IMDb >
The Cheap Detective (1978)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Cheap Detective (1978) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 10 | slideshow) |
Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Neil Simon (written by)
Release Date:
23 June 1978 (USA)
more
Tagline:
Who dunnit? This time it's Neil Simon who's really dunnit. more
Plot:
San Francisco, 1940, detectives, dames, documents, Nazis, and a treasure. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
Smart humor. Almost too smart.
more (41 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Peter Falk | ... | Lou Peckinpaugh | |
| Ann-Margret | ... | Jezebel Dezire | |
| Eileen Brennan | ... | Betty DeBoop | |
| Sid Caesar | ... | Ezra Dezire | |
| Stockard Channing | ... | Bess | |
| James Coco | ... | Marcel | |
| Dom DeLuise | ... | Pepe Damascus | |
| Louise Fletcher | ... | Marlene DuChard | |
| John Houseman | ... | Jasper Blubber | |
| Madeline Kahn | ... | Mrs. Montenegro | |
| Fernando Lamas | ... | Paul DuChard | |
| Marsha Mason | ... | Georgia Merkle | |
| Phil Silvers | ... | Hoppy | |
| Abe Vigoda | ... | Sergeant Rizzuto | |
| Paul Williams | ... | Boy |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Neil Simon's The Cheap Detective (USA) (complete title)
more
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
92 min
Country:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
'Madeline Kahn' 'qv' 's character uses 16 names: Denise Manderley, Wanda Coleman, Gilda Dabney, Chloe LaMarr, Alma Chalmers, Alma Palmers, Vivian Purcell, Carmen Montenegro, Diane Glucksman, Mrs. Danvers, Natasha Ublenskaya, Sophie DeVega, Mary Jones, Lady Edwina Morgan St. Paul, Norma Shearer, and Barbara Stanwyck. The name used most is Mrs. Montenegro.
more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: The movie takes place in 1939, yet the song sung in the nightclub is 'La Vie En Rose' which was not written until 1946.
more
Quotes:
Jasper Blubber:
We should leave separately. Makes more sense if I go first.
Lou Peckinpaugh: Why is that?
Jasper Blubber: Then I don't get stuck with the check.
more
Lou Peckinpaugh: Why is that?
Jasper Blubber: Then I don't get stuck with the check.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofs A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
more
Soundtrack:
Mimi
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (41 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Cheap Detective (1978)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Where's Phil Silvers? | tgibbs279 |
| Jezebel Dezire | johnnyb94109 |
| Cut scenes -- and characters? | ccoutroulos |
| I Swallowed My Gum | arnomation |
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The Maltese Falcon | The Black Bird | Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid | Dragnet | Charlie Chan at Treasure Island |
|
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |














"The Cheap Detective," as others have observed, is a sendup of two of Bogart's most famous films. The film's opening sequence sets the stage of the humor styleings which acts as both a setup and warning for the casual viewer.
The humor is smart, but almost too clever for its own good. It's funny, but you almost have to be a Neil Simon fan (or at least in tune with his writing style) to really get the gags. Not entirely true, because if you keep an open mind, and understand all or most of the references, you should have a good time :-)
Otherwise the film might go over your head, or rather you'll understand that there's supposed to be a joke at a certain moment, but won't get the entire gist because you might be unfamiliar with the material being referenced. Hence the reason why I called the film almost too clever for its own good.
It helps to be familiar with both "Casablanca" and "The Maltese Falcon" to really get all of the "in-stuff" within Simon's film. Even so there's a good amount of regular humor that should help boost the appeal to those already in the know, and at the same time salvage a film for those not.
And yeah, Anne Margaret never looked better :-)
A fairly good watch, but not for everyone.