The Private Eyes

source: The Private Eyes

Trailer—The Private Eyes

The Private Eyes

This is a wonderfully silly movie with just the right amount of "eek!" to delight even the youngest viewer. Don Knotts and Tim Conway are perfect as the bumbling detectives sent to crack the case, and the "Wookilar" is beyond funny. Truly a masterpiece....maybe. If you like them silly this is the movie for you.

I saw this as a kid and loved it. I watch it again and again with my kids now. No bad words (one is implied, but not spoken) totally clean for the whole family. One scary part for kids younger than 6 or so, if you want to censor it, have your kids leave the room when they go outside to dig up the body. You have plenty of warning, they are in the crypt for a while before the open the coffin. It is written by Tim Conway, and stars Tim Conway and Don Knotts. The plot isn't deep, but very light and funny. My favorite line is "for a short person, you have long sentences" so funny. They say I have to write 10 lines of text and I have nothing else to say, so now I am just filling space. Sorry, but all I really wanted to say was that it was a good movie. I don't really know how else to say that.

In the same era of true family entertainment movies like The Apple Dumpling Gang and Cloak and Dagger, I grew up watching this movie over and over again. Since Don Knott's recent death and subsequent attention, it seemed this movie was never mentioned. For whatever reason, I think it's terrific. Classic slap-stick for those of us who miss the days of real comedic screenplay, and also zero special affects on a mediocre budget makes it all the more real. The music is perfect and the Biltmore grounds even more so. If watching Threes Company reruns aren't enough to get your Don Knotts dose, then this movie is for you. We miss you Don!

Whether your a kid or adult, you'll love this one. Don knotts is classic alone, and even better and funnier when paired with Tim Conway. The gags are very funny, and it's also very clean and family-friendly. Just classic entertainment. I love the environment also, the Biltmore house is an awesome setting for this film. I also think all the other actors did a great job with their roles! Conway and Knotts are just a classic team, like a old version of amy pohler and Tina Fey. I love the twist ending too, as I always do! Laughs at every corner, awesome setting, smart dialogue, and cool effects makes for a great movie night at home one night!

Let me set the record straight right off the top. "The Private Eyes" is no comedy classic. But it is a fun film that will amuse adults and make kids laugh and shriek with delight. Tim Conway and Don Knotts play a couple of bumbling (what else?) Scotland Yard detectives assigned to investigate a murder at a castle in England (actually North Carolina). While in the castle they stumble across loads of creepy characters and situations. For anyone who has enjoyed this type of film ("Hold That Ghost" with Abbott and Costello, and "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" come to mind), "The Private Eyes" delivers the goods. Of course if you sit there and try to analyze it too deeply you are apt to dislike it. Just sit back with the family and have a good laugh.

If you haven't seen this flick, it is right up there with Young Frankenstein as the funniest of all time. Written by Tim Conway. Please note that the DVD is indeed edited. Some of the best gags with the pigeons were cut altogether in addition to some other dialouge scenes. These scenes are still available on the old Video Treasures VHS release that is available used. For those curious, the gag with the pigeon painted black/wings is cut, the pigeon catching fire is cut and the "Don't tell her they're canned peas!" scene was also cut. Unbelievable that Conway would let this happen to his only masterpiece.... Perhaps maybe we'll get an uncut DVD someday - yeah right - it's amazing this is out on DVD now. Saw this in the theater when I was young and went back the very next day to see it again. After that I waited for 10 years before it came on TV and it still holds up today. RIP Don Knotts, thanks for all of the laughter...

Don Knotts and Tim Conway are my favorite comedians. I liked this movie a great deal, mostly because they were in it together. They play off each other very well. The messed up poems (and Tim's apparent confusion) had me laughing so hard I was snorting. Tim's constant pigeon problems were quite funny as well. And no one can do 'scared' or 'cocky' funnier than Don. A true estimation of their talents was quoted early on in the movie when the gas station owner said, "Those are two 'idiots' what'll make their mark where ever they go.", just before the station blew up because of Don's cigar. I like the mark they've made with this movie and their other works as well.