rigby reardon and private eye and run the gauntlet of hood and femmes fatales and crazed nazi a he investigate the death of beautiful juliet forrest father . who be the mysterious friend of carlotta . and why do rigby keep dress in woman clothes . and where do juliet learn to do that trick with her lip . this celebration of the black and white movie of the 1940 and 50 be a very clever and very amusing film . extract from celluloid classic be skilfully splice into the action ( check out the architectural detail on the doorframe in the alan ladd sequence ) . the film be a vehicle for martin comic talent and he carry it off beautifully . rachel ward a juliet be terrific represent she can hold her own with the screen goddess who so liberally populate the film ( bergman and davis and turner and crawford all make inserted appearance ) . a project like this could easily have come a cropper and but thanks to the brisk direction of carl reiner ( who have a great cameo ) and steve martin ability to dominate the screen and the movie be a resounding success . it also very funny .