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The Silence of the Hams (Italian: Il Silenzio dei Prosciutti) is a 1994 comedy thriller film written by, 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. Along with Greggio, it features an ensemble cast of Dom DeLuise, Billy Zane, Joanna Pacuła, Charlene Tilton and Martin Balsam.
Like many of its contemporary satires (including The Naked Gun), it is largely driven by wordplay, sight gags, running jokes, references to popular culture of the time (such as Michael Jackson's Thriller) and tongue-in-cheek references to then-current American politics (such as a fight scene between Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton). Mel Brooks, who made a number of well regarded parodies (Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs), makes a cameo appearance.
Contents
Plot
The film follows rookie detective Jo Dee Fostar on his first case: apprehending a serial killer wanted for over 120 murders. To find the killer, Fostar enlists the help of convicted murderer Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza. During the investigation, Fostar's girlfriend, Jane Wine is asked by her boss to take a large sum of money to the bank; instead, she leaves town with the money. She decides to hide out at the Cemetery Motel, which is revealed to be a cemetery named Motel after its owner, Antonio Motel. Jo must then enlist the help of Det. Martin Balsam and Dr. Pizza to find not only the murderer, but his missing girlfriend. This takes the cast on many adventures at the Cemetery Motel. In the final confrontation, most of the characters are revealed to be other people 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 Detective Martin Balsam
Stuart Pankin as Inspector Pete Putrid
John Astin as The Ranger
Phyllis Diller as Old Secretary
Bubba Smith as Olaf
Larry Storch as Sergeant
Rip Taylor as Mr. Laurel
Shelley Winters as Mrs. Motel
Nedra Volz as Ranger's Wife
Andre Rosey Brown as Motorcycle Cop
Henry Silva as Police Chief
Marshall Bell as Cross-Dressing Agent
Pat Rick as Bill Clinton
Tony Cox as Jail Guard
Joe Dante as Dying Man
John Carpenter as Trench Coat Man
Irwin Keyes as Gimp
Eddie Deezen as Cameraman
Critical response
The Silence of the Hams has widely received negative reviews from critics and has a 0% approval 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".