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The Cheap Detective

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The Cheap Detective
Theatrical poster
Directed byRobert Moore
Written byNeil Simon
Produced byRay Stark
Margaret Booth
Starring
CinematographyJohn A. Alonzo
Edited bySidney Levin
Michael A. Stevenson
Music byPatrick Williams
Production
companies
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release dates
  • June 23, 1978 (1978-06-23)
(USA)
  • September 14, 1978 (1978-09-14)
(Germany)
  • October 1978 (1978-10)
(UK)
Running time
92 minutes
CountriesUnited States
United Kingdom
Germany
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]

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

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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 twelve large egg-shaped diamonds. Vladimir Tserijemiwtz, who had the diamonds, is shot by his partner Marcel, who had been bleeding for 10 years. Peckinpaugh confronts those searching for the diamonds in his home, finding that the eggs concealed real baby chicks. A final confrontation between the protagonists and Col. Schlissel ensues at the waterfront.

Cast

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Reception

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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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  • Murder by Death – a 1976 film featuring Falk as a similar character (another Sam Spade parody) that was written by Simon and directed by Moore.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "AFI|Catalog".
  2. ^ "The Cheap Detective, Box Office Information". The Numbers. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c 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
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