The Cheap Detective

Starring: Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, et al.

Product Description

THE CHEAP DETECTIVE is a hilarious Humphrey Bogart send-up, blending the plots of Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon with the comedic vision of Neil Simon. Peter Falk is Lou Peckingpaugh, the worldly,cynical gumshoe who takes on thugs, crooks, Nazis, femme fatales and the Golden Gate Bridge in thisterrific tribute to Bogie and the Hammett/Chandler school of hard-boiled detectives. An incredible ensemble cast does take-offs of characters made famous by Mary Astor (Madeline Kahn), Sidney Greenstreet (John Houseman), Lauren Bacall (Ann-Margret), Peter Lorre (Dom DeLuise), Ingrid Bergman (LouiseFletcher), and Paul Henreid (Fernando Lamas). Want more? How about Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar, PhilSilvers, Nicol Williamson, James Coco, and Scatman Crothers - just a few of the many cast members who add to the merriment. THE CHEAP DETECTIVE is the perfect entertainment for anyone who loves Bogart, films of the forties, or a good healthy laugh.

• Format: DVD
• Language: English
• UPC: 043396903999
• Release Date: March 2002
• Rating: PG
• Publisher: Columbia TriStar Home Video - Mill Creek Entertainment
• Director: Robert Moore
• Starring: Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar, Stockard Channing, James Coco, Dom DeLuise, Louise Fletcher, John Houseman, Madeline Kahn
• Runtime: 1 hour, 32 minutes
• Weight: 0.26 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Bordering

This film is a detective spoof that attempts to mix characters and stories from films such as “Casablanca” (1942) and “The Maltese Falcon” (1941). All the characters are played by well-known actors. Some of the actors could have challenged the originals. One line I will have to use by Lou Peckinpaugh (Peter Falk) to the cab driver, “No tip, I’m a war veteran.” This formula worked better in “Murder by Death” (1976); however, in this movie, they tried too hard and missed the target. The puns and sight gags were old hat or targeted to too small an audience. The train of thought could not focus long enough to be funny. If you like detective farces with well-known actors, you may want to watch “Clue” (1985).