Trading Places

1983

1h 56m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

3.3K

YOUR RATING

Rate

POPULARITY

Play trailer

2 Videos

99+ Images

Comedy

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

Directors

John Landis

Writers

Timothy Harris(writer by)

Herschel Weingrod(writer by)

Stars

Dan Aykroyd

Eddie Murphy

Ralph Bellamy

See production, box office & company info

Videos2

Trailer
Watch Paramount Movies Trailer
Trailer
Watch Original Trailer

Top cast

Louis Winthorpe III

Billy Ray Valentine

Randolph Duke

Mortimer Duke

Coleman

Penelope Witherspoon

Clarence Beeks

Ophelia

President of Exchange

Pawnbroker

Corrupt Cop

Harvey

Baggage Handler #1

Baggage Handler #2

Duke & Duke Employee

Richard D. Fisher, Jr.

Duke & Duke Employee

Anthony DiSabatino

Duke & Duke Employee

Bonnie Behrend

Duke & Duke Employee

Directors

John Landis

Writers

Timothy Harris(writer by)

Herschel Weingrod(writer by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

The Prince and the Pauper with Eddie & Dan on sparkling form. Mortimer & Randolph Duke are two repugnantly rich brothers, they make a bet that sees the role reversal of top toff yuppie, Louis Winthorpe, and wise cracking street hustler bum, Billy Ray Valentine. That's about the strength of the films plot, yet it makes for a very funny film that crackles with glee due to it's excellently written script. Watching the respective characters rise and fall respectively creates laughs aplenty whilst asking the question of how we all would cope in similar circumstances? Sure the film does beat one over the head with its social message, we are in no doubt from the off about the gap between the rich and the poor, and yes the colour of a persons skin also rears its ugly head here to make this one of the more braver comedies of the 80s. Billy Ray Valentine (a brilliant dual performance from Eddie Murphy) is elevated up the social ladder, he becomes a force in industry, but as the progression enthrals him it also makes him aware that the things at the top end of the ladder aren't exactly stand up doings. Winthorpe (a perfectly casted Dan Ackroyd) drops further down the social ladder and resorts to behaviour that nobody from the upper echelons could ever have dreamed he would be capable of - it's only an encounter with prostitute Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis at the peak of her sexiness), and her good heart, that starts to see an upturn in his now dead bottom fortunes. The gags come thick and fast, both verbally (Murphy on fire) and visually, as the film sees the whole cast fusing together to create a cracking comedy. Come the denouement on Wall Street we are privy to a joyous and savage turn of events that ice the clever Christmas cake we have just digested. It does have an 80s sheen about it, and viewing now in post 9/11 times it's got a tint of nostalgia value to it, but really it's all about the script, the stars and a kick in the eye for those who think nothing of treading on the people below them, enjoy. 8/10

John Chard23 Dec, 2018