A snobbish investor and a wily street con artist find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Denholm Elliott | ... |
Coleman
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| Dan Aykroyd | ... |
Louis Winthorpe III
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Maurice Woods | ... |
Duke & Duke Employee
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Richard D. Fisher Jr. | ... |
Duke & Duke Employee
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Jim Gallagher | ... |
Duke & Duke Employee
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Anthony DiSabatino | ... |
Duke & Duke Employee
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Bonnie Behrend | ... |
Duke & Duke Employee
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Sunnie Merrill | ... |
Duke & Duke Employee
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James Newell | ... |
Duke & Duke Employee
(as Jim Newell)
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Mary St. John | ... |
Duke & Duke Employee
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Bonnie Tremena | ... |
Duke & Duke Employee
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David Schwartz | ... |
Duke & Duke Employee
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| Ralph Bellamy | ... |
Randolph Duke
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| Don Ameche | ... |
Mortimer Duke
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Tom Degidon | ... |
Duke Domestic
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William Magerman | ... |
Duke Domestic
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| Alan Dellay | ... |
Duke Domestic
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Florence Anglin | ... |
Duke Domestic
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Ray D'Amore | ... |
Duke Domestic
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Bobra Harris | ... |
Duke Domestic
(as Bobra Suiter)
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Herb Peterson | ... |
Duke Domestic
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Sue Dugan | ... |
Duke Domestic
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| Walt Gorney | ... |
Duke Domestic
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B. Constance Barry | ... |
Duke Domestic
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P. Jay Sidney | ... |
Heritage Club Doorman
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| Eddie Murphy | ... |
Billy Ray Valentine
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| Avon Long | ... |
Ezra
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| Tom Mardirosian | ... |
Officer Pantuzzi
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Charles Brown | ... |
Officer Reynolds
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| Robert Curtis Brown | ... |
Todd
(as Robert Curtis-Brown)
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| Nicholas Guest | ... |
Harry
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| John Bedford Lloyd | ... |
Andrew
(as John Bedford-Lloyd)
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Tony Sherer | ... |
Philip
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| Robert Earl Jones | ... |
Attendant
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Robert E. Lee | ... |
Cop #1
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Peter Hock | ... |
Cop #2
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| Kristin Holby | ... |
Penelope Witherspoon
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| Clint Smith | ... |
Doo Rag Lenny
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| Ron Taylor | ... |
Big Black Guy
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James D. Turner | ... |
Even Bigger Black Guy
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| Giancarlo Esposito | ... |
Cellmate #2
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| Steve Hofvendahl | ... |
Cellmate #3
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| James Eckhouse | ... |
Guard
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| Paul Gleason | ... |
Clarence Beeks
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Gwyllum Evans | ... |
President of Heritage Club
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| Frank Oz | ... |
Corrupt Cop
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| Eddie Jones | ... |
Cop #3
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John McCurry | ... |
Cop #4
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Michelle Mais | ... |
Hooker #1
(as Michele Mais)
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Barra Kahn | ... |
Hooker #2
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| Bill Cobbs | ... |
Bartender
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Joshua Daniel | ... |
Party Goer
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| Jamie Lee Curtis | ... |
Ophelia
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Jacques Sandulescu | ... |
Creepy Man
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W.B. Brydon | ... |
Bank Manager
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Margaret H. Flynn | ... |
Duke & Duke Receptionist
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| Kelly Curtis | ... |
Muffy
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Tracy K. Shaffer | ... |
Constance
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Susan Fallender | ... |
Bunny
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| Bo Diddley | ... |
Pawnbroker
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| Alfred Drake | ... |
President of Exchange
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Lucianne Buchanan | ... |
President's Mistress
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Paul Garcia | ... |
Jr. Executive #1
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Jed Gillin | ... |
Jr. Executive #2
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Jimmy Raitt | ... |
Ophelia's Client
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Kate Taylor | ... |
Duke's Secretary
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| Philip Bosco | ... |
Doctor
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| Bill Boggs | ... |
Newscaster
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| Jim Belushi | ... |
Harvey
(as James Belushi)
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Deborah Reagan | ... |
Harvey's Girlfriend
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| Al Franken | ... |
Baggage Handler #1
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| Tom Davis | ... |
Baggage Handler #2
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| Don McLeod | ... |
Gorilla
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Stephen Stucker | ... |
Stationmaster
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| Richard Hunt | ... |
Wilson
