The Private Eyes (1981)

The Private Eyes (1981)

When Inspector Winship (Don Knots) and Dr. Tart (Tim Conway) go to investigate a particular door in order to snag some cigars out of the late Lord Morley’s cigar room, they find it is protected by a guard dog. In shock they back up into a wall into a secret room. This is one of the funny moments in the film where Winship and Tart are investigating the murder of Lord Morley and his wife.

And there are plenty of laughs and interesting gags. Every time Dr. Tart sends one of his carrier pigeons out to inform Scotland Yard, it manages to crash into a window or get killed in some way. Despite these gags and a few others, one including the two blowing up a gas station, it overall is not a great amusing film.
This is in spite of the interesting murder suspects. A samurai wilding cook, a hunchback servant of some kind, a crazy butler, a airhead French maid and a high-spirited gypsy. It overall is just not a funny film despite the combined talents of Conway & Knots. They prove in ‘The Apple Dumpling Gang’ that they can be a comedy team to be reckoned with. Here they prove that the opposite is just as true.

Not the worst movie comedy by far, but not the greatest by far as well. Maybe worth a rental. It is a tame comedy for the most part, although Knots and Conway try to look in at a woman through peep holes in a painting at her undressing, might be something to keep in mind if you show it to little ones. Nothing is shown but the idea is there. Besides that it is pretty kid friendly minus the not so intelligent and not so witty script. Make sure you try ‘The Apple Dumpling Gang’ and ‘ADG Rides Again’ before resorting to ‘The Private Eyes’. Happy sleuthing.