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 ...
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Title: The Private Eyes (1980)
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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 | ... | 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) | |
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Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
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>
Taglines:
Step by step, Tim Conway and Don Knotts prove murder can be deadly! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease 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, USAEdit
Box Office
Gross USA:
$18,014,000Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (Laserdisc) | (TV)Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Dr. Tart: They say the wookalars have the power to return from the dead, too, and they only have a brain the size of a pea.
Inspector Winship: In that case, you'd have a hard time getting into the group.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The scene in the dungeon was shot early on, but the negatives were damaged and the entire sequence had to be re-shot. See more »Goofs
As Phyllis leads Winship and Tart up the staircase. See more »Quotes
Nanny: [about Lord Morly] He claimed to have the power to return from the dead.Dr. Tart: They say the wookalars have the power to return from the dead, too, and they only have a brain the size of a pea.
Inspector Winship: In that case, you'd have a hard time getting into the group.
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 »Frequently Asked Questions
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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.