Main Cast: Dom DeLuise, Ezio Greggio, Billy Zane, Joanna Pacula, Charlene Tilton, Martin Balsam
Release Year: 1994
Country: IT/US
Run Time: 81 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
In the tradition of Mel Brooks, this Italian comedy offers an episodic parody of classic thrillers and horror movies. Film includes cameos from several stars including Mel Brooks, John Astin, Larry Storch, Phyllis Diller, John Carpenter, and John Landis. The story begins as director Ezio Greggio is being stabbed ala Psycho in his shower. Before he dies he recaps the events leading to his death. The scene was L.A. and FBI rookie Jo Dee Fostar has been assigned to interview psycho inmate Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza. Meanwhile Fostar's girlfriend swipes $400,000 bucks from her boss and ends up hiding in the Cemetery Hotel, run by Antonio Motel. Inspector Balsam investigates cases of dead hotel victims. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Mel Brooks - Guest Checking Out; Stuart Pankin - Pete Putrid; John Astin - Ranger; Larry Storch - Sergeant; Bubba Smith - Olaf; Rip Taylor - Mr. Laurel; Phyllis Diller - Old Secretary; Shelley Winters - Mother; John Carpenter - Trench Coat Man; Joe Dante - Dying Man; Marshall Bell - Cross Dresser Agent; Jeff Bright - Mummy; Andre Rosey Brown - Motorcycle Cop; Lonnie Burr - Drunk; Debra Christofferson - Misery Woman; Tony Cox - Dwarf Guard; Ken Davitian - Pavarotti; David DeLuise - Policeman #1; Peter DeLuise - Checkout Guard; Shelly Desai - Trick; Eddie Deezen - Video Cameraman; Dom Irrera - Gas Station Attendant; Irwin Keyes - Guard; Lance Kinsey - First Interrogating Officer; Sal Landi - Second Agent; Linda Lutz - Housedress Woman; Jim Maniaci - Rape Culturist 1; John Roarke - George Bush; Al Ruscio - Phillip Morris; Lana Schawb - Nurse; Ray Serra - Agent Prostitute 1; Henry Silva - Police Chief; Kimber Sissons - Push-up Lady; Nedra Volz - Ranger's Wife; Wilhelm von Homburg - Maitre 'D; Jeff Weston - Agent; Rudy de Luca - Checkout Maniac; John Landis - FBI Agent; Heather Elizabeth Parkhurst - Beautiful Woman; Dan McVicar - Forensic Export; Lee Allan - Agent; John Fadule - Policeman; Manny Molina - Rape Culturist; Matteo Molinari - Bell Boy; Robert Muse - Agent Prostitute; Rino Piccolo - Ambulance Driver; Pat Rick - Bill Clinton; Lynn Shirey - Hillary Clinton; Seifullah Ziyad II - Michael Jackson
Credit
Russell J. Smith - Art Director, Craig Campobasso - Casting, Stephanie Dizon - Choreography, Leesa Evans - Costume Designer, Stefano Canzio - First Assistant Director, Marco Black - First Assistant Director, William Paul Clark - First Assistant Director, Alexis Cahill - First Assistant Director, Franklin Vallette - First Assistant Director, Ezio Greggio - Director, Raffaello Jacomelli - Director, Robert Barrere - Editor, Andrew Horvitch - Editor, Ezio Greggio - Executive Producer, Amanda Gill - Location Manager, Parmer Fuller - Composer (Music Score), James R. Einolf - Musical Direction/Supervision, Dave Barton - Makeup Special Effects, Brian Sipe - Makeup Special Effects, David S. Greathouse - Makeup Special Effects, Karin Hanson - Makeup Special Effects, Michelle Barton - Makeup Special Effects, Jimmy Chonga - Makeup Special Effects, Dave Barton's Modus EFX - Makeup Special Effects, Michael Dudley - Makeup Special Effects, Bernhard Eichholz - Makeup Special Effects, Hal Jahlikakik - Makeup Special Effects, Brad Krisko - Makeup Special Effects, Rick Lalonde - Makeup Special Effects, Dan Rebert - Makeup Special Effects, Mich'l Rios - Makeup Special Effects, Jordu Schell - Makeup Special Effects, Yolanda Squatpump - Makeup Special Effects, Dario Mulazzani - Camera Operator, Russell J. Smith - Production Designer, Jim Newport - Production Designer, Jim Newpoert - Production Designer, Jacques Haitkin - Cinematographer, Giorgio Fantini - Cinematographer, Julie Corman - Producer, Ezio Greggio - Producer, Luca Oddo - Producer, Natalie Pope - Set Designer, Fix-Mauro Miroglio - Special Effects, James R. Einolf - Sound Mixer, Echo Film Services - Sound Editor, Gary Morgan - Stunts Coordinator, Whitney R. Hunter - Unit Production Manager, Ezio Greggio - Screenwriter, James McCalmont - Second Unit Director Of Photography, Phil Quinton - Matte Camera Operator, Isabel Henderson - Post Production Supervisor, Cari Schaeffer - Production Coordinator, Agnese Bisighini - Production Coordinator, Richard D. Rogers - Re-Recording Mixer, Robert Glass - Re-Recording Mixer, Gina Michel - Script Supervisor, Angela Vivo - Script Supervisor, Richard S. Steele - Sound Effects Director, Bob Costanza - Sound Effects Director, Mike Dickerson - Sound Effects Director, John Hartigan - Special Effects Coordinator, Mark Friedgen - Supervising Sound Editor, Kristi Johns - ADR Editor, Allyson Brown - Costumes Supervisor, Bill Bell - Dialogue Editor, David Eichorn - Dialogue Editor, Jill Schachne - Foley Artist, Tim Clilton - Foley Artist, Michelle Bloom - Key Hairstylist, Michelle Bloom - Key Make-up, Carter Peabody - Second Unit Assistant Director, Ubaldo Stella - Storyboard Artist
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. It can be considered a precursor to Scary Movie, although it didn't achieve the same level of publicity or cult status.
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.
Plot
The film follows rookie detective Jo Dee Fostar, 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.
