Two con men try to settle their rivalry by betting on who can swindle a young American heiress out of fifty thousand dollars first.Two con men try to settle their rivalry by betting on who can swindle a young American heiress out of fifty thousand dollars first.Two con men try to settle their rivalry by betting on who can swindle a young American heiress out of fifty thousand dollars first.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
Aïna Wallé
- Miss Krista Knudsen
- (as Aina Wallé)
Rupert Holliday-Evans
- English Sailor #1
- (as Rupert Holliday Evans)
André Penvern
- Waiter on the Train
- (as Andre Penvern)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
This film is so smart, so imaginative and so artfully played that it flew over the radar of the average movie-goer when it first came out. Michael Caine is at his brilliant best as the suave Laurence Jamison and Steve Martin's 'Ruprecht' is a comic masterpiece. As Freddy, he's the perfect boob -- smart enough to con women into giving him small sums of money, too stupid to realize there's a world going on around him where the stakes are much, much higher. It is also easy to underestimate the work of Glenn Headly, but once you've seen the whole movie you realize how her simple choices add up to a very complicated performance indeed. Every time I see this movie I laugh out loud.
I cannot believe that the first time I saw this - one of my favorite comedies - I was not enamored of it. Subsequent viewings have given it an honored place on my roster of great comedies. What fun Caine and Martin must have working with each other on this one; their enthusiasm certainly shows in the results. Best line: "One must know one's limitations, Freddy. You are a moron." Definitely a must-see for comedy aficionados.
What a film! "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" has a really clever plot, in which Lawrence, a high-class playboy (Michael Caine), and Freddy, a petty con man (Steve Martin), make their living by seducing and cheating rich ladies. However, the little French town is too small for both, so they decide to set up a bet in which the loser has to clear the area. Pretty and naive Janet (Glenn Headly) is the object of their contest, and each one of them engages in ever-more ingenious tricks to try to rip her off and win the bet, yet with unpredictable results.
The movie is hilarious, and despite its 15 years' of age, it is as fresh as it has been when it was first produced. Steve Martin of course is the funniest character of all, with his fantastic "Ruprecht" performance being unforgettable. Go ahead and enjoy this film. It is worth it! 9/10.
The movie is hilarious, and despite its 15 years' of age, it is as fresh as it has been when it was first produced. Steve Martin of course is the funniest character of all, with his fantastic "Ruprecht" performance being unforgettable. Go ahead and enjoy this film. It is worth it! 9/10.
This was such a funny and most clever of comedies. Each scene is is like a jigsaw puzzle and made up of pieces of supreme comedy. Michael Cain and Steve Martin play rivals in a game to be the winning (ultimate) conman, where the loser has to pack-up and leave town. After all of these years it's incredibly fresh and even if you know the inventive ending twist, this movie can be revisited many a time.
Remake of 1964's 'Bedtime Story' (written by comedy genius Paul Henning) moves right along with Michael Caine and Steve Martin sharing duties as professional opportunists one-upping each other in a conquest contest.
It's a sort of Martin and Lewis pairing, and, although the comedy is derivative, it's by no means boring or stale, likely due to the talent of the two marvelous leads.
Wonderful European landscapes are a bonus.
Well worth watching.
It's a sort of Martin and Lewis pairing, and, although the comedy is derivative, it's by no means boring or stale, likely due to the talent of the two marvelous leads.
Wonderful European landscapes are a bonus.
Well worth watching.
Did you know
- TriviaThe teaser trailer features a sequence which does not appear in the final movie. Freddy Benson and Lawrence Jamieson walk along a boardwalk, politely moving out of the way of other people with a voiceover saying: "There are numerous distinguished gentlemen in the world; refined, cultured gentlemen; nice men; but nice men finish last." As the last few lines are spoken, Freddy pushes an old lady into the water, and Lawrence shoves a child's face into his cotton candy. Director Frank Oz has said that audiences were very surprised to learn that the scene was not part of the finished movie.
- GoofsFreddy passes himself off as a paralyzed naval officer but is wearing the blue dress uniform of a US Army enlisted man with the rank of corporal. The sailors who help Freddy should have picked up on that. But the two sailors are not American, so it is possible that they are not familiar with the uniforms of foreign services.
- Quotes
Freddy Benson: I didn't steal any money from her! She gave it to me.
Inspector Andre: But, she filed this complaint against you.
Freddy Benson: She caught me with another woman. C'mon. You're French, you understand that!
Inspector Andre: To be with another woman, that is French. To be caught, that is American.
- Crazy creditsWhile the names of Stanley Shapiro and Paul Henning appear in the credits as two of this film's three writers, they are actually there just to credit their script for Bedtime Story (1964), of which this is a remake.
- ConnectionsEdited into Alias: The Enemy Walks In (2002)
- SoundtracksPuttin' On the Ritz
Written by Irving Berlin
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Dos pícaros sinvergüenzas
- Filming locations
- Villa Hier, Cap d'Antibes, Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France(Lawrence Jamieson's luxurious digs)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $42,039,085
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,840,498
- Dec 18, 1988
- Gross worldwide
- $42,039,085
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