DIE LAUGHING

US, 1980, 108 minutes, Colour.
Robby Benson, Charles Durning, Bud Cort, Peter Coyote, Elsa Lanchester.
Directed by Jeff Werner.

Die Laughing is a Robby Benson vehicle. Not only does he star, he co-wrote the script and composed and sings the songs. The film is a raucous comedy, it focuses on a young taxi-driver and how he gets mixed up in some nuclear espionage. The film was not widely released - going straight to video in many countries. However, it is enjoyable if you are a Robby Benson fan and interested in a black comedy on the nuclear situation.

1. An enjoyable and interesting comedy? Raucous? music? Nuclear madness?

2. The title and the credits? Mueller etc.?

3. San Francisco, the environs, atmosphere, special effects and stunts?

4. Robbie Benson's contribution: writer, producer, star, songs, the quality of his screen presence?

5. The blend of contrivance and realism? Enjoyable American comedy? Message?

6. The focus on Pinski: on his songs, the competition, girlfriend, the police and the information, the street, Sophie and parole, Arnold and the cabs? The professor and his death, running, the case and the monkey, hiding the money, the injection, apartment, death? The circus, the animals, stunts and applause? Capture, chase? Mueller? Amy and the untying, the fright? Getting out for the competition? Songs, police? Boat? Robbie Benson and his comic style - and the touch of Jerry Lewis? Romantic lead? Contemporary hero, anti-hero?

7. The professor and Mueller, the monkey, his wife, dying, the taxi, the plutonium and the waste?

8. Mueller and his madness? With the professor, his henchmen and the types, shooting and killing, the pursuit, the circus, home, torture. computer, defeat, the boat? The end and the spikes?

9. Amy as an attractive heroine? Her sister, help, the monkey?

10. Arnold and the cabs, friendship with Pinski, concern for him? Sophie, care, the monkey?

11. The police, the FBI agent? The culmination?

12. Comedy, farce, musical, message?