Trading Places (1983)

Director:

John Landis

Writers:

Timothy Harris (written by) &
Herschel Weingrod (written by)

Release Date:

8 June 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

They're not just getting rich... They're getting even.

Plot:

A snobbish investor and a wily street con artist find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires.

Plot Keywords:

Bet | Commodities | Businessman | Broker | Wager

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Denholm Elliott	...	Coleman
Dan Aykroyd	...	Louis Winthorpe III
Maurice Woods	...	Duke & Duke Employee
Richard D. Fisher Jr.	...	Duke & Duke Employee
Jim Gallagher	...	Duke & Duke Employee
Anthony DiSabatino	...	Duke & Duke Employee
Bonnie Behrend	...	Duke & Duke Employee
Sunnie Merrill	...	Duke & Duke Employee
James Newell	...	Duke & Duke Employee (as Jim Newell)
Mary St. John	...	Duke & Duke Employee
Bonnie Tremena	...	Duke & Duke Employee
David Schwartz	...	Duke & Duke Employee
Ralph Bellamy	...	Randolph Duke
Don Ameche	...	Mortimer Duke
Tom Degidon	...	Duke Domestic
William Magerman	...	Duke Domestic
Alan Dellay	...	Duke Domestic
Florence Anglin	...	Duke Domestic
Ray D'Amore	...	Duke Domestic
Bobra Suiter	...	Duke Domestic
Herb Peterson	...	Duke Domestic
Sue Dugan	...	Duke Domestic
Walt Gorney	...	Duke Domestic
B. Constance Barry	...	Duke Domestic
P. Jay Sidney	...	Heritage Club Doorman
Eddie Murphy	...	Billy Ray Valentine
Avon Long	...	Ezra
Tom Mardirosian	...	Officer Pantuzzi
Charles Brown	...	Officer Reynolds
Robert Curtis Brown	...	Todd (as Robert Curtis-Brown)
Nicholas Guest	...	Harry
John Bedford Lloyd	...	Andrew (as John Bedford-Lloyd)
Tony Sherer	...	Philip
Robert Earl Jones	...	Attendant
Robert E. Lee	...	Cop #1
Peter Hock	...	Cop #2
Kristin Holby	...	Penelope Witherspoon
Clint Smith	...	Doo Rag Lenny
Ron Taylor	...	Big Black Guy
James D. Turner	...	Even Bigger Black Guy
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Cellmate #2
Steve Hofvendahl	...	Cellmate #3
James Eckhouse	...	Guard
Paul Gleason	...	Clarence Beeks
Gwyllum Evans	...	President of Heritage Club
Frank Oz	...	Corrupt Cop
Eddie Jones	...	Cop #3
John McCurry	...	Cop #4
Michelle Mais	...	Hooker #1 (as Michele Mais)
Barra Kahn	...	Hooker #2
Bill Cobbs	...	Bartender
Joshua Daniel	...	Party Goer
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Ophelia
Jacques Sandulescu	...	Creepy Man
W.B. Brydon	...	Bank Manager
Margaret H. Flynn	...	Duke & Duke Receptionist
Kelly Curtis	...	Muffy
Tracy K. Shaffer	...	Constance
Susan Fallender	...	Bunny
Bo Diddley	...	Pawnbroker
Alfred Drake	...	President of Exchange
Lucianne Buchanan	...	President's Mistress
Paul Garcia	...	Jr. Executive #1
Jed Gillin	...	Jr. Executive #2
Jimmy Raitt	...	Ophelia's Client
Kate Taylor	...	Duke's Secretary
Philip Bosco	...	Doctor
Bill Boggs	...	Newscaster
James Belushi	...	Harvey
Deborah Reagan	...	Harvey's Girlfriend
Al Franken	...	Baggage Handler #1
Tom Davis	...	Baggage Handler #2
Don McLeod	...	Gorilla
Stephen Stucker	...	Stationmaster
Richard Hunt	...	Wilson
Paul Austin	...	Trader #1
John Randolph Jones	...	Trader #2
Jack Davidson	...	Trader #3
Bernie McInerney	...	Trader #4
Maurice Copeland	...	Secretary of Agriculture (as Maurice D. Copeland)
Ralph Clanton	...	Official #1
Bryan Clark	...	Official #2
Gary Howard Klar	...	Longshoreman (as Gary Klar)
Afemo Omilami	...	Longshoreman
Shelly Chee Chee Hall	...	Monica
Donna Palmer	...	Gladys
Barry Dennen	...	Demitri
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Murray Bandel	...	Man at Police Station (uncredited)
George Folsey Jr.	...	Extra (uncredited)
John Landis	...	Man with briefcase (uncredited)
Charles Pendelton	...	Cop (uncredited)
Yvonna Russell	...	Girl in Park (uncredited)
Arleen Sorkin	...	Woman at Party (uncredited)
Ronald Sylvers	...	Rolls Royce Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
John Landis

Writing credits
Timothy Harris		(written by) &
Herschel Weingrod		(written by)

Produced by
George Folsey Jr.	....	executive producer
Aaron Russo	....	producer
Irwin Russo	....	associate producer
Sam Williams	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Elmer Bernstein