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Paul Austin | ... |
Trader #1
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| John Randolph Jones | ... |
Trader #2
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| Jack Davidson | ... |
Trader #3
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Bernie McInerney | ... |
Trader #4
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Maurice Copeland | ... |
Secretary of Agriculture
(as Maurice D. Copeland)
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Ralph Clanton | ... |
Official #1
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Bryan Clark | ... |
Official #2
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| Gary Howard Klar | ... |
Longshoreman
(as Gary Klar)
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| Afemo Omilami | ... |
Longshoreman
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Shelly Chee Chee Hall | ... |
Monica
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Donna Palmer | ... |
Gladys
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| Barry Dennen | ... |
Demitri
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Murray Bandel | ... |
Man at Police Station (uncredited)
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| Benjean | ... |
Stray Dog (uncredited)
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John Black | ... |
Man Sitting on Couch at Party (uncredited)
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Peter Fey | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
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| George Folsey Jr. | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
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Lydia Komissarova | ... |
Passerby (uncredited)
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| John Landis | ... |
Man with Briefcase (uncredited)
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| David Lautrec | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Shirley Levine | ... |
Bag Lady (uncredited)
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Charles Pendelton | ... |
Cop (uncredited)
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Yvonna Russell | ... |
Girl in Park (uncredited)
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Jan Saint | ... |
Man in Police Station (uncredited)
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| Arleen Sorkin | ... |
Woman at Party (uncredited)
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| Randy Spears | ... |
Bit part (uncredited)
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Ronald Sylvers | ... |
Rolls Royce Driver (uncredited)
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Herbert R. Weiman Sr. | ... |
Lawyer (uncredited)
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Marlene Willoughby | ... |
Woman Passed Out on Couch at Party (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John Landis | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
| Timothy Harris | ... | (written by) & |
| Herschel Weingrod | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| George Folsey Jr. | ... | executive producer |
| Aaron Russo | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Irwin Russo | ... | associate producer |
| Sam Williams | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Elmer Bernstein | ||
Cinematography by
| Robert Paynter | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Malcolm Campbell | ... | (edited by) |
Editorial Department
| Margaret Adachi | ... | assistant editor |
| Jill Demby Guest | ... | assistant editor (as Jill Demby) |
| Lori Hollingshead | ... | assistant editor (as Lorinda Hollingshead) |
| Dennis McNeill | ... | color timer |
| Emily Paine | ... | assistant editor |
| Peck Prior | ... | apprentice editor |
| Brian Ralph | ... | negative cutter |
Casting By
| Bonnie Timmermann | ... | (casting) |
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 |
| Enrico A. Cortese | ... | makeup artist |
| 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 Saulter-Yacuk | ... | scenic (as Leslie Salter-Griffin) |
| 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 | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Robert Glass | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Frank Graziadei | ... | sound recordist (as Frank J. Graziadei) |
| Maggie Greenwald | ... | adr assistant |
| Robert Knudson | ... | 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 |
| Greg Orloff | ... | foley recordist (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Andy Perillo | ... | special effects |
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 |
Location Management
| David Schwartz | ... | locations: Philadelphia |
| Michael Sweney | ... | assistant location manager |
Music Department
| Peter Bernstein | ... | orchestrator |
| Jeff Carson | ... | music editor |
| Kathy Durning | ... | music editor |
| Dan Wallin | ... | music recording engineer |
| Robert Adcock | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Murray Adler | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Israel Baker | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Arnold Belnick | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Elmer Bernstein | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Denyse Buffum | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Larry Bunker | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Ronald Cooper | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Douglas Davis | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Bob DiVall | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| George Doering | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Chuck Domanico | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Bonnie Jean Douglas | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Earl Dumler | ... | musician: oboe (uncredited) |
| Dominick Fera | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Carl Fortina | ... | orchestra manager (uncredited) |
| James Getzoff | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Harris Goldman | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Pamela Goldsmith | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Dan Goldwasser | ... | soundtrack producer (uncredited) |
| Norman Herzburg | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Paula Hochhalter | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Tommy Johnson | ... | musician: tuba (uncredited) |
