Foul Play (1978)

A librarian (Goldie Hawn) innocently picks up a hitch hiker (Bruce Solomon) then finds herself mixed up in murder, missing dead bodies, albino killers, dwarfs and an assassination plot by a radical political group. Written and directed by Colin Higgins (9 TO 5), this is one of the most delightful confections of 1970s movie going. A hybrid of romance, comedy and thriller. In most cases, one is grateful if any of these genres are done properly but when you mix them all together, sometimes it's a cinematic recipe for disaster. However, Higgins concocted a congenial blend of mystery, laughs and charm. Hawn is irresistible here, you can see why she was America's reigning sweetheart of the 70s. Chevy Chase as a detective on the case manages to keep both his smugness and mugging in check and an amusing Dudley Moore starts his American career. The theme song Ready To Begin Again is one of the great movie love songs despite being sung by Barry Manilow. Inexplicably it lost the best song Oscar to You Light Up My Life. With Burgess Meredith, Rachel Roberts, Brian Dennehy and Billy Barty.