The Cheap Detective (1978): cast, story & where to watch
1978 · Film · ★ 6.4
Released in 1978, The Cheap Detective is a comedy, thriller, crime and mystery film directed by Robert Moore, running about 92 minutes. “He knows every cheap trick, cheap joke, cheap shot and cheap dame in the book.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. The Cheap Detective stars Peter Falk as Lou Peckinpaugh, Ann-Margret as Jezebel Dezire, Eileen Brennan as Betty DeBoop and Sid Caesar as Ezra Dezire, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, The Cheap Detective has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Cheap Detective page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Cheap Detective tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Cheap Detective (1978)?
- In US, The Cheap Detective is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Cheap Detective worth watching?
- The Cheap Detective holds an audience score of 6.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, thriller, crime and mystery. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Cheap Detective?
- The Cheap Detective stars Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar and Stockard Channing.
- When was The Cheap Detective released?
- The Cheap Detective was released in 1978, with a runtime of about 92 minutes.