Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Private Eyes

  • 1980
  • PG
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
The Private Eyes (1980)
Scotland Yard sends a goofy pair to check on foul play at a mansion outside 1920s London.
Play trailer2:09
1 Video
77 Photos
Bumbling DetectiveParodyComedyMystery

Scotland Yard sends a goofy pair to check on foul play at a mansion outside 1920s London.Scotland Yard sends a goofy pair to check on foul play at a mansion outside 1920s London.Scotland Yard sends a goofy pair to check on foul play at a mansion outside 1920s London.

  • Director
    • Lang Elliott
  • Writers
    • Tim Conway
    • John Myhers
  • Stars
    • Tim Conway
    • Don Knotts
    • Trisha Noble
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    3.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lang Elliott
    • Writers
      • Tim Conway
      • John Myhers
    • Stars
      • Tim Conway
      • Don Knotts
      • Trisha Noble
    • 46User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:09
    Official Trailer

    Photos77

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 70
    View Poster

    Top cast15

    Edit
    Tim Conway
    Tim Conway
    • Dr. Tart
    Don Knotts
    Don Knotts
    • Inspector Winship
    Trisha Noble
    Trisha Noble
    • Mistress Phyllis Morley
    Bernard Fox
    Bernard Fox
    • Justin
    Grace Zabriskie
    Grace Zabriskie
    • Nanny
    John Fujioka
    John Fujioka
    • Mr. Uwatsum
    Stan Ross
    Stan Ross
    • Tibet
    Irwin Keyes
    Irwin Keyes
    • Jock
    Suzy Mandel
    Suzy Mandel
    • Hilda
    Fred Stuthman
    Fred Stuthman
    • Lord Morley
    Mary Nell Santacroce
    • Lady Morley
    Robert V. Barron
    Robert V. Barron
    • Gas Station Attendant
    Patrick Cranshaw
    Patrick Cranshaw
    • Roy
    Russi Taylor
    Russi Taylor
    • Doll Voice
    • (voice)
    Barney Rosner
    Barney Rosner
    • Wookalar
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lang Elliott
    • Writers
      • Tim Conway
      • John Myhers
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews46

    6.53.8K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    mhyson

    sad to see people not seeing a goofy classic

    Growing up it was Andy and Three's company and so on that had campy humor. It was the same case that was "funny" for the slap stick type of humor of what was considered funny "in the 70's and 80's" and so on for other TV shows for their time. In my opinion watching this movie reflecting back to the time it was and remembering it as kid to now was just great. The humor that made me smile was nice and made me think back to the days when i watched those shows, as i often do on nick at night, to laugh as I did then and still do even on reruns. Tim Conway and Don Knotts do a great job of muddling thru trying to solve a mystery with a great supporting cast.
    r_frankie

    "Two-thumbs Up" (Highly recommended if you need a good laugh)

    I first saw this movie about nine years ago. It was loaned to my younger brother by his friend. I never saw this movie again because my brother's friend (and the movie) left town. After months of searching movie rental locations, with no progress, I decided to try Amazon.com to find this hilarious comedy. I'm very happy to say that "The Private Eyes" movie was FOUND! When I told John(my brother) that I had found "The Private Eyes" movie(on VHS & DVD)he immediately ordered two of these Don Knotts & Tim Conway classics. We've never laughed so much!!! Thank You so much Amazon.com. P.S. I would like to know if Lang Elliot would consider or did consider making a sequel.
    Moondog-6

    A Personal Favorite

    I've loved this film from the moment I saw it as a kid. To this day Tim Conway's rambling "I think that someone doesn't want anyone to know that there may be someone here that might be someone that's a killer" line still gets me laughing! Highly recommended to anyone in search of a fun (and funny) film!
    lee_eisenberg

    Barney Fife goes to England

    OK, so maybe "The Private Eyes" is sort of a rehash of "Murder by Death", but it's still a laugh riot. It's essentially what would happen if Laurel & Hardy or Gilligan & the Skipper were detectives investigating a murder in an English mansion. In this case, Don Knotts is the irascible straight man and Tim Conway is his dimwitted assistant, looking into the killing of some aristocrats in a possibly haunted estate. The entire movie is basically an excuse for a series of gags, some clever and some cheap. It certainly made me laugh. As for the obvious plot holes...well, it's just a movie.

    Yes, there's nothing special about the movie, but I still liked it. Also starring Trisha Noble, Bernard Fox (Dr. Bombay on "Bewitched"), Grace Zabriskie, Irwin Keyes and Suzy Mandel.
    7NCMountainDavis

    Rest in Peace Don Knotts

    This is a typical Don Knotts comedy in the same caliber as "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken". I actually went to the theater to see this when it first came out and was surprised to see that it was filmed in a very familiar location, The Biltmore House in Asheville, N.C. Don Knotts is the overbearing lead detective as Tim Conway is the clumsy assistant trying to solve a homicide at the huge mansion. Don Knotts is more cast as the character of Mr.Furley in "Three's Company" than he is Barney Fife. Tim Conway is typical Tim from the Carol Burnette Show but it really is both of them together that makes this movie so funny. The movie is clean and would be very enjoyable by the whole family as these two goof-balls are hilarious.

    More like this

    The Shakiest Gun in the West
    6.3
    The Shakiest Gun in the West
    Hot Lead and Cold Feet
    6.0
    Hot Lead and Cold Feet
    How to Frame a Figg
    6.4
    How to Frame a Figg
    House of the Long Shadows
    6.2
    House of the Long Shadows
    The Prize Fighter
    5.6
    The Prize Fighter
    Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff
    6.7
    Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff
    The Osterman Weekend
    5.8
    The Osterman Weekend
    The Private Eyes
    7.0
    The Private Eyes
    Who Done It?
    7.3
    Who Done It?
    Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion
    6.3
    Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion
    Mystery Date
    6.0
    Mystery Date
    Once Upon a Crime...
    5.8
    Once Upon a Crime...

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There was a sequel planned, which would have centered around Inspector Winship and Dr. Tart trying to find the Wookalar that appears at the end of the film.
    • Goofs
      When Dr. Tart reads the line "By the way, you're standing in bull ca-ca," the dialogue is clearly dubbed in, and one can tell by watching his lips that Dr. Tart was saying "you're standing in bullsh..." (it's not clear whether he finished the swear or broke off).
    • Quotes

      Dr. Tart: [reading the tombstone engraved by Tibet's killer] To dig your own grave, is quite a sight. But to bury yourself, is not very bright. There are more to kill, and the job'll be done. Now there are five, soon there'll be a lot less.

    • Crazy credits
      During the main title sequence, the cartoon version of Inspector Winship (the Don Knotts character) is blowing on a tuba when the music credit comes up. The director of photography's name appears when two flashlight beams cross.
    • Alternate versions
      The television version which first aired in the early '80s included an extra scene, set in the dining room of Morley Manor. Inspector Winship and Dr. Tart switch identities trying to fool Mistress Phyllis and her staff.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: The Postman Always Rings Twice/All Night Long/Galaxina/Back Roads/Private Eyes (1981)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ16

    • How long is The Private Eyes?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Detectives casi privados
    • Filming locations
      • Biltmore Estate - 1 Approach Road, Asheville, North Carolina, USA(Morley Manor)
    • Production companies
      • Tri Star Productions
      • Private Eyes Partners
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $18,014,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Private Eyes (1980)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Private Eyes (1980) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.