Robert Altman's followup to "M*A*S*H". Bud Cort is the title character, a strange young man who believes he has figured out how to fly like a bird. He is protected by a guardian angel (Sally Kellerman) with clipped wings. He then becomes a suspect in a series of murders of people who are found strangled and covered in bird droppings. Shelley Duvall nearly steals the film as a kooky tour guide who falls for McCloud. It is her first film and she wears these huge false eyelashes, she later has a passionate kissing scene with a guy right after she vomits. One of the most fun things about the film are some funny references to other movies. Margaret Hamilton (Wicked Witch Of The West herself) plays a nasty old woman who becomes one of the murder victims. She is found dead wearing a pair of ruby slippers! There are few references to "Bullitt" as well. Michael Murphy plays a "super cop" investigating the murders, he is a direct parody of Steve McQueen's Lt. Frank Bullitt, complete with turtleneck sweaters and upside down shoulder holster. The famous chase scene is lampooned here as well, Shelley Duvall plays the crazy driver in this one, she even puts on gloves and clips on her seat belt before the chase, an exact copy of the original scene.
This is worth seeing, it loses a bit of steam toward the end, but the funniest parts are hilarious.
This is worth seeing, it loses a bit of steam toward the end, but the funniest parts are hilarious.