Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (film)

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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
original film poster
Directed by	Frank Oz
Produced by	Bernard Williams
Written by	Dale Launer Stanley Shapiro Paul Henning
Starring	Steve Martin Michael Caine Glenne Headly
Music by	Miles Goodman
Distributed by	Orion Pictures Corporation
Release date(s)	December 14, 1988
Running time	110 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a 1988 comedy film directed by Frank Oz and starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine as the con artists of the title. Glenne Headly plays one of their targets.

It is also the name of a Broadway musical adaptation of the film.

This film is number 85 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies".

[edit] Film

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Steve Martin plays a small-time hustler by the name of Freddy who cajoles Michael Caine's character Lawrence, a master con artist, into teaching him the secrets of his craft. When Lawrence decides there is not room for the two of them in the same city, a challenge is laid down: the first to con fifty thousand dollars out of a presumably wealthy woman by the name of Janet (Glenne Headly) will be allowed to stay, while the other must leave. However, as their bet concludes, it is revealed that their "target" — Janet — has actually conned both of them. All characters deliver unforgettable performances; chief among them is Martin's portrayal of "Ruprecht the Monkey Boy."

Spoilers end here.

The film is a remake of 1964 film Bedtime Story starring Marlon Brando and David Niven, and featuring Shirley Jones. Bedtime Story was originally written for Doris Day, Cary Grant and Rock Hudson.

[edit] Trivia

This movie is notable for giving Ian McDiarmid one of his most visible roles outside his role as Emperor Palpatine — namely, Arthur the cynical butler.