The Cheap Detective (1978)
The Cheap Detective Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Lou Peckinpaugh
as Jezebel Dezire
as Betty DeBoop
as Ezra Dezire
as Bess
as Marcel
as Pepe Damascus
as Marlene DuChard
as Jasper Blubber
as Mrs. Montenegro
as Paul DuChard
as Georgia Merkle
as Hoppy
as Sgt. Rizzuto
as Boy
as Col. Schissel
as Butler
as Sgt. Crosseti
as Schnell
as Tinker
as Captain
as Lt. DiMaggio
as Hat-Check Girl
as Qvicker
as Bandleader
as Cabbie
as Cop
as Fat Man
as Courier
as Courier
as Scrub Woman
as Desk Clerk
as Doorman
as Michel
as Cab Driver
as Cab Driver
as Michel
as Cab Driver
as Croupier #1
as Croupier #2
as Croupier #2
as Bartender
as Man in Crusades Bar
as Man in Crusades Bar
as Elegant Lady
as Floyd Merkle
as Elegant Lady
as Elegant Lady
as Lady of the Night
as Lady of the Night
as Military Wife
as Military Wife
as Military Wife
as Navy Wife
as Army Wife
as Military Man
as Military Man
as Dancer
as Detective
as Cigarette Girl
as German Singer
Critic Reviews for The Cheap Detective
All Critics (14) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (8) | DVD (1)
If you loved The Maltese Falcon and can recite all the best lines from Casablanca by heart, you'll hate The Cheap Detective, which is basically just the year's classiest and most expensive rip-off.
Disappointing thin comedy.
Better received in 1978 than now when it seems too contrived.
Very funny send-up of the hard-boiled detective genre.
Not even in the same galaxy as Neil Simon's best work, but fans of the genre will appreciate the gags.
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.
Audience Reviews for The Cheap Detective
The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca are where this spoof/send-up begins, turning out little better than a lame Saturday Night Live skit (only running longer), but enjoyable for the charisma of its cast, obviously enjoying a chance at these familiar characters. Falk made a career out of playing a poor man's Bogie, and there's not enough Ann-Margret.
Super Reviewer
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 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.
Super Reviewer
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.
Super Reviewer
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