6.8/10
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The Private Eyes (1980)

PG | | Comedy, Mystery | 17 April 1980 (USA)
The Private Eyes Poster
This spoof of the Sherlock Holmes stories finds Inspector Winship and Dr. Tart investigating a strange death in a possibly haunted mansion, while dealing with the beautiful heiress and the ... See full summary »

Director:

Lang Elliott

Writers:

Tim Conway, John Myhers

Stars:

Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Trisha Noble | See full cast & crew »
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Private Eyes
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Private Eyes
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Private Eyes (1984)
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Director: Michael Pilz
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Cast

Cast overview:
Tim Conway ... Dr. Tart
Don Knotts ... Inspector Winship
Trisha Noble ... Mistress Phyllis Morley
Bernard Fox ... Justin
Grace Zabriskie ... Nanny
John Fujioka ... Mr. Uwatsum
Stan Ross Stan Ross ... Tibet
Irwin Keyes ... Jock
Suzy Mandel ... Hilda
Fred Stuthman ... Lord Morley
Mary Nell Santacroce Mary Nell Santacroce ... Lady Morley
Robert V. Barron ... Gas Station Attendant
Patrick Cranshaw ... Roy
Russi Taylor ... Doll Voice (voice)
See full cast »
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Storyline

This spoof of the Sherlock Holmes stories finds Inspector Winship and Dr. Tart investigating a strange death in a possibly haunted mansion, while dealing with the beautiful heiress and the crazed staff which live therein. Written by Afterburner <aburner@erols.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

sherlock holmes spoof | inspector | mansion | heiress | spoof | See All (76) »

Taglines:

Who better to solve England's most puzzling mystery than these two international crime busters? See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Mystery

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 April 1980 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Detectives casi privados See more »

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Estate - 1 Approach Road, Asheville, North Carolina, USA
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Box Office

Gross USA:

$18,014,000
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (Laserdisc) | (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The characters of Inspector Winship (Don Knotts) and Dr. Tart (Tim Conway) were a parody of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson respectively. Winship wears the trademark Sherlock deerstalker hat but smokes a cigar instead of a pipe. Both however are detectives for an official law enforcement body whereas Holmes and Watson were both in the private sector. The Tart character is also a doctor like Watson. See more »

Goofs

While the English do call pennies Pence, they do refer to them occasionally as cents. See more »

Quotes

Inspector Winship: For a short person, you have long sentences.
See more »

Crazy Credits

In the opening animated credits, as Dr. Tart walks by he changes the Director's name painted on the fence from "Long Elliott" to "Lang Elliott" See more »

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. See more »

Connections

Spoofs The House of Fear (1945) See more »

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User Reviews

 
My favorite comedy since I was 8
7 July 2000 | by BNewby13 – See all my reviews

I saw this movie for the first time when I was eight years old, and loved it from the start. Even though at the time I wasn't old enough to get all the jokes, It still had a magic around it that was clearly evident.

Tim Conway and Don Knotts provide the comic base, and are excellent comic partners. They are backed up with great performances by the crazy and somewhat odd "staff" of the couple who's murder they are investigating. This one will have you laughing from start to finish. The comedy is also good, clean humor that the entire family can laugh at.

Another great thing is that the movie also is very suspenseful, as you the viewer don't know everything until the private eyes find it out.
13 of 14 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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