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The Cheap Detective (1978) 6.3
San Francisco, 1940, detectives, dames, documents, Nazis, and a treasure. Director:Robert MooreWriter:Neil Simon |
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Title: The Cheap Detective (1978)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Peter Falk | ... | ||
| Ann-Margret | ... | ||
| Eileen Brennan | ... | ||
| Sid Caesar | ... |
Ezra Dezire
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| Stockard Channing | ... |
Bess
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| James Coco | ... |
Marcel
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| Dom DeLuise | ... |
Pepe Damascus
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| Louise Fletcher | ... | ||
| John Houseman | ... | ||
| Madeline Kahn | ... | ||
| Fernando Lamas | ... | ||
| Marsha Mason | ... | ||
| Phil Silvers | ... |
Hoppy
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| Abe Vigoda | ... |
Sergeant Rizzuto
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| Paul Williams | ... |
Boy
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Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
Lou Peckinpaugh, the Cheap detective has entered a world that is half Casablanca and half Maltese Falcon. A parody of Bogart's films in which Lou goes through a series of scenes from the two movies trying to keep ahead of the police who think he killed his partner and find the black bird. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>
Taglines:
Who dunnit? This time it's Neil Simon who's really dunnit. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
23 June 1978 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Neil Simon's The Cheap Detective See more »Filming Locations:
Stage 15, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USACompany Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Bess: I don't think he's being stubborn - I think he's being dead!
Lou Peckinpaugh: Just once I'd like to see somebody die *regular* on this case!
See more »
Music by Ray Henderson
Played when Peckinpaugh is talking to Damascus at the restaurant
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
One of eleven movies made by writer Neil Simon and producer Ray Stark. The films, most made at Rastar Pictures with film studio Columbia, include Murder by Death, The Cheap Detective, California Suite, Chapter Two, The Sunshine Boys, Seems Like Old Times, The Goodbye Girl, The Slugger's Wife, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues and Lost in Yonkers. See more »Goofs
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. See more »Quotes
Lou Peckinpaugh: Don't be stubborn, you crazy Frenchman. Time is on their side!Bess: I don't think he's being stubborn - I think he's being dead!
Lou Peckinpaugh: Just once I'd like to see somebody die *regular* on this case!
See more »
Crazy Credits
The opening credits are written in chalk on a sidewalk, a brick wall, a tambourine, a dock piling, and the back of an overcoat. See more »Soundtracks
"Bye Bye Blackbird"Music by Ray Henderson
Played when Peckinpaugh is talking to Damascus at the restaurant
See more »
Looking for (but not quite finding) the footsteps of "Murder by Death."
While I love this movie and watch it quite often, it is a rather cheesy knock-off of "Murder by Death." This time spoofing "The Maltese Falcon" and "Casablanca," Neil Simon's hit or miss style misses this time, but only by a small margin.
This movie is not hilarious, nor exceptionally intelligent comedy, but it is still very entertaining. I honestly found "Murder by Death" to be a much more enjoyable experience.
That having been said, this star-studded cast puts forth at least a valid attempt to pull off this sometimes haphazardly written screen play, and hits at least 2 out of 5 punch lines with some effect.
If you are a fan of the Bogie movies which it satirizes, this is definitely a must-see. It is you, for which this movie was written in the first place.
It rates a 6.5/10 from...
the Fiend :.