and Aesthetics in Contemporary Asian Cinema. ISBN 9781317008477. Retrieved September 12, 2017.

External links

[1] "Once Upon a Crime". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved 15 November 2021.

[2] "Once Upon a Crime". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 15 November 2021.

[3] "Once upon a Crime". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 9, 2016.

[4] Maslin, Janet (March 7, 1992). "Review/Film; Lost Dachshund and Other Complications". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.

[5] "Ceremonies Presented at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel Oscar Room, March 28, 1993". razzies.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2023.

[6] Pugsley, Peter C. (24 February 2016). Tradition, Culture and Aesthetics in Contemporary Asian Cinema. ISBN 9781317008477. Retrieved September 12, 2017.

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