| Jim Kanter | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Armand Kaproff | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Nathan Kaproff | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Dennis Karmazyn | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Roland Kato | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Milton Kestenbaum | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Janet Lakatos | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Michael Lang | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Abe Luboff | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Virginia Majewski | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Peter Mercurio | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Richard Perissi | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Tom Raney | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Remsen | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Sheldon Sanov | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| David Schwartz | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Paul Shure | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Henry Sigismonti | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Sheridon Stokes | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Linn Subotnick | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Chet Swiatkowsky | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Phillip A. Teele | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Louise Di Tullio | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Lloyd Ulyate | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Ken Watson | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Renee Bodner | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Jim Barr | ... | assistant auditor |
| Leslie Belzberg | ... | assistant: George Folsey |
| 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) |
| Ernie Karpeles | ... | animal handler |
| Larry Kirsh | ... | 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 |
| Thomas Reilly | ... | teamster |
| Randi Rosen | ... | production assistant (as Randy Rosen) |
| Lucille Masone Smith | ... | production auditor (as Lucille Cannon) |
| Randee Lois Smith | ... | assistant: John Landis (as Randee Smith) |
| Mitchell Tadross | ... | production assistant |
| Victoria Theodore | ... | assistant auditor |
| Nathalie Vadim | ... | production assistant (as Nathalie Plemiannikov) |
Thanks
| John Hanemann | ... | thanks |
| David Jones | ... | thanks |
| Rachel Landis | ... | thanks |
| Mel Lazarus | ... | thanks |
| Jim McHale | ... | thanks |
| Charlie Rasher | ... | thanks |
| Frank Siciliano | ... | thanks |
Production Companies
- Paramount Pictures (presents)
- Cinema Group Ventures
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1983) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1983) (France) (theatrical)
- Nova Film (1983) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1983) (Finland) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1983) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1983) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1983) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (1983) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures International (UPI) (1983) (Spain) (theatrical)
- CIC Video (1984) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1986) (United States) (tv)
- Paramount Films of India (1986) (India) (theatrical)
- Paramount Films of India (1987) (India) (VHS)
- Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
- CIC Video (Netherlands) (VHS)
- CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Esselte Video (Finland) (VHS)
- La Cinq (1988) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1990) (Finland) (tv)
- Canale 5 (1992) (Italy) (tv)
- KTLA (1996) (United States) (tv)
- Finnkino (2002) (Finland) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
- Nelonen (2006) (Finland) (tv)
- WPIX (1996) (United States) (tv)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (United States) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
- Trifecta Entertainment and Media (2009) (United States) (tv) (syndicated print)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2019) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Universal Pictures (2019) (Netherlands) (Blu-ray)
- Paramount Channel (2022) (France) (tv)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2023) (Germany) (Ultra HD Blu-ray)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (United States) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (United States) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (United States) (laserdisc)
- Pluto TV (2022) (United States) (video)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2019) (Finland) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
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)
- Pennsylvania Bureau of Motion Picture & Television Development (thanks)
- Production Payments (payroll services)
- Talent Payments (payroll services)
- The City of Philadelphia (thanks)
- The New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (thanks)
- Todd-AO Studios (recording)
- U.S. Virgin Islands Film Promotion Office (thanks)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Louis Winthorpe is a businessman who works for commodities brokerage firm of Duke and Duke owned by the brothers Mortimer and Randolph Duke. Now they bicker over the most trivial of matters and what they are bickering about is whether it's a person's environment or heredity that determines how well they will do in life. When Winthorpe bumps into Billy Ray Valentine, a street hustler and assumes he is trying to rob him, he has him arrested. Upon seeing how different the two men are, the brothers decide to make a wager as to what would happen if Winthorpe loses his job, his home and is shunned by everyone he knows and if Valentine was given Winthorpe's job. So they proceed to have Winthorpe arrested and to be placed in a compromising position in front of his girlfriend. So all he has to rely on is the hooker who was hired to ruin him. Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | They're not just getting rich... They're getting even. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $15,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $7,348,200, 12 Jun 1983 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Ralph Bellamy (Randolph) and Don Ameche (Mortimer) make cameo appearances in Coming to America (1988) as the same characters; the two are now homeless, and Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) gives them a large amount of money to get them back off the streets. See more » |
| Goofs | The train leaving Washington, D.C. has a different style locomotive than the same train shown later in a pass-by shot. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Man with Two Brains/Superman III/Trading Places/Psycho II (1983). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Overture, Marriage of Figaro See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Jon Tenney is credited as "Big Black Guy" and James D. Turner as "Even Bigger Black Guy". See more » |
| Quotes |
[last lines]
Louis: Looking good, Billy Ray! Billy Ray: Feeling good, Louis! See more » |