Marilyn (Cybill Shepherd) and her husband, Neil (James Belushi) are on the train to Monte Carlo to enjoy a well-earned vacation. While they are aboard, they run into businessman Augie Morosco (John Candy) as well as Phoebe (Sean Young) and Julian (Richard Lewis). Phoebe and Julian are soon ordered to leave the train, as they have a dog with them. Surprisingly, it turns out not to be their dog, but rather a canine they found and are returning to the female owner for the reward money. When they arrive at the owner's mansion, Phoebe and Julian soon discover that the owner has been murdered. Naturally, they are afraid that they will be blamed and flee the area. Meanwhile, Marilyn and Neil are experiencing different results at the gaming tables. Through various happenstances, all of the above characters will be suspects in the murder of the little dog's owner. Will police inspector Bonnard (Giancarlo Giannini) be able to nail the correct killer?This comedic whodunit has an adorable cast (especially the quite stunning Sean Young) and a silly-but-fun plot that keeps the viewer pondering. John Candy's scenes are too few in number for him to steal the show, yet he generates chuckles, as usual. Instead, George Hamilton, in a small role, is the one who makes ample use of his screen time to charm and delight the audience. The scenery and costumes, also, are first rate. Viewers may have to search hard to find this film at the video store or library. Those who do will be rewarded with an evening of smiles and second-guessing as the film merits are unrolled.

Americans tourists vacationing in Monaco become suspects in a murder case as their dumb mistakes and attempts at cover-up make them more and more suspicious. This a great ensemble movie that makes me laugh everytime and the plot is complex enough to warrant repeat viewing.

and this flick has got a ton of them. I love the cast first of all. Richard Lewis and Jim Belushi play kinda blumbling goofballs. Lewis' interactions with Sean Young are first rate. The line about "that picture comes in every wallet" is classic. John Candy is good with the accent and acting nervous all the time. In general this film has that "mysterious-but-not-quite-scary" feel to it. George Hamilton plays, well.....George Hamilton. Great cast, great laughs.....this film rocks....watch it with your girlfriend.....

There seems to be hugely divided opinion on this one, with Maltin on the side of the naysayers. I'm in the cheering section.If you're looking for some light-hearted, frothy, comedic fare rent the intelligently funny "Once Upon a Crime". With a dynamite cast - Cybill Sheperd, Sean Young, George Hamilton and Richard Lewis - the plot centers around gambling, murder, and a lost dachshund. Filmed in ritzy European locales, including Monte Carlo, the film is beautiful to look at as well as a laugh riot. Belushi and Shepherd as a gambling-addicted American and his long-suffering wife work especially well together; Shepherd in particular shows off her fine comedic skills. George Hamilton puts in a fine cameo as a lubriciously sleazy gigolo. The only drawback for me is John Candy; I can't for the life of me figure out why this guy is considered funny.Ignore what the others say and give this one a shot.