Thursday, May 28, 2009

Trading Places

Trading Places. 1983 Paramount Pictures.
Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Denholm Elliott, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: John Landis
Buy Trading Places (Special Collectors' Edition) from Amazon.

Two filthy rich and morally bankrupt brothers, Randolph and Mortimer Duke (Bellamy & Ameche), hold different beliefs when it comes to the issue of nature versus nurture. Mort thinks that any well-bred person can easily conquer any challenges presented to him, and a not-so well-bred person will fail even if he's given many advantages. Randolph believes that the former person will degenerate if taken out of his environment, but the so-called "disadvantaged" person will change for the better if given the opportunity. The brothers make a one dollar bet, and decide to ruin the life of one of their employees, Louis Winthorpe III (Aykroyd), taking away everything he has, while installing a street hustler named Billy Ray Valentine (Murphy) in his place in the office, and at home. To hasten Winthorpe's downfall (he's already been framed for theft), the brothers hire Ophelia (Curtis), a prostitute who turns out to have a heart of gold.

Over the course of the bet, it turns out that Randolph's belief is correct, as Billy Ray turns his back on his old associates after initially opening up Winthorpe's home for a party, while Louis at one point tries to plant illegal drugs near Billy Ray in an effort to get him hired, before attempting suicide twice.

Unknown to the Duke brothers, Billy Ray overhears them discussing the results of their bets in the washroom, along with their intention of getting rid of Valentine without reinstating Winthorpe to his stolen position at work. Randolph and Mortimer are disgusted at the idea of the idea of either one in charge of their Philadelphia-based office. Billy Ray is angry about being manipulated like this, and he seeks out Winthorpe to tell him what is going on. With the help of Ophelia and a friendly butler named Coleman (Elliott), the two of them swiftly decide that breaking the Dukes financially is the best plan for revenge.

Recommended film.

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