Cinematography by
Robert Paynter		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Malcolm Campbell

Casting by
Bonnie Timmermann

Production Design by
Gene Rudolf

Set Decoration by
George DeTitta Jr.
George DeTitta Sr.		(as George DeTitta)

Costume Design by
Deborah Nadoolman

Makeup Department
Frank Bianco	....	hair stylist
Jack Engel	....	makeup artist
Jay Cannistraci	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Christopher Cronyn	....	assistant production manager
William C. Gerrity	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Folsey Jr.	....	second unit director
Linda Montanti	....	second assistant director
Mindy Ordan	....	dga trainee
Joseph Ray	....	second assistant director
David Sosna	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Richard T. Allen	....	shop craftsman (as Richard Allen)
Henry Bauer	....	shop craftsman
Billy Bishop	....	props (as William Bishop)
William Chaiken	....	scenic
Linda Conaway-Parsloe	....	assistant art director (as Linda Conaway)
Tony Gamiello	....	set dresser (as Anthony Gamiello)
Sue Gandy	....	buyer
Michael Gerrity	....	construction grip
Pete Grippaldi	....	construction grip (as Peter Grippaldi)
Richard Guinness Jr.	....	construction grip
Richard Guinness	....	construction grip
Ronald Paquette Jr.	....	shop craftsman
Bruce J. Paquette	....	shop craftsman
Eugene Powell	....	master scenic artist (as Gene Powell)
Jimmy Raitt	....	property master
Bruno Robotti	....	scenic
Leslie Salter-Griffin	....	scenic
Dave Weinman	....	set dresser (as David Weinman)
Robert Wilson Sr.	....	props (as Robert Wilson)

Sound Department
Neil Burrow	....	foley editor
Charles L. Campbell	....	supervising sound editor
Larry Carow	....	sound editor
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	sound editor (as Sam Crutcher)
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Graziadei	....	sound recordist (as Frank J. Graziadei)
Maggie Greenwald	....	adr assistant
Robert Knudson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudson)
Larry Mann	....	sound editor
Chuck Neely	....	assistant sound editor
Bruce Richardson	....	sound editor
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
James Sabat	....	sound mixer (as James J. Sabat)
Louis Sabat	....	boom operator
Larry Singer	....	adr editor
Jerry Stanford	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Jerry DeBlau	....	best boy (as Jerry W. DeBlau)
John W. DeBlau	....	gaffer
Jon Fauer	....	second camera operator
Dennis Gamiello	....	key grip
Vincent Guarriello	....	dolly grip (as Vince Guarriello)
Jim Hovey	....	assistant camera: second unit (as James Hovey)
Richard C. Kratina	....	camera operator (as Richard Kratina)
Gary Muller	....	second assistant camera
Hank Muller	....	first assistant camera
Steve Nallan	....	second grip (as Steven Nallan)
William J. Nallan	....	grip (as William Nallan)
Warren Rothenberger	....	camera operator: second unit
Donald Sweeney	....	camera operator
Josh Weiner	....	still photographer
Sal Martorano	....	electrician (uncredited)
Scott Rathner	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Lance Shepherd	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Cynthia Neil	....	assistant extras casting
Bernard Styles	....	extras casting
Gary M. Zuckerbrod	....	casting assistant (as Gary Zuckerbrod)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gary Jones	....	assistant costume designer
William Loger	....	wardrobe: men
Teresa Alba Schipani	....	wardrobe: women
Guy Tanno	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Margaret Adachi	....	assistant editor
Jill Demby	....	assistant editor
Lori Hollingshead	....	assistant editor (as Lorinda Hollingshead)
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer
Emily Paine	....	assistant editor
Peck Prior	....	apprentice editor
Brian Ralph	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Peter Bernstein	....	orchestrator
Jeff Carson	....	music editor
Kathy Durning	....	music editor
Dan Wallin	....	music recording engineer
George Doering	....	musician (uncredited)
Dan Goldwasser	....	soundtrack producer (uncredited)

Other crew
Jim Barr	....	assistant auditor
Leslie Belzberg	....	assistant: George Folsey
Renee Bodner	....	script supervisor
Martha Burczyk	....	assistant office coordinator
Lucia Butts	....	production assistant
Anthony C. Castelbuono	....	provider: Phantom V Rolls Royce Limousine
Patrick J. Feerick	....	teamster
Cornelius Forrest	....	teamster
Christopher T. Gerrity	....	production assistant (as Christopher Gerrity)
Maureen Hudson-Murari	....	assistant auditor (as Maureen Hudson)
Larry Kirsch	....	production assistant
Adeline Leonard Seakwood	....	production office coordinator
Reggie Life	....	intern: AFI (as Regge Life)
Scott MacQueen	....	production assistant
Charles Miller	....	production assistant
Edward Mulhern	....	teamster
Eric Myers	....	unit publicist
Tom O'Brien	....	teamster captain
Nathalie Plemiannikov	....	production assistant
Thomas Reilly	....	teamster
Randi Rosen	....	production assistant (as Randy Rosen)
David Schwartz	....	locations: Philadelphia
Lucille Smith	....	production auditor (as Lucille Cannon)
Randee Lois Smith	....	assistant: John Landis (as Randee Smith)
Michael Sweney	....	assistant location manager
Mitchell Tadross	....	production assistant
Victoria Theodore	....	assistant auditor

