Adventures of a Private Eye (1977, Christopher Neil, Suzy Kendall, Harry H Corbett, Diana Dors, Fred Emney, Liz Fraser, Irene Handl, Ian Lavender, Julian Orchard, Jon Pertwee, Adrienne Posta, Anna Quayle, William Rushton) – Classic Movie Review 10,412

Director Stanley A Long’s 1977 crime comedy Adventures of a Private Eye is the second of three turgid 70s Brit comedies, in the Confessions of… style, with Christopher Neil as private eye’s assistant Bob West, taking over from Barry Evans as Joe North in the original 1975 Adventures of a Taxi Driver.

While the private eye is away on holiday, his dim assistant Bob West tries to solve a case. Dim he may be, but he is advertised as ‘the clever dick who uncovers EVERYBODY!’

The script by Stanley A Long and Michael Armstrong is not very funny, but the good 70s cast helps a bit, especially Suzy Kendall, Harry H Corbett, Diana Dors as Mrs Horne, Fred Emney, Liz Fraser and Irene Handl as Miss Friggin.

As Lisa Moroni, Adrienne Posta’s impersonation of Lisa Minnelli is cruel and shameful.

Sequel: Adventures of a Plumber’s Mate (1978), with Christopher Neil back as randy plumber’s mate Sid South.

Also in the cast are Ian Lavender, Julian Orchard, Jon Pertwee, Adrienne Posta, Anna Quayle, William Rushton, Robin Stewart, Veronica Doran, Jonathan Adams, Richard Caldicot, Hilary Pritchard, Angela Scoular and Leon Greene.

It is Suzy Kendall’s last film to date.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,412

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