The Late Show (1977) starring Art Carney, Lily Tomlin, Bill Macy, Eugene Roche, Joanna Cassidy, John Considine
Semi-retired hard-boiled detective (Art Carney) is drawn back into action when his longtime partner is shot to death while searching for the kidnapped cat of a kooky Los Angeles woman (Lily Tomlin).
Review
Lily Tomlin plays a ditzy lady, who hires him to find her missing cat. Her character’s more than a little brain fried from smoking pot. She’s one of those people who aren’t quite in sync with the world around her.
The Late Show is a murder mystery. It’s well acted, with some interesting characters. Although the scene with an elderly Art Carney beating up a criminal’s henchman with his bare hands stretches credulity.
Editorial review of The Late Show courtesy of Amazon.com
Aging private eye Ira Wells (Academy Award winner* Art Carney) has agreed to help a Hollywood kook named Margo (Lily Tomlin) locate her missing cat. Little does he know he’s got a tiger by the tail. Written and directed by three-time Oscar winner* Robert Benton (Kramer vs. Kramer), The Late Show is a brilliant, funny and gutsy modern-day homage to ’40s detective thrillers. Like his contemporaries Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade, gimpy-legged Ira’s one of the great ones (Carney won the 1977 National Society of Film Critics Best Actor Award for his work here). Will this one last case – and this one flaky lady – give him one last chance to prove it? Stay up with The Late Show and solve the mystery!
Cast of characters
- Art Carney (Harry and Tonto; The Honeymooners episode guide) … Ira Wells
- Lily Tomlin (All of Me; 9 to 5) … Margo Sterling
- Bill Macy … Charlie Hatter
- Eugene Roche … Ron Birdwell
- Joanna Cassidy (Blade Runner) … Laura Birdwell
- John Considine (The Greatest Story Ever Told) … Jeff Lamar
- Ruth Nelson (Mother Wore Tights) … Mrs. Schmidt
- John Davey … Sergeant Dayton
- Howard Duff (The Naked City) … Harry Regan
