"...This has nothing to do with our story. Our story starts in a fictitious city called San Francisco...seven thousand miles away from Casablanca."
"There's four bodies in here, three of them as cold as yesterday's toast, the last one is ready to pop up."-Sgt. Rizzuto (played by Abe Vigoda)
"If they had a radio to listen to, those two kids would be alive today."-Lt. DiMaggio (Vic Tayback)
There's a great opening to this detective spoof built around the detective Lou Peckinpaugh (Peter Falk) whose partner Floyd Merkle is found dead along with other individuals in a San Francisco Chinatown hotel. Lou comes under suspicion right away as he has been having a longtime affair with Floyd's wife Georgia Merkle (Marsha Mason). In fact Lou is quite the ladies man as he collects this bevy of beauties who want him...the singer Betty DeBoop (Eileen Brennan) who we meet at a Casablanca spoof performing Edith Piaf's big hit 'La Vie en rose' only she's not singing it...she's 'la-la'-ing her way through it, his young secretary Bess (played by Stockard Channing), Marlene DuChard (Louise Fletcher), the vampy Jezebel Dezire (Ann-Margaret), and Denise Mandalay-Wanda Coleman-Gilda Dabne-Chloe Lamar-Amma Chalmers-Alma Palmers-Vivian Purcell-Almon Montenegro-Diane Glocksman-Miss DeVega-Mary Jones-Lady Gweneth Morgan St. Paul who was a client of his partner and just can't give a straight answer as to what her real name is (Madeline Kahn).
"I think I have some information regarding the untimely death of your late deceased murdered partner."-Floyd's client "Who is this?"-Lou "As the Chinese say, 'never mind'. We must be careful I'm being watched. Can we meet in your office in fifteen minutes?"-Floyd's client "Alright, what time is it now?"-Lou "I'd rather not tell you that until I know I can trust you."-Floyd's client
Top shelf comedy cast that is too numerous to mention, with it's jazzy detective soundtrack and loaded with great lines, what really sets this film apart is all of the really wonderful references and not just to the classics like Casablanca...but there are more subtle references, like the one to the film Grease which was released the same year in the following...
"Go ahead and thank me, Lou. Thank me here, now. You don't know how long I've waited for a really good thanks."-Bess "Are you tryin' to tel me..."-Lou "Yes. I know I look like I have been around, but I've never been thanked in my whole life."-Bess "You sweet, silly kid. Why haven't I ever noticed you before?"-Lou
I really enjoyed the Running gag..."sorry, no tip. War veteran.", "No tip, death in the family."...it was pretty funny and every time it was a different excuse from our frugal detective.
Fans of spoofs, particularly those who are also fans of classic detective films and Casablanca will enjoy this film immensely. It is a little dated, but still really fun to see once. I loved the costuming...especially the women's wear and the duplication of scenes from Casablanca.
"There's four bodies in here, three of them as cold as yesterday's toast, the last one is ready to pop up."-Sgt. Rizzuto (played by Abe Vigoda)
"If they had a radio to listen to, those two kids would be alive today."-Lt. DiMaggio (Vic Tayback)
There's a great opening to this detective spoof built around the detective Lou Peckinpaugh (Peter Falk) whose partner Floyd Merkle is found dead along with other individuals in a San Francisco Chinatown hotel. Lou comes under suspicion right away as he has been having a longtime affair with Floyd's wife Georgia Merkle (Marsha Mason). In fact Lou is quite the ladies man as he collects this bevy of beauties who want him...the singer Betty DeBoop (Eileen Brennan) who we meet at a Casablanca spoof performing Edith Piaf's big hit 'La Vie en rose' only she's not singing it...she's 'la-la'-ing her way through it, his young secretary Bess (played by Stockard Channing), Marlene DuChard (Louise Fletcher), the vampy Jezebel Dezire (Ann-Margaret), and Denise Mandalay-Wanda Coleman-Gilda Dabne-Chloe Lamar-Amma Chalmers-Alma Palmers-Vivian Purcell-Almon Montenegro-Diane Glocksman-Miss DeVega-Mary Jones-Lady Gweneth Morgan St. Paul who was a client of his partner and just can't give a straight answer as to what her real name is (Madeline Kahn).
"I think I have some information regarding the untimely death of your late deceased murdered partner."-Floyd's client "Who is this?"-Lou "As the Chinese say, 'never mind'. We must be careful I'm being watched. Can we meet in your office in fifteen minutes?"-Floyd's client "Alright, what time is it now?"-Lou "I'd rather not tell you that until I know I can trust you."-Floyd's client
Top shelf comedy cast that is too numerous to mention, with it's jazzy detective soundtrack and loaded with great lines, what really sets this film apart is all of the really wonderful references and not just to the classics like Casablanca...but there are more subtle references, like the one to the film Grease which was released the same year in the following...
"Go ahead and thank me, Lou. Thank me here, now. You don't know how long I've waited for a really good thanks."-Bess "Are you tryin' to tel me..."-Lou "Yes. I know I look like I have been around, but I've never been thanked in my whole life."-Bess "You sweet, silly kid. Why haven't I ever noticed you before?"-Lou
I really enjoyed the Running gag..."sorry, no tip. War veteran.", "No tip, death in the family."...it was pretty funny and every time it was a different excuse from our frugal detective.
Fans of spoofs, particularly those who are also fans of classic detective films and Casablanca will enjoy this film immensely. It is a little dated, but still really fun to see once. I loved the costuming...especially the women's wear and the duplication of scenes from Casablanca.