The Silence of the Hams

The Silence of the Hams
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ezio Greggio
Written by	Ezio Greggio
Starring	Ezio Greggio Dom DeLuise Billy Zane Joanna Pacuła Charlene Tilton Martin Balsam
Narrated by	Ezio Greggio
Cinematography	Jacques Haitkin
Edited by	Robert Barrere Andy Horvitch
Music by	Parmer Fuller
Distributed by	October Films
Release date	March 11, 1994 (1994-03-11)
Running time	81 minutes
Countries	Italy United States
Language	English
Budget	$3 million

The Silence of the Hams (Italian: Il Silenzio dei Prosciutti) is a 1994 Italian-American satirical comedy film written, directed by, and starring Italian comedian Ezio Greggio. It is a parody of many popular thriller and horror films, notably The Silence of the Lambs and Psycho. Alongside Greggio, the film features an ensemble cast featuring Dom DeLuise, Billy Zane, Joanna Pacuła, Charlene Tilton, and Martin Balsam.

The comedy, like many of its contemporaries (including The Naked Gun), is largely driven by word-play, sight gags, running jokes, and multiple references to popular culture of the time, like Michael Jackson's Thriller, and tongue-in-cheek references to the then-current state of American politics (such as a fight scene between Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton). As a curiosity, there is a Mel Brooks cameo in this film, who made a number of well regarded parodies (Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs).

Plot

The film follows rookie detective Jo Dee Fostar (Billy Zane), on his first case. The case involves a serial killer, wanted for over 120 murders. In order to find the killer, he must enlist the help of convicted murderer Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza (Dom Deluise). However, during the investigation, his girlfriend, Jane Wine (Charlene Tilton), 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 (Martin Balsam) and Dr. Pizza to not only find the murderer, but his missing girlfriend. All of this takes the cast on many adventures at the Cemetery Motel. In the final confrontation, most characters are revealed to be somebody else in disguise.

Cast

• Ezio Greggio as Antonio Motel
• Dom DeLuise as Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza
• Billy Zane as Jo Dee Fostar
• Joanna Pacuła as Lily Wine
• Charlene Tilton as Jane Wine
• Martin Balsam as Det. Martin Balsam
• Stuart Pankin as Insp. Pete Putrid
• John Astin as The Ranger
• Tony Cox as Jail Guard
• Mel Brooks as Checkout Guest (uncredited)
• Phyllis Diller as Old Secretary
• Shelley Winters as Mrs. Motel (The Mother)
• Bubba Smith as Olaf
• Larry Storch as Sergeant
• John Carpenter as Trench Coat Man
• Eddie Deezen as Cameraman
• Pat Rick as Bill Clinton

Critical response

The Silence of the Hams was widely panned by critics and has a 0% "rotten" rating on review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes based on eight reviews.

Time Out London called it a "wholly redundant exercise", while Empire criticised it for "a script staggeringly bereft of humour or invention, and a clumsy, amateurish direction that seems largely concerned with focusing on Charlene Tilton's breasts".

External links

• The Silence of the Hams at IMDb
• The Silence of the Hams at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Silence of the Hams at AllMovie