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Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)

 -  Comedy | Crime | Mystery  -  21 May 1982 (USA)
6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 12,474 users  
Reviews: 98 user | 25 critic

Film noir parody with a detective uncovering a sinister plot. Characters from real noirs appear as scenes from various films are intercut.

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Title: Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
(in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
...
Field Marshall VonKluck
...
(in "Sorry - Wrong Number") (archive footage)
...
(in "The Lost Weekend") (archive footage)
...
(in "The Killers" / "The Bribe") (archive footage)
...
(in "The Killers") (archive footage)
...
(in "The Big Sleep" / "In a Lonely Place" / "Dark Passage") (archive footage)
...
(in "Suspicion") (archive footage)
...
(in "Notorious") (archive footage)
...
(in "The Glass Key") (archive footage)
...
(in "Deception") (archive footage)
...
(in "Johnny Eager" / "The Postman Always Rings Twice") (archive footage)
...
(in "Johnny Eager") (archive footage)
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Storyline

Juliet Forrest is convinced that the reported death of her father in a mountain car crash was no accident. Her father was a prominent cheese scientist working on a secret recipe. To prove it was murder, she enlists the services of private eye Rigby Reardon. He finds a slip of paper containing a list of people who are "The Friends and Enemies of Carlotta." Searching for answers, Rigby encounters assorted low-lifes: dangerous men and women who were the hallmarks of the classic detective movies of the 40's and 50's. Filming in black and white allows scenes from old movies to be cut into this film. It is through this process that Rigby's assistant is none other than Philip Marlowe himself. Written by Tony Fontana <tony.fontana@spacebbs.com>, Ed. by Peter Victor <thevictor99@yahoo.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Laugh... or I'll blow your lips off!


Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

21 May 1982 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Dead Men Wear No Plaid  »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$4,289,601 (USA) (21 May 1982)

Gross:

$4,289,601 (USA) (21 May 1982)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Initially, Steve Martin's character was written to tell off Humphrey Bogart's "mentor" character as an old has-been. The scene in which Martin did this was restored for network-TV showings. See more »

Goofs

When Juliet first sucks a bullet out of Rigby, she wipes off her lipstick first. After sucking out the bullet, she's wearing lipstick again although she never reapplied any. See more »

Quotes

Rigby Reardon: Get your sister Leona for me.
Juliet Forrest: All right. I'm afraid she may not be very much help. She's very disturbed.
Rigby Reardon: How disturbed?
Juliet Forrest: She's been diagnosed as a paranoid hypochondriac. Doctors think she may be faking.
Rigby Reardon: I'll know after one word if she's faking.
Leona: [attending the telephone] Hello?
Rigby Reardon: [to Juliet] She's faking.
See more »

Crazy Credits

There is a spelling mistake with the Composer. In the credits at the beginning he is spelled: Miklos Rosza. In the credits after the end he is spelled correct: Miklos Rozsa. See more »

Connections

Edited from I Walk Alone (1948) See more »

Soundtracks

"Dead Men's Bolero"
Music by Miklós Rózsa (as Miklos Rozsa)
Lyrics by Steve Goodman
See more »

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User Reviews

 
A quirky but funny movie
16 December 2005 | by (Norfolk) – See all my reviews

Its the sort of idea that inevitably gets tried out as soon as it becomes technically possible. Inter-cutting classic film noir with contemporary work to produce a comedy film. Usually such ideas come a serious cropper - as was proved (as others have stated) by Zelig. However, this film hits it right on the mark. The design and editing allow for seamless cutting between the old and the new footage. The script is good and has the right level of absurd humour to make the film work. I'm not a fan of Steve Martin but its impossible to imagine anyone else matching this performance. Rachel Ward is beautiful and sassy. Its a film of its time - just made in time to catch the costume and musical talent of the past before they departed from the scene but made before the sort of hi-tech morphing and cgi which would have ruined its feel.

If you haven't seen it then watch it - if you have seen it then watch it again. This definitely rewards repeated viewings. Its no Citizen Kane but it is darned good entertainment if you share my sense of humour...


29 of 33 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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