Trading Places (1983)
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, (more)
- Director(s):
- John Landis
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Comedy
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The "nature-nurture" theory that motivated so many Three Stooges comedies is the basis of John Landis's hit comedy. The fabulously wealthy but morally bankrupt Duke brothers (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche) make a one-dollar bet over heredity vs. environment. Curious as to what might happen if different lifestyles were reversed, they arrange for impoverished street hustler Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) to be placed in the lap of luxury and trained for a cushy career in commodities brokerage. Simultaneously, they set about to reduce aristocratic yuppie Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd to poverty and disgrace, hiring a prostitute (Jamie Lee Curtis) to hasten his downfall. When Billy Ray figures out that the brothers intend to dump him back on the streets once their experiment is complete, he seeks out Winthorpe, and together the pauper-turned-prince and prince-turned-pauper plot an uproarious revenge. With the good-hearted prostitute and Winthorpe's faithful butler (Denholm Elliott) as their accomplices, they set about to hit the brothers where it really hurts: in the pocketbook. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 116 mins
Complete Cast:
- Eddie Murphy - Billy Ray Valentine
- Ralph Bellamy - Randolph Duke
- Denholm Elliott - Coleman
- Kristin Holby - Penelope
- Paul Austin - Trader #1
- Walter Gorney - Duke Domestic
- Philip Bosco - Doctor
- Jacques Sandulescu - Creepy Man
- Bernie McInerney - Trader
- Frank Oz - Corrupt Cop
- Tom Davis - Baggage Handler
- Giancarlo Esposito - Cellmate #2
- Barra Khan - Hooker #2
- Bryan Clark - Official #2
- Jim Newell - Duke & Duke Employee
- William Magerman - Duke Domestic
- Paul Gleason - Clarence Beeks
- Al Franken - Baggage Handler
- Alfred Drake - President of Exchange
- Bo Diddley - Pawnbroker
- Gary Klar - Longshoreman
- Robert Earl Jones - Attendant
- Kelly Leigh Curtis - Muffy
- Joshua Daniel - Party Goer
- Avon Long - Ezra
- Peter Hock - Cop #2
- Gwyllum Evans - President of Heritage Club
- Stephen Stucker - Station Master
- Ralph Clanton - Official #1
- Michelle Mais - Hooker #1
- B. Constance Barry - Duke Domestics
- James Eckhouse - Guard
- Dan Aykroyd - Louis Winthorpe III
- Don Ameche - Mortimer Duke
- Jamie Lee Curtis - Ophelia
- Robert Curtis-Brown - Todd
- Maurice Copeland - Secretary of Agriculture
- John Bedford Lloyd - Andrew
- Don McLeod - Gorilla
- Barry Dennen - Demitri
- Sue Dugan - Duke Domestic
- John Randolph Jones - Trader #2
- Ron Taylor - Big Black Guy
- Bill Boggs - Newscaster
- Clint Smith - Doo Rag Lenny
- Alan Dellay - Duke Domestic
- John McCurry - Cop #4
- P. Jay Sidney - Heritage Club Doorman
- Paul Garcia - Jr. Executive #1
- Charles Brown - Officer Reynolds
- Florence Anglin - Duke Domestic
- Maurice Woods - Duke & Duke Employee
- Richard Hunt - Wilson
- Nicholas Guest - Harry
- James Belushi - Harvey
- Tom Degidon - Duke Domestic
- Bill Cobbs - Bartender
- Afemo Omilami - Longshoreman
- Lucianne Buchanan - President's Mistress
- W.B. Brydon - Bank Manager
- Eddie Jones - Cop #3
- Tom Mardirosian - Officer Pantuzzi
- Jack Davidson - Trader #3
- Director(s):
- John Landis
- Writer(s):
- Herschel Weingrod, John Landis, Timothy Harris
- Producer(s):
- Aaron Russo
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Adult Situations, Adult Language, Nudity, Adult Humor, Not For Children)
- Categories:
- Comedy
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- 1983 - Trading Places - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Supporting Actor
- 1983 - Trading Places - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Supporting Actress
