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The Late Show

Play trailer Poster for The Late Show PG,  1977,  1h 34m,  Comedy/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 95% 41 Reviews Tomatometer 77% 1,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Private detective Ira Wells (Art Carney) isn't getting any younger. He's also barely staying in business. So when Ira's former partner, Harry, is killed, Ira vows to not only take on Harry's last job, but also find his friend's murderer. While trying to crack Harry's case, Ira is introduced to Margo (Lily Tomlin), an eccentric pot-selling agent who wants to hire him to find her cat. Desperate for the work, Ira takes on the pet search and winds up with an unexpected new partner in Margo.
The Late Show

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Deft direction from Robert Benton and a perfect pair in Art Carney and Lily Tomlin make The Late Show a solidly savory neo-noir treat.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker Jan 23, 2024
The Late Show is fast and exciting, but it isn't a thriller, exactly. It's a one of a kind movie -- a love hate poem to sleaziness. Go to Full Review
Kathleen Carroll New York Daily News Jun 14, 2021
3/4
Writer-director Benton has fashioned two richly human characters, and the talents of Art Carney and Lily Tomlin take them from there, making both roles not only believable but irresistible as well. Go to Full Review
Susan Stark Detroit Free Press Jun 14, 2021
The film's striking originality, as well as its emotional force, stems from the two personalities that stand as an excuse for its mannered plot. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jun 22, 2026
3.5/4
Art Carney is terrific. Go to Full Review
Vickie Ong Honolulu Advertiser Apr 5, 2024
It's a joy to find a movie that can still lift you above the humdrum world, keep you smiling for a few hours and send you back to earth, feeling good about life. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Aug 16, 2023
The Late Show is a joke, but not in derision. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Feb 1, 2019 The best comedy movie ever made!
Abraham G Feb 4, 2017 Writer/director Robert Benton is someone who absolutely has my number and I'm a huge fan of everything he does, from "There Was a Crooked Man" and "Bonnie and Clyde" to "Nobody's Fool" and "Twilight" (the Paul Newman film, not the lovesick vampire movie), I love all of his films. In this one, Benton presents a charming revisionist detective film with broken down detective Art Carney being hired by kooky Lily Tomlin to find her cat. Like most old detetive stories, a simple missing person (or cat) case turns into something much more complicated. Carney and Tomlin are a terrifically mismatched pair. The supporting players are amazing. But most of all, Benton's dialogue and script are a spot on love letter to classic Hollywood detective pictures while at the same time subverting the genre tropes. This one is a must see for fans of classic Hollywood noir and/or 70s revisionist films. See more
Hermione L Jan 28, 2017 The honeymooners and this movie prove that Carney is one of the best American actors of all time. Shame he did not get many great roles such as this one. If you are a fan of detective fiction, smart scripts and film making, watch this flick. Rx! See more
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The Late Show

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Benton

Director

Art Carney

Ira Wells

Lily Tomlin

Margo

Bill Macy

Charlie Hatter

Eugene Roche

Ron Birdwell

Joanna Cassidy

Laura Birdwell

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The Late Show

The Late Show (1977) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Private detective Ira Wells (Art Carney) isn't getting any younger. He's also barely staying in business. So when Ira's former partner, Harry, is killed, Ira vows to not only take on Harry's last job, but also find his friend's murderer. While trying to crack Harry's case, Ira is introduced to Margo (Lily Tomlin), an eccentric pot-selling agent who wants to hire him to find her cat. Desperate for the work, Ira takes on the pet search and winds up with an unexpected new partner in Margo.
Director
Robert Benton
Producer
Robert Altman
Screenwriter
Robert Benton
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 10, 1977, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 31, 2008
Runtime
1h 34m
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