The Cheap Detective(1978)
He knows every cheap trick, cheap joke, cheap shot and cheap dame in the book.
The Cheap Detective Synopsis
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.
The Cheap Detective (1978) is a comedy, crime and mystery film directed by Robert Moore, released on June 23, 1978 with a runtime of 1h 32m. It stars Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan and Sid Caesar. Viewers rate it 6.3 out of 10 across 109 ratings.
- Director:
- Robert Moore
- Writers:
- Neil Simon
- Producers:
- Ray Stark
- Cinematographer:
- John A. Alonzo
- Composer:
- Patrick Williams
- Production:
- Columbia Pictures, EMI Films, Rastar Productions
- Status:
- Released
The Cheap Detective (1978) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for The Cheap Detective before you stream it.
The Cheap Detective Cast & Crew
Main cast
Peter Falk
as Lou Peckinpaugh
Ann-Margret
as Jezebel Dezire
Eileen Brennan
as Betty DeBoop
Sid Caesar
as Ezra Dezire
Stockard Channing
as Bess
James Coco
as Marcel
Dom DeLuise
as Pepe Damascus
Louise Fletcher
as Marlene DuChard
John Houseman
as Jasper Blubber
Madeline Kahn
as Mrs. Montenegro
Fernando Lamas
as Paul DuChard
Marsha Mason
as Georgia Merkle
Key crew
Directed by Robert Moore, written by Neil Simon, produced by Ray Stark.
Explore more Comedy titles
The Cheap Detective Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 6.3/10 from 109 ratings.
You may also like
Zero Effect
1998
Psych: The Movie
2017
The Thursday Murder Club
2025
The Naked Gun
2025
Who's Harry Crumb?
1989
The Big Fix
1978
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
1993
Foul Play
1978
Johnny Dangerously
1984
Batman and Harley Quinn
2017
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
1988
Psych 3: This Is Gus
2021
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
1994
Shadow of the Thin Man
1941
The Baker
2007
The Other Guys
2010
Psych 2: Lassie Come Home
2020
Porridge
1979
Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie
2023
The Man Who Knew Too Little
1997
Movies similar to The Cheap Detective
Attack of the Flesh Devouring Space Worms from Space
1998
The Cobblers of Umbridge
1973
Cunk on Life
2024
Superfast!
2015
The Villain Still Pursued Her
1940
Dirty Vivancos III
2002
Peeping Times
1978
Head of the Family
1996
The Willie Witch Projects
1999
Not Another Celebrity Movie
2013
Transylmania
2009
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
1991
The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking
2017
Mental Poise
1938
Michael and Madonna
1990
Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV
2001
The Horribly Slow Murderer with the Extremely Inefficient Weapon
2008
The Bag Witch Project
1999
Chinese Odyssey 2002
2002
2gether
2000
The Cheap Detective – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The Cheap Detective online?
+
The Cheap Detective (1978) is available to stream on Howdy Amazon Channel, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in The Cheap Detective?
+
The main cast of The Cheap Detective (1978) includes Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar and Stockard Channing. The film was directed by Robert Moore. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was The Cheap Detective released?
+
The Cheap Detective was released on June 23, 1978 and runs for 1h 32m.
Is The Cheap Detective worth watching?
+
The Cheap Detective (1978) holds an average rating of 6.3 out of 10 from 109 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy comedy, crime and mystery films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for The Cheap Detective?
+
Yes. The official The Cheap Detective trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.