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Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar, Stockard Channing ... see more see more... , James Coco , Dom DeLuise , Louise Fletcher , John Houseman , Madeline Kahn , Fernando Lamas , Marsha Mason , Phil Silvers , Abe Vigoda , Paul Williams , Nicol Williamson , Emory Bass , Carmine Caridi , Scatman Crothers , Vic Tayback , Jonathan Banks , Charles Bastin , Wally K. Berns , Bella Bruck , John Calvin , James Cromwell , Lew Gallo , Zale Kessler , Maurice Marks , David Matthau , Lee Mc Laughlin , Barry Michlin , Richard Narita , George Rondo , Joe E. Ross , David Ogden Stiers , Carole Wells , Ronald L. Schwary , Gary Alexander , Armando Gonzales , Henry Sutton , Dean Perry , George Simmons , Jerrold Ziman , Steve Fisher

Spoofing the entire 1940s detective genre, and his own performances as a bumbling private detective, Peter Falk plays Lou Pekinpaugh, a San Francisco private detective accused of murdering his partner... read more read more... at the instigation of his mistress, the partner's wife, Georgia Merkle (Marsha Mason). Police Lieutenant DiMaggio (Vic Tayback) has his eye on Lou and blunders around in a way which complicates Lou's efforts to clear his name. Lou gets a new client when Mrs. Montenegro (Madeline Kahn) and her cronies (John Housman, Paul Williams and Dom DeLuise) hire him to search out a dozen diamond eggs. Marlene DuChard (Louise Fletcher) also comes to him for help of a complicated nature. In this madcap comedy written by Neil Simon, obstacles and complications appear every few minutes, and a great many famous actors show up in hilarious cameos. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Flixster Users

58% liked it

1,402 ratings

Critics

50% liked it

12 critics

PG, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Robert Moore

Release Date: January 1, 1978

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DVD Release Date: November 13, 2001

Stats: 84 reviews

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Madeline Kahn as Mrs. Montenegro The Cheap Detective
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Flixster Reviews (84)

  • FilmFanatik
    November 8, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    Peter Falk's typecasting as a noir detective was never more prominent than in the genre spoof The Cheap Detective. Borrowing heavily from the Humphrey Bogart classics of the past, the film also pays enormous homage to the genre itself while managing to be a great, smart comedy on... read more its own. With a cast that includes Ann-Margaret, Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Sid Cesar, Dom DeLuise, Louise Fletcher, Paul Williams and Stockard Channing, the movie is so wonderfully colorful in its casting, depsite not being a particularly strong film. It is enjoyable and fun, but lacks the qualities of a perfected comedy classic.
  • ajv2688
    January 6, 2011
    ajv2688
    Yet another detective spoof movie from the 70s?! Yep. Again, we have a fantastic all star cast, and a very funny story. I really liked this movie, even if it isn't very different from other movies like it.
  • scrambledegg7
    November 4, 2009
    scrambledegg7
    It doesn't speak well for this movie that an hour after I saw it, I can barely remember what happened in it. Neil Simon's dialogue is best suited to real characters with real personalities... in spoof, it becomes oddly larger-than-life. This movie seems so determined to be funny ... read morethat it forgets to actually BE funny. It attempts too many take-offs on specific movies, rather than overall cliches and stereotypes, and just leads to silliness. And not the good kind. More looks of disdain than laughs here. Very disappointing.
  • sleepykiss
    January 28, 2007
    sleepykiss
    "Arent you going to light my fire? Certainly. I was just looking over your kindling wood." Watch with MURDER BY DEATH for endless laffs. Luv MK & NS always.
  • seancogan
    September 17, 2006
    seancogan
    The combined forces of Neil Simon and Peter "Columbo" Falk are hilarious in this parody that skewers both "The Maltese Falcon" and "Casablanca."

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
December 19, 2005
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Better received in 1978 than now when it seems too contrived.

Ken Hanke
November 20, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Very funny send-up of the hard-boiled detective genre.

Scott Weinberg
July 26, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Not even in the same galaxy as Neil Simon's best work, but fans of the genre will appreciate the gags.

John J. Puccio
December 11, 2001
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

You don't have to be familiar with Casablanca or The Maltese Falcon to appreciate the humor but it helps. Writer Neil Simon has thoroughly spoofed both classics.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 17, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Nell Minow
November 1, 2003
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

No review available.

Rich Cline
September 27, 2003
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

No review available.

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