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The 1989 comedy-mystery film Who's Harry Crumb? features John Candy as a bumbling, incompetent private investigator who searches for a kidnapping victim. The film includes a climactic airport scene in which Harry Crumb gets held up by a metal detector, highlighting the lax airport security measures of the time. This scene has drawn comparisons to a similar metal detector joke in the film Airplane!.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 3rd February 1989 |
| Genre | Comedy, Mystery |
| Rating | 5.9 |
| Director | Paul Flaherty |
| Star Cast | John Candy, Shawnee Smith, Jeffrey Jones, Annie Potts, Tim Thomerson, Barry Corbin |
| Plot | Harry Crumb, a bumbling, clumsy, but dedicated detective with a penchant for disguises, searches for a kidnapping victim |
| Airport Security | Lax, with characters able to enter the terminal without tickets and a gun able to be sneaked in |
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What You'll Learn
Harry Crumb's incompetence as a private investigator
In the 1989 film "Who's Harry Crumb?", John Candy plays the titular character, a bumbling, clumsy, and inept private investigator. Despite his incompetence, he is tasked with solving the kidnapping of a young heiress, Jennifer Downing. Harry Crumb's incompetence as a private investigator is evident throughout the film.
One example of his incompetence is when he infiltrates Vince's apartment complex to spy on him and Helen, the prime suspects in the kidnapping. However, due to his clumsiness, he is unable to see through the high vent in the apartment and ends up overhearing a movie playing on the TV, mistaking it for Vince and Helen planning to flee the country. This leads him to pursue a false lead, showcasing his inept investigative skills.
Another instance of his incompetence is when he and his partner, Nikki, pursue the kidnappers at the airport. They manage to walk right out onto the runway without tickets and steal a stair car, showcasing the lax airport security standards of the time. While this leads them to catch up with the kidnappers, it also highlights Harry's unconventional and questionable methods as an investigator.
Throughout the film, Harry Crumb stumbles and bumbles his way through the investigation, often making discoveries by accident or sheer luck rather than through skill or talent. His incompetence is a running gag in the film, and his clumsy and inept nature provides comedic relief. Despite his incompetence, Harry Crumb is dedicated to his work and has a heart in the right place, making him a likable character despite his shortcomings.
In conclusion, Harry Crumb's incompetence as a private investigator in "Who's Harry Crumb?" is a central aspect of the film's comedy and narrative. His bumbling nature and accidental discoveries provide a unique twist to the mystery-comedy genre, showcasing John Candy's ability to portray lovable and eccentric characters.
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Crumb's use of disguises to solve the kidnapping case
In the 1989 comedy-mystery film "Who's Harry Crumb?", John Candy plays the titular character, a bumbling, clumsy, but dedicated private investigator with a penchant for disguises. Harry Crumb is hired to solve the kidnapping of a young heiress, Jennifer Downing, the daughter of a wealthy shipping owner, P.J. Downing. Unbeknownst to P.J., the mastermind behind the kidnapping is none other than Eliot Draisen, the president of the Crumb & Crumb private detective agency. Eliot believes that Harry, with his incompetence, will be completely ineffective in solving the case.
Throughout the film, Harry Crumb uses disguises to aid him in his investigation. In one scene, he disguises himself as an elderly window washer, complete with blackface makeup, a fake bush mustache, fake eyebrows, and a gray 'fright wig' resembling the hairstyle of boxing promoter Don King. In this disguise, he photographs a couple having an affair ten stories up outside a seedy high-rise hotel. In another scene, he infiltrates Vince's apartment complex by disguising himself as a pizza delivery man. He also disguises himself as a doctor to gain access to a restricted area in the airport.
Harry's disguises not only help him gather information but also allow him to move around unnoticed and gain access to places he wouldn't normally be able to go. His disguises, combined with his bumbling yet dedicated personality, make for a comedic and entertaining mystery film.
In the end, Harry Crumb's use of disguises, along with his unexpected competence, helps him solve the kidnapping case, capture the kidnappers, and save Jennifer Downing. He also uncovers the true mastermind behind the kidnapping, Eliot Draisen, who is arrested for his crimes.
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Crumb's encounter with a metal detector at airport security
In the 1989 comedy-mystery film "Who's Harry Crumb?", the titular character, played by John Candy, is a bumbling, incompetent, but dedicated and brilliant private investigator. In the film's climax, Crumb is trying to stop the kidnappers, Vince and Helen, from getting away. However, he encounters a hiccup when he gets held up by a metal detector at the airport.
