The Cheap Detective

Critics Consensus

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47%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 15

59%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,511
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Movie Info

Playwright Neil Simon tries his hand at film parody in The Cheap Detective, sending up the private genre of the 1940s --The Maltese Falcon in particular. Peter Falk is Lou Peckinpaugh, a trenchcoated nincompoop with a Humphrey Bogart accent, who finds himself accused of killing his partner, with whose wife Georgia Merkle (Marsha Mason) he has been having an affair. Amidst this confusion, the sultry Mrs. Montenegro (Madeline Khan) stumbles into Lou's office. She is searching for an ancient treasure --a dozen diamond eggs. Soon Lou finds himself having to deal with a collection of unsavory characters --Jasper Blubber (John Houseman), "The Boy" (Paul Williams), Pepe Damascus (Dom DeLuise)-- who are also looking for the diamond eggs.
  • Rating:
    PG
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Directed By:
    Robert Moore
  • Written By:
    Neil Simon
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Columbia Pictures

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Cast

Peter Falk
as Lou Peckinpaugh
Ann-Margret
as Jezebel Dezire
Eileen Brennan
as Betty DeBoop
Sid Caesar
as Ezra Dezire
Stockard Channing
as Bess
James Coco
as Marcel
Dom DeLuise
as Pepe Damascus
Louise Fletcher
as Marlene DuChard
John Houseman
as Jasper Blubber
Madeline Kahn
as Mrs. Montenegro
Fernando Lamas
as Paul DuChard
Marsha Mason
as Georgia Merkle
Phil Silvers
as Hoppy
Abe Vigoda
as Sgt. Rizzuto
Paul Williams
as Boy
Nicol Williamson
as Col. Schissel
Emory Bass
as Butler
Carmine Caridi
as Sgt. Crosseti
James Cromwell
as Schnell
Scatman Crothers
as Tinker
David Ogden Stiers
as Captain
Vic Tayback
as Lt. DiMaggio
Carole Wells
as Hat-Check Girl
John Calvin
as Qvicker
Barry Michlin
as Bandleader
Richard Narita
Jonathan Banks
as Cabbie
Lew Gallo
as Cop
Lee McLaughlin
as Fat Man
Zale Kessler
as Courier
Jerrold Ziman
as Courier
Bella Bruck
as Scrub Woman
Henry Sutton
as Desk Clerk
Maurice Marks
as Doorman
Joe Ross
as Michel
Dean Perry
as Cab Driver
George Rondo
as Cab Driver
Joe E. Ross
as Michel
Ronald L. Schwary
as Cab Driver
Louis H. Kelly
as Croupier #1
Charles A. Bastin
as Croupier #2
Charles Bastin
as Croupier #2
Armando Gonzales
as Bartender
Gary L. Dyer
as Man in Crusades Bar
Steven Fisher
as Man in Crusades Bar
Laurie Hagen
as Elegant Lady
Wally K. Berns
as Floyd Merkle
Lee Menning
as Elegant Lady
Nancy Warren
as Elegant Lady
Nancy Marlowe Coyne
as Lady of the Night
Lynn Griffis
as Lady of the Night
Paula Friel
as Military Wife
Sheila Sisco
as Military Wife
Lauren Simon
as Military Wife
Cindy Lang
as Navy Wife
Tina Ritt
as Army Wife
David Matthau
as Military Man
Gary Alexander
as Military Man
Michele Bernath
as Dancer
George Simmons
as Detective
Joree Sirianni
as Cigarette Girl
Cornell Chulay
as German Singer
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Critic Reviews for The Cheap Detective

All Critics (15) | Top Critics (2)

View All Critic Reviews (15)

Audience Reviews for The Cheap Detective

  • May 30, 2013
    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.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Nov 08, 2011
    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.
    Tim S Super Reviewer
  • Sep 06, 2010
    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.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
  • Oct 22, 2009
    A laugh a minute!!!!
    Brody M Super Reviewer
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