Foul Play Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Foul Play Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 29, 2025

Colin Higgins' "Foul Play" (1978) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critics Bryan Reesman and Max Evry; archival program with sound editor Nicholas Eliopoulos; and vintage promotional materials. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Kojak, bang, bang.

For Chevy Chase, it all started here. It was the first time Chase stepped before a rolling camera to play a major character in a feature film and sell his brand of comedy. After Foul Play, Chase quickly perfected his brand of comedy and just kept going because everyone loved what he was doing.

After attending yet another boring party while hoping to meet a proper replacement for the Special One she has parted ways with, and again leaving disappointed, Gloria Mundy (Goldie Hawn) picks up a stranger (Bruce Solomon) who needs a ride back to the city because his car has stopped running. Because he looks good and sounds great, Gloria agrees to go out on a date with him. However, the stranger arrives very late to the movie theater where they have arranged to meet and, while warning her to avoid “the dwarf”, dies in the seat next to her. Unaware that he has passed to her a precious film roll, Gloria runs away and returns home, and shortly after becomes a target for a group of evil characters planning to assassinate a prominent public figure.

When her dead date’s warning about “the dwarf” proves to be justified, fate reunites Gloria with Detective Tony Carlson (Chase), whom she has previously turned down at the boring party, and together with his partner, Fergie (Brian Dennehy), they begin following leads to figure out who wants to get her and why. Soon after, the three cross paths with an albino killer (William Frankfather) who has been hired to take out the prominent public figure.

A vintage TV spot for Foul Play promises an exciting film from the creators of Silver Streak, which is a pretty smart curveball. Technically, there is a legitimate connection between these films. Collin Higgins scripted the two and directed Foul Play, and cinematographer David Walsh lensed both. However, the talent that worked with Arthur Hiller on Silver Streak and the talent that worked with Higgins on Foul Play do very different types of comedy, and Higgins’ direction is not as polished as his writing. As a result, while they may appear thematically similar, Foul Play and Silver Streak do not offer the same type of entertainment.

In Foul Play, the math is different. For example, Hawn is expected to lead and create excitement in contrasting situations where various male characters leave their mark in unique ways. However, their interactions often leave the impression that Foul Play is not comfortable with its chosen identity. Chase is the one who matches Hawn best, but Hawn’s most effective interactions are with Dudley Moore, who plays a bachelor conductor with a kinky side. Frankfather then pulls Hawn to a place where she just looks flat-out odd, but not because the screenplay demands it.

Foul Play partially redeems itself with its final act. It has great-looking action, plenty of hilarious lines, and great energy. It is how the rest of Foul Play should have been scripted and shot.

Foul Play Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Foul Play arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release introduces an exclusive new 4K makeover struck from the original camera negative. The 4K makeover is also available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack.

The entire film looks lovely now. Its visuals are healthy, vibrant, and boasting a stable organic appearance. Even though I think that the film looks pretty good on this Blu-ray release that Paramount produced a few years ago, the 4K makeover brings an upgrade in quality that is undeniable and very easy to appreciate. Frankly, the larger your screen is, the more satisfied you will be with the strengths of the 4K makeover. Color reproduction and balance are very convincing, too. I thought that all primaries and supporting nuances were set very well, ensuring that all visuals have the right period appearance. A few small fluctuations can be observed, but even there the visuals still look good. While testing the 1080p presentation of the film on the Blu-ray, I did not notice any traces of problematic digital corrections. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Foul Play Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed Foul Play in its entirety on 4K Blu-ray and later spent time with the 1080p presentation of it on the Blu-ray. The comments below are from our review of the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack.

I viewed the entire film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track and only quickly tested the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track in the final act, where the great action material is. I think that the former serves the entire film wonderfully. Clarity, sharpness, and depth are very good. All registers are nicely balanced and there are no traces of age-related anomalies. The music and the action material created fine dynamic contrasts, too. The most exciting moments are during the rush at the end, where Chevy Chase destroys several cars. The 5.1 track opens up a few segments, but I was satisfied with how the 2.0 track performed there.

Foul Play Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Bryan Reesman and Max Evry. The commentators share a lot of information about the locations where various segments of Foul Play were shot, Chevy Chase's first performance in a feature film, Goldie Hawn's interactions with Chase, the interesting careers of several other stars, Colin Higgins' writing and directing work, the overlapping of comedy and action that gives the film its identity, etc.

• Fair Play: Remembering Colin Higgins - in this program, sound editor Nicholas Eliopoulos recalls his professional relationship with Colin Higgins and discusses several sequences from Foul Play. Also included are clips from an archival interview with Higgins in which he discusses his working methods. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a fully restored original trailer for Foul Play. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• TV Spot - presented here is a vintage TV spot for Foul Play. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• UK Radio Spot - presented here is a vintage radio spot for Foul Play. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

Foul Play Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The rush to reach the opera house and prevent an assassination that would instantly create uncontrollable ripple effects should have been the blueprint for the entire film. It looks great, it maintains fantastic energy, and Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn share a terrific chemistry there. The rest of the film is difficult to praise. There are some memorable moments, like the one where Dudley Moore opens up his kinky closet, but most of the material pulls the film in different directions, frequently forcing Hawn to look odd. However, I would still enthusiastically choose to spend a night with this film rather than any of the recent comedies Hollywood has been parking at my local theater. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release introduces a lovely 4K makeover of Foul Play prepared at Paramount. 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack is available for purchase as well. RECOMMENDED.