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: | |||
| Steve Martin | ... | Rigby Reardon | |
| Rachel Ward | ... | Juliet Forrest | |
| Alan Ladd | ... | The Exterminator (archive footage) | |
| Carl Reiner | ... | Field Marshall VonKluck | |
| Barbara Stanwyck | ... | Leona Hastings-Forrest (archive footage) | |
| Ray Milland | ... | Sam Hastings (in 'Lost Weekend') (archive footage) | |
| Ava Gardner | ... | Kitty Collins (archive footage) | |
| Burt Lancaster | ... | Swede Anderson (archive footage) | |
| Humphrey Bogart | ... | Phillip Marlowe (archive footage) | |
| Cary Grant | ... | 'Handsome' (in 'Suspicion') (archive footage) | |
| Ingrid Bergman | ... | F.X. Huberman (archive footage) | |
| Veronica Lake | ... | Monica Stillpond (archive footage) | |
| Bette Davis | ... | Doris Davermont (archive footage) | |
| Lana Turner | ... | Jimmi-Sue Altfeld (archive footage) | |
| Edward Arnold | ... | Altfeld (archive footage) | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
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>
Taglines:
Laugh... or I'll blow your lips off!Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
21 May 1982 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Dead Men Wear No Plaid See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$9,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$4,289,601, 23 May 1982Gross USA:
$18,196,170Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$18,196,170Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Second consecutive back-to-back movie which referenced the Golden Age of Hollywood for actor Steve Martin whose previous picture, Pennies from Heaven (1981), was an MGM musical in the style of that studio's Old Hollywood musicals. See more »Goofs
At one point Reardon references the Kinsey Report; the first volume was published in 1948, but the movie is set in 1946. See more »Quotes
Rigby Reardon: All dames are alike: they reach down your throat so they can grab your heart, pull it out and they throw it on the floor, and they step on 'em with their high heels, they spit on it, shove it in the oven and they cook the shit out of it. Then they slice it into little pieces, slam it on a hunk of toast, and they serve it to you. And they expect you to say, "Thanks, honey, it's delicious."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 »Frequently Asked Questions
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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...