The Cheap Detective
Period comedy. San Francisco, 1940. Clumsy gumshoe Lou Peckinpaugh is accused of murdering his partner, whose wife has been Peckinpaugh's mistress. A parody of The MALTESE FALCON, CASABLANCA, The BIG SLEEP and others 1940s films.
Cast & credits
Cast
- Lou Peckinpaugh Peter Falk
- Jezebel Dezire Ann-margret
- Betty DeBoop Eileen Brennan
- Ezra Dezire Sid Caesar
- Bess Duffy Stockard Channing
- Marcel James Coco
- Pepe Damascus Dom Deluise
- Marlene DuChard Louise Fletcher
- Jasper Blubber John Houseman
- Mrs Montenegro Madeline Kahn
- Paul DuChard Fernando Lamas
- Georgia Merkle Marsha Mason
- Hoppy Phil Silvers
- Sergeant Rizzuto Abe Vigoda
- Boy Paul Williams
- Colonel Schlissel Nicol Williamson
- butler Emory Bass
- Sergeant Crosseti Carmine Caridi
- Schnell James Cromwell
- Tinker Scatman Crothers
- captain David Ogden Stiers
- Lieutenant Frank DiMaggio Vic Tayback
- hatcheck girl Carole Wells
- Qvicker John Calvin
- bandleader Barry Michlin
- cabbie Jonathan Banks
- cop Lew Gallo
- fat man Lee Mclaughlin
- courier Zale Kessler
- courier Jerry Ziman
- Floyd Merkle Wally Berns
- scrub woman Bella Bruck
- desk clerk Henry Sutton
- doorman Maurice Marks
- Michel Joe Ross
- cab driver Dean Perry
- cab driver George Rondo
- cab driver Ronald L. Schwary
- 1st croupier Louis H. Kelly
- 2nd croupier Charles Bastin
- bartender Armando Gonzalez
- man in Crusades Bar Gary L. Dyer
- man in Crusades Bar Steven Fisher
- elegant lady Laurie Hagen
- elegant lady Lee Menning
- elegant lady Nancy Warren
- lady of the night Nancy Marlowe Coyne
- lady of the night Lynn Griffis
- military wife Paula Friel
- military wife Sheila Sisco
- military wife Lauren Simon
- navy wife Cindy Lang
- army wife Tina Ritt
- military man David Matthau
- dancer Gary Alexander
- dancer Michele Bernath
- reporter George Simmons
- cigarette girl Joree Sirianni
- German singer Cornell Chulay
Credits
Direction
- Directed by Robert Moore
- Assistant Director John C. Chulay
- Assistant Director (2nd) Steve Perry
- Script Supervisor H. Bud Otto
Production
- Production Company Rastar Productions
- Produced by Ray Stark
- Associate Producer Margaret Booth
- Unit Production Manager Ronald L. Schwary
- Auditor Vince Martinez
- Assistant to the Producer Frank Bueno
- Production Secretary Mary Cay Hollander
Casting
- Casting Jennifer Shull
Writing
- Written by Neil Simon
Photography
- Director of Photography John A. Alonzo
- Camera Operator Reynaldo Villalobos
- Gaffer Jim Plannette
- Key Grip Gary Dodd
Stills
- Stills by Mel Traxel
Special Effects
- Special Effects Augie Lohman
Editing
- Edited by Sidney Levin
- Edited by Michael A. Stevenson
- Assistant Editor John Brice
- Assistant Editor Barbara Dunning
Design
- Production Designer Robert Luthardt
- Art Director Phil Bennett
- Set Decorator Chuck Pierce
- [Production Illustrator] Nikita Knatz
- Property Master Terry Lewis
Costumes
- Costumes Designed by Theoni V. Aldredge
- Assistant to Theoni Aldredge Donna Thomas
- Men's Costumer John Anderson
- Women's Costumer Agnes G. Henry
- Assistant Men's Costumer Dean Skipworth
- Assistant Women's Costumer Shirlee Strahm
Make-up
- Make-up Supervision Charles Schram
- Make-up Joseph Dibella
- Hair Stylist Kathryn L. Blondell
Titles
- Title Design by Wayne Fitzgerald
Music
- Music by Patrick Williams
- Orchestration Herbert W. Spencer
- Orchestration Billy May
- Musical Supervisor Stewart Levine
- Music Editor Erma Levin
Sound
- Sound Mixer Al Overton Jr
- Re-recording William McCaughey
- Re-recording Michael J. Kohut
- Re-recording Lyle Burbridge
- Sound Editor Gene Eliot
Consultant
- Transportation Ronald Riner
- Transportation John Matt
- Dialogue Coach George Rondo
Publicity
- Unit Publicist Marykay Powell