The Cheap Detective (1978)
Overview · Where to watch · Cast & crew · Reviews
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.
- Released: 1978-06-23
- Genres: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- Status: Released
- TMDB rating: 6.3/10 from 109 votes
Directed by Robert Moore.
Top 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
Where to watch The Cheap Detective
- United States: stream on Howdy Amazon Channel; watch free on Tubi TV; rent on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home; buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- United Kingdom: rent on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube; buy on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- India: rent on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video; buy on Apple TV Store
- Canada: rent on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video; buy on Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video
- Australia: rent on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube; buy on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Movies like The Cheap Detective
If you enjoyed The Cheap Detective, these movies have a similar feel:
- Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)
- Zero Effect (1998)
- Psych: The Movie (2017)
- The Thursday Murder Club (2025)
- Who's Harry Crumb? (1989)
- The Big Fix (1978)
- The Naked Gun (2025)
- How to Rob a Bank (2007)
- Johnny Dangerously (1984)
- National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 (1993)
- High Anxiety (1977)
- Foul Play (1978)
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