The Cheap Detective (1978)
Director: Robert Moore
Starring: Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan
Synopsis:
A private detective suspected of murdering his partner gets caught up in several conflicting plots.
Impressions:
Director Robert Moore and writer Neil Simon return to make a spiritual successor to Murder By Death with Peter Falk basically doing the same parody of hardboiled PIs. The movie is primarily a mashup of Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon. While you don't have to see these movies beforehand, it definitely helps. There's a high density of jokes, both verbal and visual, so much that you should be chuckling consistently from beginning to end. Besides Falk's first-rate performance, I want to note the impressive impersonations of Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet by Dom DeLuise and John Houseman. A lot of the humor may go over your head if you're not a fan of film noir and the films being parodied, but I think there's still enough to enjoy yourself regardless. If you liked Murder By Death and the subject matter being parodied, it's absolutely a must-watch.
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