The Cheap Detective

Neil Simon-scripted spoof of films based on Chandler/Hammett private eye novels, with Casablanca thrown in for bad measure. Designed as a follow-up to the scarcely more successful Murder by Death, it's the usual collection of quickfire one-liners punctuated by huge wads of unfunny padding. Buffs may amuse themselves by noting obvious references to The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, Farewell My Lovely and the like. The Cheap Idea might have been a better title.