Alright fellow tapeheads, settle into that comfy armchair, maybe dim the lights like you used to for a late-night rental discovery. Tonight, we're cracking open a case that’s less hard-boiled and more… well, scrambled. Let's rewind to 1978 and slide The Cheap Detective into the VCR. If you remember spotting this on the shelves, nestled perhaps between a serious thriller and a goofy comedy, you know it promised something… specific. And boy, did it deliver, albeit in a way only the minds behind Murder by Death could conjure.
### More Than Just a Rumpled Trench Coat
Stepping into the gumshoes of Lou Peckinpaugh is none other than the legendary Peter Falk, forever etched in our minds as Lieutenant Columbo. But forget the "just one more thing" routine. Here, Falk channels Humphrey Bogart with such commitment, playing a private eye caught in a whirlwind of femme fatales, convoluted plots, and dialogue so dense with puns and non-sequiturs it could make your head spin faster than a worn-out tape motor. It’s a testament to Falk's genius that Peckinpaugh feels distinct – a weary, wisecracking parody navigating a world built entirely of borrowed movie parts. This film arrived just two years after the similarly star-studded spoof Murder by Death, reuniting Falk with writer Neil Simon and director Robert Moore. They clearly found a formula they enjoyed: throw a bunch of charismatic stars into a genre blender and hit puree.
### A Case of Deja Vu All Over Again
The genius, and perhaps the initial hurdle, of The Cheap Detective lies in its source material. This isn't just a general noir spoof; it's a meticulously crafted, scene-by-scene, sometimes line-by-line parody primarily of The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca, with loving jabs at other Bogart classics thrown in for good measure. Remember finding this gem in the video store? Maybe you rented Casablanca the week before? If you knew those films intimately, watching The Cheap Detective felt like being in on the world's most elaborate inside joke. If not… well, you might have felt a bit lost in the fog, thick as the cigarette smoke perpetually hanging in Peckinpaugh's office.
Neil Simon’s script is relentless. The jokes come thick and fast, ranging from clever wordplay to sight gags to outright absurdity. There’s barely room to breathe between punchlines. Watching this on VHS, you might have found yourself hitting rewind just to catch a line you missed while still chuckling at the previous one. That slightly fuzzy, analogue warmth somehow felt right for a film intentionally mimicking the look and feel of 1940s Hollywood, albeit through a distinctly late-70s comedic lens. One wonders if Simon had a stack of Bogart VHS tapes (or maybe film reels back then!) playing constantly as he hammered out this script.
### A Rogues' Gallery of Familiar Faces
Beyond Falk, the cast is an embarrassment of riches, a veritable who's who of 70s comedic and dramatic talent seemingly having an absolute blast. Ann-Margret vamps it up magnificently as Jezebel Dezire, dripping allure and double-entendres. Eileen Brennan, fresh off her scene-stealing role in Murder by Death, returns as the sultry, sarcastic Betty DeBoop. Then you have Sid Caesar channeling Sydney Greenstreet, Dom DeLuise as a deliciously corrupt adversary, Stockard Channing doing her best Mary Astor, Madeline Kahn, James Coco, Phil Silvers… the list goes on. Each actor commits fully to their archetype parody, adding layers to the loving tribute. It’s reported that Simon wrote the parts specifically with many of these actors in mind, adding to the tailored feel of the comedy.
Robert Moore's direction keeps things moving at Simon’s breakneck pace, managing the large ensemble cast effectively. While not flashy, the cinematography captures the shadowy atmosphere of classic noir, using lighting and framing to both mimic and gently mock the originals. The sets, too, perfectly evoke those smoky cafes and dimly lit offices we know so well from the films being sent up. It wasn't about explosions or car chases here; the "action" was purely verbal, a machine-gun fire of gags and comebacks.
### Was It A Hit Back Then?
Upon release, The Cheap Detective did reasonably well at the box office, benefiting from the star power and the recent success of Murder by Death. Critical reception, however, was somewhat mixed, as is often the case with parodies. Some critics found it hilarious and clever, especially praising Falk, while others felt it relied too heavily on viewers' intimate knowledge of the source material and that the joke, stretched over 90 minutes, wore a little thin. For many of us discovering it later on home video, though, it became a cult favorite – a movie you’d recommend to fellow film buffs who appreciated not just a good laugh, but a deep-cut cinematic reference game.
This wasn't a film that redefined a genre, but it solidified Neil Simon's particular brand of ensemble parody. It sits comfortably alongside Airplane! (which arrived two years later) and the works of Mel Brooks as part of that golden age of spoof comedy, though Simon's approach was always more dialogue-driven and theatrical in structure.
Rating: 7/10
Justification: The Cheap Detective earns a solid 7 for its sheer comedic ambition, Peter Falk's brilliant central performance, and the dazzling ensemble cast clearly having a ball. Neil Simon's script is packed with gags, rewarding viewers familiar with Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon. However, its reliance on that familiarity means it's not quite as universally accessible as some other spoofs, and the relentless joke-a-second pace can occasionally feel exhausting rather than exhilarating. It’s a smart, funny, and affectionate parody that might require a little homework for maximum enjoyment.
Final Take: A lovingly crafted parody puzzle box found on the comedy shelves of yesteryear; maybe not the crown jewels, but a delightful discovery for anyone who ever hummed "As Time Goes By" while rewinding a Bogart classic on tape. Play it again, Sam... or rather, Lou.