Art Carney, Bill Macy, Eugene Roche

Writer-director Robert Benton, who examined a similar story in 1998's "Twilight," first explored the territory of the geriatric private eye in this sadly underrated 1977 delight. Art Carney stars as a...( read more  read more... ) nearly retired detective who suddenly finds himself caught up in two seemingly separate cases. One involves the murder of his former partner (Howard Duff); the other entangles him with a flaky post-hippie (Lily Tomlin), who wants him to find her missing cat. The two cases eventually dovetail, but the plot--which leads them to a Hollywood crime bigwig played by the affable Eugene Roche--is of less interest than the almost magical chemistry between the crotchety Carney and the wonderfully off-the-wall Tomlin. The perfect film for anyone who likes their mysteries in the Dashiell Hammett/Raymond Chandler mode. --Marshall Fine

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74% liked it

891 ratings

PG, 93 min.

Directed by: Robert Benton

Release Date: February 10, 1977

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DVD Release Date: March 30, 2004

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Flixster Reviews (36)


  • December 20, 2008
    Charming crime comedy with Carney and Tomlin a wonderfully off beat pair, their chemistry makes this a delight. A real sleeper.
  • November 26, 2008
    nominated for best picture by NBR
  • April 29, 2007
    It's late. That's a tardy. At my school you'd have to go to the office.

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