a one joke movie but it a great joke . 1940s gumshoe rigby reardon { steve martin } get a visit by sultry client rachel ward whose father have go miss . then the fun begin . set in and around 40 la and this film combine martin interact with clip of character and scene from classic 40 noir . he get advice from marlowe the actual clip of bogart be show and flawlessly insert into the film . along the way and he get to interact with alan ladd { this gun for hire } and barbara stanwick and fred mac murray { from double indemnity } and burt lancaster { from the killer } and cagney { the prison scene from white heat } cary grant { from suspicion } edward arnold and bette davis and charles laughton and etc . this film work like a charm because it parody the noir that it spoof in a lovable and respectable way . it be never hold up to ridicule . the beautiful black and white photography and costume design by the late great edith head all work a one . the end be a riot . if director reiner play a nazi with a bogus german accent doesn not make you laugh and hothing will . it all there the seedy office and the rainy night and the 40 car and and the typical noir jargon that make these film great . ir will probably appeal more to film buff than the average viewer and but thats ok. martin have never be good and rachel ward be a knockout too . great fun .