Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (film)

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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Directed by Frank Oz
Produced by Bernard Williams
Written by Dale Launer
Stanley Shapiro
Paul Henning
Starring Steve Martin
Michael Caine
Glenne Headly
Music by Miles Goodman
Cinematography Michael Ballhaus
Distributed by Orion Pictures Corporation
Release date(s) December 14, 1988
Running time 110 min.
Country Flag of the United States United States
Language English
IMDb profile

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a 1988 comedy film directed by Frank Oz and starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine as the con artists of the title. Glenne Headly plays one of their many targets. It is a remake of the 1964 film, Bedtime Story, starring David Niven and Marlon Brando.

It is also the name of a Broadway musical adaptation of the film.

This film is number 85 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies".[citation needed]

Tagline: Good guys finish last... Meet the winners.

Contents

[edit] Film

Steve Martin plays Freddy Benson, a small-time hustler who cajoles Michael Caine's character Lawrence Jamieson, a master con artist, into teaching him the secrets of his craft. Whereas Laurence is a cultivated, suave villain who works the French Riviera from his home in the fictional Beaumont-sur-Mer, Freddy is a boorish low-life and a vagrant. After reluctantly involving Freddy in a number of scams, Lawrence decides that there isn't enough room for the two of them in the same town. A challenge is laid down: the first to con fifty thousand dollars out of a presumably wealthy woman by the name of Janet, played by Glenne Headly, will be allowed to stay, while the other must leave.

The two embark on their separate strategies while at the same time ruthlessly sabotaging each other. Freddy poses as a crippled soldier; Laurence poses as a celebrated psychiatrist and tortures him under the guise of treatment. When it is revealed that Janet is a penniless contest-winner, Laurence is inclined to call off the bet. Freddy suggests that they make Janet herself the bet and that the winner should be the first to bed her. Impressed by Janet's goodness and disgusted by Freddy, Laurence bets Freddy only that he, Freddy, will fail to seduce her. However, as the movie draws to an end, it appears that Freddy succeeds. It is then is revealed that their "target" — Janet — is actually a wanted confidence-trickster known as "The Jackal" and has conned both of them. Freddy is disgusted. Laurence is impressed and delighted. Later, as the two console themselves over their loss and prepare to part company, they are astonished by the sudden arrival of Janet, who has brought a cruise ship of wealthy marks to Lawrence's villa for a new score; managing to catch up, the three agree to work together from now on.

[edit] Musical

Main article: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (musical)

The movie was adapted into a Broadway musical of the same name. It starred John Lithgow as Lawrence, Sherie Rene Scott as Christine (replacing the character of Janet), and Norbert Leo Butz as Freddy. The show was nominated for several Tony Awards in the 2005 season, including Best Musical. All three lead actors were also nominated in the Best Actor and Actress categories, with Norbert Leo Butz taking the Award for Best Actor.

[edit] Filming Locations for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

[edit] Trivia

  • This movie is notable for giving Ian McDiarmid one of his most visible roles outside his role as Emperor Palpatine — namely, Arthur the cynical butler.

An entire day was spent shooting the trailer, which does not appear in the film. The trailer shows Freddy and Lawrence walking along the boardwalk, politely moving out of the way of other people, etc, with a voice saying something like ``There are numerous distinguised gentlemen in the world... refined, cultured gentlemen.... nice men....... but nice men finish last. As these last few lines are spoken, Freddy pushes an old lady into the water, and Lawrence shoves a kid's face into his cotton candy.

[edit] External links

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v • d • e
Films directed by Frank Oz

The Dark Crystal (1982) • The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) • Little Shop of Horrors (1986) • Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) • What About Bob? (1991) • HouseSitter (1992) • The Indian in the Cupboard (1995) • In & Out (1997) • Bowfinger (1999) • The Score (2001) • The Stepford Wives (2004) • Death at a Funeral (2007)
v • d • e
Steve Martin
Discography
Bibliography
The Jerk • Cruel Shoes • Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Other Plays • Pure Drivel • Modern Library Humor and Wit Series • Shopgirl • Kindly Lent Their Owner • The Underpants: A Play • The Pleasure of My Company • The Alphabet from A to Y with Bonus Letter Z • Born Standing Up
Filmography
The Absent-Minded Waiter • Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band • The Muppet Movie • The Kids Are Alright • The Jerk • Pennies from Heaven • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid • The Man with Two Brains • The Lonely Guy • All of Me • ¡Three Amigos! • Little Shop of Horrors • Roxanne • Planes, Trains & Automobiles • Dirty Rotten Scoundrels • *Parenthood • My Blue Heaven • L.A. Story • Father of the Bride • Grand Canyon • HouseSitter • Leap of Faith • A Simple Twist of Fate • Mixed Nuts • Father of the Bride Part II • Sgt. Bilko • The Spanish Prisoner • The Prince of Egypt • The Out-of-Towners • Bowfinger • Fantasia 2000 • Joe Gould's Secret • Novocaine • Bringing Down the House • Looney Tunes: Back in Action • Cheaper by the Dozen • Shopgirl • Cheaper by the Dozen 2 • The Pink Panther • Baby Mama • The Pink Panther Deux
Television
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