This scene has been criticised for being too long and relying on an obvious joke. It has been compared to a similar scene in the film "Airplane!" where a man gets stopped by a metal detector and is forced to remove metallic items from his body, which is considered funnier and more unexpected.
Despite this criticism, the airport scene in "Who's Harry Crumb?" is still memorable and has been described as a "big setpiece" worthy of the "price of admission". Crumb and his partner Nikki pursue the kidnappers' plane on a stolen stair car, crashing into the building and inadvertently electrocuting one of the kidnappers, Dwayne, to death.
The film has been praised for its humour and the cast's performances, particularly John Candy's portrayal of the eccentric and clumsy detective, Harry Crumb. It has been described as a fun and enjoyable watch, with some very funny moments, despite being criticised for its uneven tone and silliness.
Overall, the scene of Harry Crumb's encounter with the metal detector at airport security is a notable moment in the film, contributing to the chaotic and humorous tone of the story's conclusion.
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Crumb's pursuit of the plane on a runway stair car
In the 1989 comedy-mystery film "Who's Harry Crumb?", the titular character, played by John Candy, is a bumbling, incompetent, but dedicated private investigator. In the film's climax, Crumb and his partner Nikki find themselves in a chase sequence at the airport as they pursue the kidnappers, Vince and Helen, who are attempting to flee the country.
Crumb and Nikki commandeer a stair truck to pursue the plane as it taxis down the runway. Their chaotic pursuit results in a collision with a luggage trolley, which inadvertently leads to the electrocution of one of the kidnappers, Dwayne. Nikki rams the stair car into the plane, allowing Crumb to capture Vince and Helen, who are then taken into police custody.
The chase sequence is accompanied by the song "Holding Out for a Hero," enhancing the thrilling and comedic nature of the scene. This sequence is a highlight of the film, showcasing the zaniness and humour that are characteristic of John Candy's performances.
During the pursuit, Crumb stumbles upon the identity of the real kidnapper, adding to the excitement and providing a satisfying resolution to the mystery. The airport setting, with its lax security measures, provides a unique backdrop for the chase, allowing Crumb to showcase his unconventional investigative skills.
Overall, the pursuit of the plane on the runway stair car is a pivotal and entertaining sequence in the film, showcasing the comedic talents of John Candy as the eccentric and clumsy detective, Harry Crumb.
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Crumb's accidental capture of the kidnapper
In the 1989 comedy-mystery film "Who's Harry Crumb?", the bumbling, incompetent, but dedicated private investigator Harry Crumb is tasked with finding a kidnapping victim, fashion model Jennifer Downing. Unbeknownst to him, the kidnapper is Eliot Draisen, the president of the Crumb & Crumb private detective agency and a family friend of Jennifer's father, P.J. Downing.
Throughout the film, Harry Crumb stumbles his way through the investigation, often more obstructive than helpful. However, his accidental capture of the kidnapper, Eliot, is a pivotal moment in the film.
As the film reaches its climax, Harry and his partner, Nikki, chase after the kidnappers, Vince and Helen, who are attempting to flee the country with the ransom money. The chase takes place at the airport, where Harry and Nikki commandeer a stair truck to pursue the kidnappers' plane. In the chaos, they crash a luggage trolley into the building where Jennifer, the kidnapping victim, is being held captive, inadvertently electrocuting her captor, Dwayne.
Amidst the chaos and confusion, Harry and Nikki manage to capture Helen and Vince, who are taken into police custody. With Jennifer safely rescued, Harry stumbles upon the real kidnapper, Eliot, who is attempting to free himself from the utility room where he had been bound and gagged by Vince and Helen. Assuming that Harry has deduced his involvement in the kidnapping, Eliot exasperatedly confesses, leading to his accidental capture and arrest.
Harry's accidental capture of Eliot brings the case to a close and highlights the comedic and unpredictable nature of the film. Despite Harry's incompetence and cluelessness throughout the investigation, his accidental success in rescuing the kidnapping victim and capturing the perpetrator adds to the humor and entertainment of the story.
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Frequently asked questions
'Who's Harry Crumb' is a 1989 comedy-mystery film starring John Candy as the title character.
The film follows the often incompetent, sometimes brilliant, private investigator Harry Crumb, who searches for a kidnapping victim.
In the climax of the film, Crumb is trying to stop the bad guys from getting away at an airport. He gets held up by a metal detector, causing a delay that leads to a joke at the end of the scene.
