The Silence of the Hams
Encyclopedia
The Silence of the Hams aka Il Silenzio dei Prosciutti (1994) is a comedy movie directed and written by Ezio Greggio and features an image-by-image parody of Thriller
. It is a parody of many horror movies, notably The Silence of the Lambs and Psycho
.
The comedy in this parody, aside from making references to other movies of the era, is largely driven by tightly packed puns, gags, continuity errors and video splicing. As a curiosity, there is a little Mel Brooks cameo in this film.
. The film has a 0% "Rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes
based on eight reviews.
Thriller (music video)
Michael Jackson's Thriller is a 14-minute music video for the song of the same name released on December 2, 1983 and directed by John Landis, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jackson....
. It is a parody of many horror movies, notably The Silence of the Lambs and Psycho
Psycho (1960 film)
Psycho is a 1960 American suspense/psychological horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins. The film is based on the screenplay by Joseph Stefano, who adapted it from the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch...
.
The comedy in this parody, aside from making references to other movies of the era, is largely driven by tightly packed puns, gags, continuity errors and video splicing. As a curiosity, there is a little Mel Brooks cameo in this film.
Plot
The film follows rookie detective Jo Dee Foster, played by Zane, on his first case. The case involves a serial killer, wanted for over one-hundred and twenty murders. In order to find the killer, he must enlist the help of convicted murderer Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza. However, during the investigation, his girlfriend, Jane Wine, is asked by her boss to take a large sum of money to the bank. Instead of doing this, she leaves town with the money. While hiding, she decides to rest at the Cemetery Motel, which is later revealed to be a cemetery named Motel after its owner, Antonio Motel. Jo must then enlist the help of Det. Balsam (Played by Martin Balsam - the Private Investigator who hunted down Marion Crane in the original Psycho film) and Dr. Pizza to not only find the murderer, but his missing girlfriend as well. All of this takes the cast on many adventures at the Cemetery Motel until the finale, in which many questions are answered, including questions no one would ask. At the end of the movie Lily, Jane's sister, turns out to be old pedophobe Det. Balsam in a sleeveless pink dress complete with shaved armpits in a rubber female bodysuit.Cast
- Ezio GreggioEzio GreggioEzio Greggio is an Italian comedian, actor, writer and film director.In Italy he is mostly known for his long lasting appearances in TV shows like Drive In and Striscia la Notizia, while abroad he his noted for his movies and his collaboration with Mel Brooks.-TV career:Born in Cossato, a small...
- Antonio Motel - Dom DeLuiseDom DeLuiseDominick "Dom" DeLuise was an American actor, comedian, film director, television producer, chef, and author. He was the husband of actress Carol Arthur from 1965 until his death and the father of: actor, director, pianist, and writer Peter DeLuise; actor David DeLuise; and actor Michael DeLuise...
- Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza - Billy ZaneBilly ZaneWilliam George "Billy" Zane, Jr. is an American actor, producer and director. He is probably best known for his roles as Caledon Hockley in Titanic, The Phantom from The Phantom, John Wheeler in Twin Peaks and Mr...
- Jo Dee Foster - Joanna Pacuła - Lily Wine
- Charlene TiltonCharlene TiltonCharlene L. Tilton is an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing Lucy Ewing in the television series Dallas.-Career:...
- Jane Wine - Martin BalsamMartin BalsamMartin Henry Balsam was an American actor. He is known for his Oscar-winning role as "Arnold Burns" in A Thousand Clowns and his role as "Detective Milton Arbogast" in Psycho.- Early life :...
- Det. Martin Balsam - Stuart PankinStuart PankinStuart Pankin is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Pankin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Columbia University.-Career:...
- Insp. Pete Putrid - John AstinJohn AstinJohn Allen Astin is an American actor who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, and is best known for the role of Gomez Addams on The Addams Family, and other similarly eccentric comedic characters.-Early years:...
- The Ranger - Tony Cox - Jail Guard
- Mel BrooksMel BrooksMel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows...
- Checkout Guest (Uncredited) - Phyllis DillerPhyllis DillerPhyllis Diller is an American actress and comedian. She created a stage persona of a wild-haired, eccentrically dressed housewife who makes jokes about a husband named "Fang" while pretending to smoke from a long cigarette holder...
- Old Secretary - Shelly Winters - Mrs. Motel (The Mother)
- Bubba SmithBubba SmithCharles Aaron "Bubba" Smith was an American professional football player who became an actor after his retirement from the sport. He first came into prominence at Michigan State University, where he twice earned All-American honors as a defensive end on the Spartans football team...
- Olaf - Larry StorchLarry StorchLawrence Samuel "Larry" Storch is an American actor best known for his comic television roles, including voice-over work for top cartoon shows, including Mr...
- Sergeant - John CarpenterJohn CarpenterJohn Howard Carpenter is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor. Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres in his four-decade career, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction.- Early life :Carpenter was born...
- Trench coat man - Eddie DeezenEddie DeezenEddie Deezen is an American character actor, voice actor and comedian, best known for his bit parts as nerd characters in 1970s and 1980s films such as Grease, Grease 2, Midnight Madness, 1941 and WarGames, as well as for larger roles in a number of independent cult films, including Surf II: The...
- Cameraman
Critical Response
"Silence of the Hams" was universally panned by both critics and movie goers alike. Its was also harshly criticized by fans of the film it was spoofing, The Silence of the LambsThe Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 American thriller film that blends elements of the crime and horror genres. It was directed by Jonathan Demme and stars Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Ted Levine, and Scott Glenn...
. The film has a 0% "Rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
based on eight reviews.