Louis Winthorpe is the managing director of Commodities Brokerage firm Duke & Duke – run by the uber wealthy brothers Mortimer and Randolph.
The brothers witness one day an argument between Winthorpe, and the homeless Billy Ray Valentine. Believing anyone can really do what Winthorpe does, they concoct a plan to have Winthorpe fired, arrested and lose his girlfriend and friends – to be replaced by Valentine.
All goes to plan, except for the now revenge driven Winthorpe. And what exactly will happen when Valentine discovers their ruse???
Direction
Directed by John Landis (who was fresh in his Twilight Zone lawsuit). He had previously worked with Aykroyd, and would go on to work with Murphy several more times.
Cast/Characters
Dan Aykroyd plays Louis Winthorpe. This has been one of my favourite roles of his, and he plays the uptight white collar who is broken down over the course of the movie.
Eddie Murphy brings across his then boyish charm, as well as his fast talking confidence that wins over the Duke brothers
Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy play the Duke Brothers.
Denholm Elliot plays butler Coleman, who serves both Winthorpe and Valentine.
Jamie Lee Curtis plays Ophelia, a prostitute who takes pity on Winthorpe, and helps him clear his name. This would change her career trajectory, having been primarily known for her horror movie scene.
Breakdown
Filmed in 1983, this is a fun “change of scenery” film with then up and coming former SNL vets Aykroyd and Murphy – as well as then “Scream Queen” Curtis.
The narrative is fairly basic, with the ‘never done an honest days work’ Winthorpe’s entire life turned upside down over a bet by his bosses, the Duke brothers (for $1 no less).
What they don’t count on is the street smart grifter Billy Ray Valentine (Murphy, who mirrors the Axel Foley character he would begin playing the following year) to discover their ruse – and join forces with Winthorpe. Together they outsmart the brothers in a rather convoluted plan involving the stock market (in one of the most aged parts of the film, inside the twin towers no less).
Despite how he is introduced, you do start to feel sorry for Louis, but I thought they could have done a little more on him going from the ‘stiff upper lip’ to more humbled. There is also a moment where he looks as though he has been living on the streets for weeks – despite spending time with Ophelia.
The big up for the film is JLC, who is the smarter than she looks prostitute – who “sells an image” but in reality is able to be a strong member of the team. I wished the film gave more to the development of her and Louis’ romance, as the scene in which he gives her a passionate embrace feels out of place when it occurs.
There is a very funny moment on the train where the characters try to swindle Clarence Beeks (another moment in the film, where I thought that the arc was going to go in a different direction), but it absolutely could not get made today due to its blackface moment.
Overall
Fun “Christmas adjacent” film with plenty of laughs, plenty of heart – and some great performances from Aykroyd, Murphy and Curtis.
I would have loved more progression of the relationship between Louis and Ophelia too.
A must recommend (from the year I was born!), but because its age (and some scenes that passed in those days) it could not get made today.
4/5
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