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Trading Places

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Trading Places

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Summary

Comedy starring Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis. Millionaires Mortimer and Randolph Duke create an experiment in human nature by framing their niece's fiancé Louis, a pompous stockbroker, for theft and drug pushing, and replacing him with conman Billy Ray Valentine. Their wager is that Valentine will make good and Louis will turn to crime.

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Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

David Parkinson

This blatant, unacknowledged reworking of The Prince and the Pauper is a rattling comedy showcase for the unique talents of Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, who have seldom recaptured the form they show here. However, there's no question that the acting honours go to veterans Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy, as the mischievous business bigwigs whose wager brings about the respective rise and fall of a lowlife conman (Murphy) and a pompous broker (Aykroyd). Jamie Lee Curtis also makes quite an impression as a kind-hearted hooker and proved that there was more to her than screaming and running away from slash-happy psychopaths. Director John Landis tends to pull his satirical punches against yuppiedom, and it's a shame that he settles for a brash slapstick finale after so many fresh, immaculately timed comic situations, but this remains very entertaining.

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7.5/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameBilly Ray ValentineEddie MurphyLouis Winthorpe IIIDan AykroydOpheliaJamie Lee CurtisRandolph DukeRalph BellamyMortimer DukeDon AmecheColemanDenholm ElliottBeeksPaul GleasonPawnbrokerBo DiddleyKing KongJames BelushiPenelopeKristin HolbyWhittingtonAlfred DrakePolicemanFrank OzHeritage club doormanP Jay SidneyEzraAvon LongOfficer PantuzziTom MardirosianOfficer ReynoldsCharles BrownToddRobert Curtis-BrownHarryNicholas GuestAndrewJohn Bedford-Lloyd

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Crew

rolenameDirectorJohn Landis

Details

Released on

1983-12-09

Languages

English

Guidance

Swearing and nudity.

Available on

video and DVD

Formats

Colour

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