Who's Harry Crumb? (1989)

Director:

Paul Flaherty

Writers (WGA):

Robert Conte (written by) &
Peter Martin Wortmann (written by)

Release Date:

3 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Mystery

Tagline:

Nerves of steel. Body of iron. Brain of stone.

Plot:

Harry Crumb is a bumbling and inept private investigator who is hired to solve the kidnapping of a young heiress which he's not expected to solve because his employer is the mastermind behind the kidnapping.

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Private Investigator | Chloroform | Steel Plate In Head | Stupidity

Cast

John Candy	...	Harry Crumb
Jeffrey Jones	...	Eliot Draisen
Annie Potts	...	Helen Downing
Tim Thomerson	...	Vince Barnes
Barry Corbin	...	P.J. Downing
Shawnee Smith	...	Nikki Downing
Valri Bromfield	...	Detective Casey
Doug Steckler	...	Dwayne
Renée Coleman	...	Jennifer Downing (as Renee Coleman)
Wesley Mann	...	Tim the Butler
Tamsin Kelsey	...	Marie Cannell
Joe Flaherty	...	Doorman
Fiona Roeske	...	Crumb Receptionist
Lori O'Byrne	...	Karen
Michele Goodger	...	Mrs. MacIntyre (as Michelle Goodger)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #29425) | France:U | UK:12 (uncut version) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | West Germany:12 | UK:PG (cut) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Arnon Milchan/Frostbacks

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: While speaking with Mrs. MacIntyre, oranges are falling off of Harry's tree in his office, the first one that falls, you can see a crew member's hand briefly as it swipes it off the table to "assist" it falling to the floor.

Quotes:

Harry Crumb: I am Djour Djilios.
Suki's Salon Receptionist: Could you spell that please?
Harry Crumb: I don't think so. Try it with a "D".

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Family Guy: Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington (#3.3)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Holding Out for a Hero

Hilarious. Get the movie and have a good evening.

Barry Corbin, as multi-millionaire (does this guy have any other roles?) P.J. Downing, performs as the mystified victim rather well, always surprised with Harry's (John Candy) easy wit and wisdom, never realizing for a moment that the man is just as lost as anyone else in this case. Comedy, per se, is not on the screen, but rather in the heart. As a man with an eidetic memory who couldn't sleuth his way out of an open phone booth, Harry Crumb cleverly deciphers the clues and incorrectly solves the case, which ends up releasing all the right answers and surprising himself more than anybody else. Harry Crumb is the greatest criminal investigator the world has ever known -- just ask his sidekick, Nikki Downing, the millionaire's youngest daughter, played by a very effective Shawnee Smith.