The Cheap Detective

Last updated
The Cheap Detective
Cheap detective.jpg
Theatrical poster
Directed by Robert Moore
Written by Neil Simon
Produced by Ray Stark
Margaret Booth
Starring
Cinematography John A. Alonzo
Edited bySidney Levin
Michael A. Stevenson
Music by Patrick Williams
Production
companies
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • June 23, 1978 (1978-06-23)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
German
Budget$5-6 million [1]
Box office$28,221,552 [2]

The Cheap Detective is a 1978 American mystery comedy film written by Neil Simon and directed by Robert Moore. [3]

Contents

It stars Peter Falk as Lou Peckinpaugh, a parody of Humphrey Bogart. [3] The film is a parody of Bogart films such as Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon . [3]

The ensemble cast includes Madeline Kahn, Louise Fletcher, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, Stockard Channing, Marsha Mason, Sid Caesar, John Houseman, Dom DeLuise, Abe Vigoda, James Coco, Phil Silvers, Fernando Lamas, Nicol Williamson, Scatman Crothers, Vic Tayback and Paul Williams. [4]

Plot

Lou Peckinpaugh (Peter Falk), a bumbling San Francisco private detective, tries to prove himself innocent of his partner's murder while helping a bizarre array of characters recover a lost treasure. A large number of people are murdered in crazy death poses before he finds out from Pepe Damascus that they were all after a large egg-shaped diamond. Vladimir Korsokovowitz, who had the diamond, is shot by his partner Marcel in the theft and dies after having been bleeding for 10 years. At the end everyone confronts Peckinpaugh in his office to find that the diamond was actually a real egg.

Cast

Reception

The film grossed $5,113,743 in its opening weekend from 648 theaters, finishing third for the weekend behind Grease and Jaws 2 in their second weekends. [5] Film critic Roger Ebert stated that "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." [6]

A number of critics gave the film very positive reviews: The Fresno Bee noted that "Neil Simon has done it again. Written a film that is funny, entertaining, and a treat for old movie buffs." [7]

Ed Mintz founded CinemaScore in 1979 after disliking The Cheap Detective despite being a fan of Neil Simon and hearing another disappointed attendee wanting to hear the opinions of ordinary people instead of critics. [8]

See also

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References

  1. "AFI|Catalog".
  2. "The Cheap Detective, Box Office Information". The Numbers . Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 Canby, Vincent (June 23, 1978). "Screen: Simon's 'Cheap' Detective':Everybody Revisited". The New York Times .
  4. TV Guide
  5. "'Jaws 2', 'Grease', Get Hot Rival, 'Cheap Detective'". Variety . June 28, 1978. p. 6.
  6. Roger Ebert.com
  7. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82821788/the-cheap-detective/. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  8. Lawrence, Christopher (2016-08-30). "Las Vegan's polling company keeps tabs on Hollywood". Vegas Voices (story series). Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  9. We Recommend Eight Movies to Watch After Clue|Film School Rejects