The Cheap Detective
1978  PG  COMEDY  1h 32min
CAST— Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar, Stockard Channing, James Coco, Dom DeLuise, Louise Fletcher, John Houseman, Madeline Kahn, Fernando Lamas, Marsha Mason, Phil Silvers, Vic Tayback, Abe Vigoda, Paul Williams, Nicol Williamson, David Ogden Stiers
MUSIC— Patrick Williams  DIRECTOR— Robert Moore

     A hilarious script by Neil Simon and a good-natured performance by Peter Falk are the mainstays of this ever so silly spoof of Bogart films and the like. Falk plays a private detective whose partner has been murdered. But that only complicates matters. The real story here (if you can call it a story) is like this: Falk’s long lost love re-enters his life, husband in tow. They are now leaders in the French underground and they’ve come to America to open a French restaurant, or something, but the bill of sale has been stolen by the Germans. Falk must acquire the papers while simultaneously trying to locate a diamond necklace stolen from some other guy some years ago. Primarily a spoof of Casablanca (1942) and The Maltese Falcon (1941), this is a hit or miss comedy; not every joke catches fire though there are enough funny ones to keep one entertained.
OUR RATING— ** ½