Thanks
John Hannemann	....	thanks
David Jones	....	thanks
Rachel Landis	....	thanks
Mel Lazarus	....	thanks
Jim McHale	....	thanks
Charlie Rasher	....	thanks
Frank Siciliano	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Cinema Group Ventures
• Paramount Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1986) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1983) (France) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (198?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• Paramount Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Camera Mart  production facilities: New York
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Fidelity Bank, Philadelphia  thanks
• La-La Land Records  soundtrack album
• Modern Film Effects  titles and opticals
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  thanks
• Pennsylvania Bureau of Motion Picture & Television Development  thanks (as The Pennsylvania Bureau of Motion Pictures)
• Production Payments  payroll services
• Talent Payments  payroll services
• The City of Philadelphia  thanks
• Todd-AO Studios  recording (as Todd-AO)
• U.S. Virgin Islands Film Promotion Office  thanks (as The Film Promotion Office of The U.S. Virgin Islands)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:Atp | Iceland:L | Netherlands:6 | Peru:14 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:S | Norway:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #26982) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Cinema Group Ventures

Trivia:

Don Ameche's strong religious convictions made him uncomfortable with swearing. This proved a problem for the scene at the end of the movie where he had to shout out "Fuck him!" to a group of Wall Street executives. When he did act out the scene, it had to be done in one take because Ameche refused to do a second one.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Among the portraits on the walls in the Heritage Club is a painting of J.P. Morgan, a highly significant financier in the early 20th century. If these portraits are meant to be of founding members of the club, Morgan is out of place; he spent his youth in Connecticut, and most of his adult life in New York. He never lived in Philadelphia, making his membership in the Heritage highly unlikely.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Coleman:[holding a breakfast tray while Louis is still asleep] Your breakfast, sir.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Hollywood's Top Ten: Ringin' in the New Year (#1.183)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

THE LOCO-MOTION

Hilarious... best movie either Ackroyd or Murphy have done.

I skimmed over the comments to this movie and was heartened to see that so many people love it like I do. It just doesn't seem to be considered by the mainstream to be in the same league as, say, "Beverly Hills Cop" or "Coming to America" when talking about Eddie Murphy's movies, but the fact is that this is hands down his funniest part ever. And Dan Ackroyd is equally hilarious as the (at first) repulsively elitist Louis Winthorpe III. Add the stellar supporting cast, particularly Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy as the Dukes, Paul Gleason as the slimy Clarence Beeks, Jamie Lee Curtis as Ophelia, your standard hooker with a heart of gold (rarely done as well as here), and Denholm Elliott as Coleman the butler, and you hit a rich vein of comedy gold.

The plot is a classic farce situation. The Duke brothers, who clearly feel they are above everybody else, make a bet, for one dollar, over whether anybody regardless of breeding can, in the right environment, become an upper-crust gentleman. So as an experiment to see which one is right, they work circumstances so that the rich Louis Winthorpe III is turned into a miserly bum, while they have Billy Ray Valentine (Murphy) take his place. He takes over Louis's job, his house, and his standing in the community. Realistic? Well, no, not really, but this is a farce, so it doesn't really have to be. It is, however, hilarious, which is exactly what a farce should be.

If there's a running theme in this movie, it is duplicity and mistaken identity. People are constantly being mistaken for something they are not, or forced into a situation where they become something they are not. We see this happen not only with the two main characters in the basic plot, but also with Billy Ray pretending to be a Vietnam veteran, then a karate master; Louis, who despite all appearances as a wimp, claims to have stood up to Billy Ray during their earliest encounter in the movie, when he actually hands Billy Ray his suitcase, setting him up for an arrest, when he was not actually trying to steal anything; Ophelia, who for a price pretends to know Louis outside the police station, further besmirching his name; all three plus Coleman, who each dresses up as a different hilarious ethnic character to trick Clarence Beeks; and Beeks, who in a subsequent scene is mistaken for an actual gorilla because he's wearing a costume (Al Franken and Tom Davis as the baggage handlers, marveling over how human the "gorilla" appears, are priceless).

Eventually, Billy Ray finds out what is going on, and gets together with Louis to turn the tables on the Dukes. Ophelia (who has fallen for Louis) and Coleman (who feels guilty and used over his part in the whole ruse) help them out. Do they get their revenge? Watch the movie and find out. It will be well worth your while. This is easily the funniest movie either Ackroyd or Murphy have ever done (its only real competition in this regard is "The Blues Brothers") and to think this was originally meant as a vehicle for Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor is odd, because it's hard to imagine either of them in the parts done so well by Dan Ackroyd and Eddie Murphy. John Landis keeps the pace going at a nice fast speed, and being a native Philadelphian, the locales and opening montage (including a scene of the Rocky statue) are a kick. But of course you'll love this movie even if you're not from Philly.