Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Ted Kotcheff

Writers:

Ivan Lyons (novel)
Nan Lyons (novel)

Release Date:

13 September 1978 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Mystery | Crime

Tagline:

The mystery-comedy that tastes as good as it looks.

Plot:

Mystery abounds when it is discovered that, one by one, the greatest Chefs in Europe are being killed...

Plot Keywords:

Chef | Food Critic | Food | Murder | Venice Italy

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

George Segal	...	Robby
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Natasha O'Brien
Robert Morley	...	Max
Jean-Pierre Cassel	...	Kohner
Philippe Noiret	...	Moulineau
Jean Rochefort	...	Auguste Grandvilliers
Gigi Proietti	...	Ravello
Stefano Satta Flores	...	Fausto Zoppi
Madge Ryan	...	Beecham
Frank Windsor	...	Blodgett
Peter Sallis	...	St. Claire
Tim Barlow	...	Doyle
John Le Mesurier	...	Dr. Deere
Joss Ackland	...	Cantrell
Jean Gaven	...	Salpetre

Also Known As:

Die Schlemmerorgie (West Germany)
Ein Kochtopf voller Leichen (West Germany) (video title)
La grande cuisine (France)
Qualcuno sta uccidendo i più grandi cuochi d'europa (Italy)
Someone Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe
Too Many Chefs (UK)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA | Italy | France | West Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color (MGM Color)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Aldrich Company

Trivia:

Last cinema film of Ronald Leigh-Hunt.

Quotes:

Dr. Deere: Ah, Maximilian, how very good of you to be so punctual!
Max: The name is Vandeveer. I don't wish to be on first name terms with anyone who's had their fingers up my rectum.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Alice: Who's Kissing the Great Chef of Phoenix? (#5.19)" (1981)

my tastes have changed

I saw this movie on TV many years ago and found it to be very entertaining. Upon another viewing though, it's still entertaining but I guess my tastes have changed enough to where it's not exactly my cup of tea anymore. Oh well. Robert Morely plays Max, a hugely overweight magazine editor who is delighted to stuff his already-corpulent form with more and more gourmet goodies. His doctor has recommended that he cut back a bit or die soon. Robby is a fast-food magnate, played by George Segal, a rather obnoxious and "this is why foreigners hate Americans" type of guy. His role is somewhat grating as he pursues both his ex-wife (Jacqueline Bisset, a dessert chef) and a chef for his new omelet chain (H. Dumpty). At any rate, a number of great chefs are being killed off in the manner of how their particular specialty is prepared, and the remaining "so called" great chefs are brought together in an attempt to figure out who is next. A rather eccentric bunch, to say the least. At any rate, it's a decent enough film, comedy, mystery, and murder, but it just doesn't have the appeal to me now that it had years ago. I'm sure it'd be just fine for a lot of folks though, I'm not in any way putting it down. Maybe I was not in the right mood when I watched it, but it's still an entertaining film.