The Cheap Detective (1978)

Director:

Robert Moore

Writer:

Neil Simon (written by)

Release Date:

23 June 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Who dunnit? This time it's Neil Simon who's really dunnit.

Plot:

A combined parody of The Maltese Falcon (1941) and Casablanca (1942): San Francisco, 1940, detectives, dames, documents, Nazis, a treasure...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Beautiful Woman | Sequel | Second Part

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Lou Peckinpaugh
Ann-Margret	...	Jezebel Dezire
Eileen Brennan	...	Betty DeBoop
Sid Caesar	...	Ezra Dezire
Stockard Channing	...	Bess
James Coco	...	Marcel
Dom DeLuise	...	Pepe Damascus
Louise Fletcher	...	Marlene DuChard
John Houseman	...	Jasper Blubber
Madeline Kahn	...	Mrs. Montenegro
Fernando Lamas	...	Paul DuChard
Marsha Mason	...	Georgia Merkle
Phil Silvers	...	Hoppy
Abe Vigoda	...	Sergeant Rizzuto
Paul Williams	...	Boy

Also Known As:

Neil Simon's The Cheap Detective (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

'Madeline Kahn' 'qv' 's character uses 16 names: Denise Manderley, Wanda Coleman, Gilda Dabney, Chloe LaMarr, Alma Chalmers, Alma Palmers, Vivian Purcell, Carmen Montenegro, Diane Glucksman, Mrs. Danvers, Natasha Ublenskaya, Sophie DeVega, Mary Jones, Lady Edwina Morgan St. Paul, Norma Shearer, and Barbara Stanwyck. The name used most is Mrs. Montenegro.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lou and Marlene are talking in his apartment, her scarf keeps changing position from surrounding her face to trailing down the back of her head.

Quotes:

Lou Peckinpaugh: [Phone rings. Lou picks it up] Yeah?
Georgia Merkle: Lou, it's Georgia.
Lou Peckinpaugh: Oh, hello, Georgia. I just had you on my mind. What's new, kid?
Georgia Merkle: Floyd is dead.
Lou Peckinpaugh: Say that again?
Georgia Merkle: Lou, it's Georgia.
Lou Peckinpaugh: No, after that.
Georgia Merkle: Floyd is dead.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Soundtrack:

Deep Purple

hilarious spoof of bog art movies, not really a sequel to 'murder by death'

'The Cheap Detective' represents a satirical look at many of Humphrey Bogart's best movies: 'Casablanca,' 'The Maltese Falcon,' and 'The Big Sleep' most prominently. There are small bits of business spoofing several others. This movie, apparently, followed 'Murder by Death' chronologically, implying that Peter Falk's character is developed from his role in that movie. So be it, but that doesn't make this movie a sequel. 'Murder by Death was a spoof of several different mystery story writers, and their most well-known detectives. This movie is a spoof of Bogart movies, some of which are mysteries and some are romances ('Casablanca' is considered by many to be one of the greatest romances ever.) To my taste, this movie is funnier and wittier than the other, and deserves more credit. In addition, Peter Falk's character is changed quite a bit from that in 'Murder by Death,' better, and funnier.

For all those who value Bogart's movies, and for all those who value satire, this is a terrific movie.