Trading Places
Directed by
John Landis
Starring
Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Denholm Elliot, Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy

Made in 1983 by Paramount Pictures, Trading Places is based around a simple idea that two people at opposite ends of society can have their lives reversed. Billie Ray Valentine is the poor ghetto hustler whilst Louis Winthorpe III is the super rich investment broker whose lives swap over with hilarious consequences. The movie begins when the two greedy bosses of Winthorpe's firm, Randolph and Mortimer Duke, wager a bet between themselves on whether they can take a man from the street and place him in charge of their firm, and also that they can turn the life of Winthorpe upside down.

As their plan begins to come together, Valentine and Winthorpe become aware of what is happening to them and decide to take revenge on the Dukes with the help of a prostitute named Ophelia and a Butler named Coleman.

An absolute corker of a film, Trading Places is full full of one liners which are still funny time after time. All the actors give outstanding performances, and with a very fitting uplifting soundtrack the film has everything you could wish for and will no doubt be shown at Christmas time on TV for many years to come.

Top 5 Trading Places quotes!
  1. Five dollars - maybe I'll go to the movies - by myself!
  2. Looking good Louis - Feeling good Todd!
  3. One false move and the w**** loses a kidney!
  4. Say, man, when I was growin' up we want Jacuzzi we had to fart in the tub!
  5. By the way, food and rent are not the only things around here that cost money. YOU sleep on the couch!

Trading Places Links

A Special Mention for Clarence Beeks

Some of the films funniest moments centre around the evil Clarence Beeks. Played by Paul Gleason, he is bought off by the Dukes for inside knowledge of the future crop report, this man delivers outrageous lines guaranteed to have you rolling around the floor in stitches. This man does not like anybody, but meets his match in the form of Valentine and Winthorpe. He is foul mouthed and to be avoided at all costs. Whatever happened to him after the boat?

Information
Trading Places was nominated for 2 oscars in 1984 both for its music. Denholm Elliot won best suppporting actor and Jamie Lee Curtis won best supporting actress at the BAFTAs. The film grossed $90.4 million in the US making it one of the biggest hits of the year. The music you are listening to is the Marriage of Figaro by Mozart which appears at the start of the film..