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Trailer

The Cheap Detective

1978Movie1 h 32 minPG

57

DecentGoodWatch score

Rotten Tomatoes

A nostalgic, intriguing comedy movie about history and mystery.

Good for date night · friends night · party vibe

Where to watch

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Not for big ideas or scares.

Movies with

Story

He knows every cheap trick, cheap joke, cheap shot and cheap dame in the book.

A spoof of the entire 1940s detective genre. San Francisco private detective, Lou Pekinpaugh is accused of murdering his partner at the instigation of his mistress—his partner's wife.

Feels like

Detective Spoof
1940s Parody
Film Noir Homage
Satirical Comedy
Wordplay & Wit
Mystery Elements
Ensemble Cast
Fast-Paced Dialogue

Crew

Directed by: Robert Moore
Written by: Neil Simon
Produced by: Ray Stark
Music by: Patrick Williams

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 23, 1978 · 1 h 32 min · PG

Released: June 23, 1978
Runtime: 1 h 32 min
Age rating: PG
Content: Violence
Genres: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Original language: English
Also spoken: German
Made in: United States
Available in: 11 countries

Tropes

Affectionate Parody, The Chanteuse, Color Animal Codename +9

Affectionate Parody
The Chanteuse
Color Animal Codename
The Determinator
I Have Many Names
Love Dodecahedron
Locked into Strangeness
Who's on First?
Those Wacky Nazis
Even Evil Has Standards
No-Holds-Barred Beatdown
Serious Business

From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream The Cheap Detective?"

Questions about The Cheap Detective

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Cheap Detective?

In the United States, The Cheap Detective streams on Howdy, and it is free with ads on Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 2 other countries.

Is The Cheap Detective worth watching?

57

DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 57 (IMDb 6.4 and Rotten Tomatoes 53%).

Is The Cheap Detective okay for kids?

PGViolence

Not for young kids: it's rated PG in the United States for violence, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Will The Cheap Detective make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly sharp wit (8 of 10) and satire (8 of 10).

Can I half-watch The Cheap Detective?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 5 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it drop-in friendly.