Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9786300269330 Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC ISBN: 6300269337 Label: Warner Home Video Manufacturer: Warner Home Video Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Warner Home Video Release Date: March 28, 1995 Running Time: 94 minutes Studio: Warner Home Video Theatrical Release Date: 1977 Sales Rank: 37348
Amazon.com essential video: 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 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
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Fine Pairing of Art Carney and Lily Tomlin
"The Late Show" remains my favorite comedy/mystery film with wonderful leads, a fine supporting cast and excellent writing. Being somewhat in the Thin Man vein, there are moments of genuine suspense as ... Read More
Rating: - Excellent Detective Homage
I'm sure the powers that be didn't know how to market this quirky gem then or now. If you go to the video store they usually file it in the comedy section which is the furthest thing from the truth. For ... Read More
Rating: - A failed film noir
I purchased this film because of the rave reviews, on Amazon and elsewhere, and because of the two highly talented stars. What a jolt to discover that the film is a flop, a failed attempt to remake a film ... Read More
Rating: - An Endearing, First-Rate Murder Mystery
An endearing murder mystery, with great chemistry between Art Carney and Lily Tomlin. Carney is an aging, gruff private eye with a bad leg, a bleeding ulcer and a hearing aid. Tomlim is an off-kilter woman ... Read More
Rating: - BETTER A "LATE SHOW" THAN A NO-SHOW
"The Late Show" (1977), Robert Benton's valentine to the 1940's detective film genre has it all: the structure, the language, the grit and noir, plus something more--humor and heart. Long overlooked and drastically ... Read More
- Fine Pairing of Art Carney and Lily Tomlin
- A failed film noir