The Private Eyes (1980)

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

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	...	Tibet
Irwin Keyes	...	Jock
Suzy Mandel	...	Hilda
Fred Stuthman	...	Lord Morley
Mary Nell Santacroce	...	Lady Morley
Robert V. Barron	...	Gas Station Attendant
Patrick Cranshaw	...	Roy
Russi Taylor	...	Doll Voice (voice)

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.

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Plot Keywords:

sherlock holmes spoof | inspector | mansion | heiress | spoof | 

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Taglines:

Step by step, Tim Conway and Don Knotts prove murder can be deadly!

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Genres:

Comedy | Mystery

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot in 30 days with a budget of $2.3 million.

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Goofs

At the petrol station when the old man is filling the tank, the sound effect is correct. When he finishes filling the car up he is no longer squeezing the pump yet the sound effect is still running as if he were.

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Quotes

[the Shadow rolls a bomb toward the detectives, who are facing the other way]
Dr. Tart: We must be near a bowling alley.

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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"

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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.

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Connections

Spoofs The House of Fear (1945)

User Reviews

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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Private Eyes

Filming Locations:

TriStar Pictures - 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$18,014,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Productions, The Private Eyes Partners Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 97 min (Laserdisc) 100 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1