On This Day: April 17, 1980 - The Private Eyes Premiered in Theaters

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On This Day: April 17, 1980 - The Private Eyes Premiered in Theaters
On this day April 17, 1980, the comedy mystery film The Private Eyes premiered in theaters. Directed by Lang Elliott, the movie starred the hilarious duo of Tim Conway and Don Knotts as bumbling detectives Lord Morley and Inspector Winship.

Set in a spooky English mansion, the film followed the two investigators as they attempted to solve a string of bizarre murders. Filled with slapstick humor, goofy one liners, and classic physical comedy, The Private Eyes delivered exactly what fans loved from Conway and Knotts — pure fun with a mystery twist.

Made on a modest 2.3 million dollar budget, the film was a surprise hit, earning 18.1 million at the box office and proving the comedic duo’s chemistry was still magic on screen.

Fun fact: The film was the final theatrical release starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts as a team, following earlier hits like The Apple Dumpling Gang.

Trivia question: What 1980 comedy mystery starred Tim Conway and Don Knotts as detectives solving crimes in a spooky mansion?

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