The Most Tremendous Private Detective Comedies Starring Chevy Chase

The private detective comedy has a long, illustrious tradition. Placing a humorous spin on iconic roles from Humphrey Bogart and Fred MacMurray, the comedic detective can be just as hard boiled, but often teeters on the absurd. Outstanding examples include Elliot Gould as Philip Marlowe in Raymond Chandler’s The Long Goodbye, and James Garner in The Rockford Files.

But perhaps no one has inhabited the genre as thoroughly as Chevy Chase. Without further ado, here are the highlights of Chevy Chase’s career as a detective:

#1 Fletch

Why: Chase is hilarious in perhaps the funniest movie of all time. But what separates Fletch from its peers is that the story is so strong. Most Detective comedies focus too much on the comedy, and forget that you need a good mystery. But from the moment Mr. Stanwyck announces he will pay Fletch $50,000 to murder him, the guessing begins. Aided by unparalleled career turns from Tim Matheson, George Wendt, Joe Don Baker, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, and Larry Jenkins, Fletch is undeniably the greatest private detective comedy of Chase’s career.

Check out Decater's novel, available now at Amazon. Plus, don't forget his other books: They Both Love Vonnegut, Ahab's Adventures in Wonderland, and Picasso Painted Dinosaurs.