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.

Peter Falk
as Lou Peckinpaugh

Ann-Margret
as Jezebel Dezire

Eileen Brennan
as Betty DeBoop

Sid Caesar
as Ezra Dezire

Stockard Channing
as Bess

James Coco
as Marcel

Dom DeLuise
as Pepe Damascus

Louise Fletcher
as Marlene DuChard

John Houseman
as Jasper Blubber

Madeline Kahn
as Mrs. Montenegro