Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency (2011)
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency (2011), directed by Tom Whitus, starring Luke Perry and M. Emmet Walsh.
score
Synopsis
13-year-old Sam Steele Jr. forms his own private detective agency to emulate his father, Des Moines detective Sam Steele, and helps track down a jewel thief.
- Jeffrey McLeidCinematography
- Tom WhitusDirector, Producer, Writer
- George MaranvilleEditing
- Andy W. MeyerProducer
About the film
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency (also known as Jr. Detective Agency) is a 2009 American mystery comedy film directed and written by Tom Whitus and starring Jacob Hays, Darren Kennedy, Katherine McNamara, Jilanne Klaus, M. Emmet Walsh and Luke Perry. The film follows 13-year-old Sam Steele Jr. (Hays), who creates a detective agency and attempts to track down a burglar known as "The Cat" (Perry).
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency had its premiere at the St. Louis International Film Festival on November 22, 2009, and was released by Screen Media Films on January 4, 2011. A sequel, titled Sam Steele and the Crystal Chalice, was released on November 21, 2011.
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Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency (also known as Jr. Detective Agency) is a 2009 American mystery comedy film directed and written by Tom Whitus and starring Jacob Hays, Darren Kennedy, Katherine McNamara, Jilanne Klaus, M. Emmet Walsh and Luke Perry. The film follows 13-year-old Sam Steele Jr. (Hays), who creates a detective agency and attempts to track down a burglar known as "The Cat" (Perry).
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency had its premiere at the St. Louis International Film Festival on November 22, 2009, and was released by Screen Media Films on January 4, 2011. A sequel, titled Sam Steele and the Crystal Chalice, was released on November 21, 2011.
Premise
Following in his father's footsteps, Sam Steele Jr. forms the Jr. Detective Agency. Meanwhile, a French thief known as "The Cat" is stealing jewelry and art from museums in Des Moines, and Sam's father is one of the detectives attempting to track him down. When Emma, a new girl in the neighborhood, teams up with Sam and comes across an important tip, they try and catch the thief before he steals an original Michelangelo painting.
Cast
Production
In May 2009, Luke Perry and M. Emmet Walsh were cast in Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency. Filming began on June 1, 2009, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Release
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency premiered at the St. Louis International Film Festival on November 22, 2009, and was released direct-to-video by Screen Media Films on January 4, 2011.
Reception
Brian Costello of Common Sense Media gave the film a positive review, praising Hays' lead performance and stating that the film was "most enjoyable when the 13-year-old aspiring detective has internal monologues attempting the hard-boiled noir-speak of Raymond Chandler novels."
Sequel
A sequel to the film, titled Sam Steele and the Crystal Chalice, was released direct-to-video on November 21, 2011.
References
External links
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency at IMDb
Text from Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Steele_and_the_Junior_Detective_Agency
Trivia
- It premiered on January 4, 2011, a Tuesday.
- It runs 1h27 — a typical feature length.
- This film's quiz has 10 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.
Production
- StudiosZingraff Motion Pictures
- CountriesUnited States
- LanguagesEnglish
- StatusReleased
Cast
-
Luke Perry
The Cat -
M. Emmet Walsh
Chief Van Owen - Jacob Hays Sam Steele Jr.
-
Darren Kennedy
Detective Sam Steele -
Katherine McNamara
Emma Marsh -
Jilanne Klaus
Kathy Steele - Mike Delia Detective Artemis Fogle
- Holly Reimer Lenore Cash
- Lee Look Fireman Dave Marsh
- Kerry Scram Casey Marsh
-
Mik Scriba
Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Carr - Connor Bredbeck Melvin
- Sarah Killion Belinda Martin
- Tammy Brice Ms. Carmichael
- Vince Valdez Officer Martinson
- Paul M. Walker III Crime Scene Tech
- Jeffrey Hyler Joey Ames
- Grant Carricker Kevin Ames
- Melanie Hall Hostess
- Patrick Gouran Elderly Man at Restaurant
Quiz about this movie
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Crew
- Jeffrey McLeid Cinematography
- Tom Whitus Director
- George Maranville Editing
- Andy W. Meyer Producer
- Judee Sauget Producer
- Tom Whitus Producer
- William F. Connelly Producer
- Nathan Lanier Original music
- Tom Whitus Writer
Questions about this film
What is Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency about?
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency: 13-year-old Sam Steele Jr. forms his own private detective agency to emulate his father, Des Moines detective Sam Steele, and helps track down a jewel thief.
Who directed Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency?
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency was directed by Tom Whitus in 2011.
Who stars in Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency?
The cast of Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency includes Luke Perry, M. Emmet Walsh, Jacob Hays, Darren Kennedy and Katherine McNamara.
How long is Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency?
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency runs for 87 minutes, or 1h27.
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Page updated on 09/11/2026.
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