The Cheap Detective (1978)

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Great Film! Funny and "proper" ... people cared about the way they dressed and talked to their fellow man or woman in the time period of the movie (1940s), they were NOT distracted with modern technology, they were NOT in a hurry like modern people, they had time to "LIVE" in the "MOMENT" and enjoy it, the script or conversation of the film shows this very nicely, the whole atmosphere of the film as created in the studio with all the props and the clothes worn by the actors were a great match for the script and dialog of the movie!-tibor

I found this movie to be extremely funny. The movie is loaded with iconic actors. It parodies several Bogart films with great humor. The dialogue's are sometimes a little obtuse if you don't know which movies they are coming from. Mostly older film noir movies before a lot of people were born. Peter Falk gets the lead here and is very good as a Bogie impersonator. Several women come and go through out the film, always interacting with Falk and they supply a lot of the funny lines and lead ins. There are just so many actors in this that I could probably fill the line requirement just listing them but I think Madeline Kahn, John Houseman, and Dom DeLuise deserve a mention. At the end it is learned that all the bodies are the result of one widow's (after she kills her husband) poor shooting. She is trying to bump off the women who come in contact with Falk and shoots like a blind person.

Meaning the creators of Airplane obviously. The dialogue in this one is so reminiscent of Airplane. That would mean since this one came out a full 2 years before Airplane did, those guys musta saw this one and said, "That's the dialogue we need." I wonder if Neil Simon ever got a call up with either of them saying, "Hey, thanks for Cheap Detective, it made or careers." LOL The only difference in the 2 movies is that this one is a stinker. The screenplay was just not very well done. Louise Fletcher was so miscast in this its just a slap in the face. She was dry as a bone in this. Almost painful to watch. Peter Falk is a character in everything he does, but even he couldn't save this one. Airplane got a lot of things connected all at once whereas this just had the snappy dialogue. Simon shoulda went on vacation somewhere and gave this script a few more weeks/months, it would have helped.

Following closely on the heels of the hilarious "Murder By Death" and using a few of the same actors, is Neil Simon's classic spoof and tribute to the film noir detective pictures of Humphrey Bogart. With the comedy talents of Peter Falk, Madeline Kahn, James Coco, Paul Williams and many more the combined spoof of "Casablanca," "The Maltese Falcon" and "San Francisco" are a true screen gem. As always, the film features the witty dialog of Neil Simon, who captures the flavor and pokes gentle fun at those films. There are also several running gags throughout the film such as the miserliness of Falk's character, from which the movie gets its title. Falk perfectly deflates the characters played by Bogie in the afore mentioned films, while Madeline Kahn is over the top as the mysterious women with a different name each time he sees her. Louise Fletcher films in perfectly as the heroine from Casablanca, while Fernando Lamas is her resistance fighter husband. And John Houseman shines as the double of the Sidney Greenstreet Character. Finally there is Niccol Williamson as the Nazi colonel from Casablanca. If you love good comedy, or enjoyed those Bogart movies, this is the perfect film for you