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Summary

A snobbish investor and a wily street con-artist find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires.

Cast

Dan Aykroyd

Louis Winthorpe III

Eddie Murphy

Billy Ray Valentine

Ralph Bellamy

Randolph Duke

Don Ameche

Mortimer Duke

Denholm Elliott

Coleman

Kristin Holby

Penelope Witherspoon

Paul Gleason

Clarence Beeks

Jamie Lee Curtis

Ophelia

Alfred Drake

President of Exchange

Bo Diddley

Pawnbroker

Frank Oz

Corrupt Cop

Jim Belushi

Harvey

Al Franken

Baggage Handler #1

Tom Davis

Baggage Handler #2

Maurice Woods

Duke & Duke Employee

Richard D. Fisher, Jr.

Duke & Duke Employee

Anthony DiSabatino

Duke & Duke Employee

Bonnie Behrend

Duke & Duke Employee

Sunnie Merrill

Duke & Duke Employee

James Newell

Duke & Duke Employee

Mary St. John

Duke & Duke Employee

Bonnie Tremena

Duke & Duke Employee

David Schwartz

Duke & Duke Employee

Tom Degidon

Duke Domestic

William Magerman

Duke Domestic

Alan Dellay

Duke Domestic

Florence Anglin

Duke Domestic

Ray D'Amore

Duke Domestic

Bobra Suiter

Duke Domestic

Herb Peterson

Duke Domestic

Sue Dugan

Duke Domestic

Walt Gorney

Duke Domestic

B. Constance Barry

Duke Domestic

P. Jay Sidney

Heritage Club Doorman

Avon Long

Ezra

Tom Mardirosian

Officer Pantuzzi

Charles Brown

Officer Reynolds

Robert Curtis Brown

Todd

Nicholas Guest

Harry

John Bedford Lloyd

Andrew

Tony Sherer

Philip

Robert Earl Jones

Attendant

Robert E. Lee

Cop #1

Peter Hock

Cop #2

Clint Smith

Doo Rag Lenny

Ron Taylor

Big Black Guy

James D. Turner

Even Bigger Black Guy

Giancarlo Esposito

Cellmate #2

Steve Hofvendahl

Cellmate #3

James Eckhouse

Guard

Gwyllum Evans

President of Heritage Club

Eddie Jones

Cop #3

John McCurry

Cop #4

Michelle Mais

Hooker #1

Barra Khan

Hooker #2

Bill Cobbs

Bartender

Joshua Daniel

Party Goer

Jacques Sandulescu

Creepy Man

W.B. Brydon

Bank Manager

Margaret H. Flynn

Duke & Duke Receptionist

Kelly Curtis

Muffy

Tracey K. Shaffer

Constance

Susan Fallender

Bunny

Lucianne Buchanan

President's Mistress

Paul Garcia

Jr. Executive #1

Jed Gillin

Jr. Executive #2

Jimmy Raitt

Ophelia's Client

Kate Taylor

Duke's Secretary

Philip Bosco

Doctor

Bill Boggs

Newscaster

Deborah Reagan

Harvey's Girlfriend

Don McLeod

Gorilla

Stephen Stucker

Stationmaster

Richard Hunt

Wilson

Paul Austin

Trader #1

John Randolph Jones

Trader #2

Jack Davidson

Trader #3

Bernie McInerney

Trader #4

Maurice Copeland

Secretary of Agriculture

Ralph Clanton

Official #1

Bryan Clark

Official #2

Gary Klar

Longshoreman

Afemo Omilami

Longshoreman

Shelly Chee Chee Hall

Monica

Donna Palmer

Gladys

Barry Dennen

Demitri

Murray Bandel

Man at Police Station (uncredited)

Benjean

Stray Dog (uncredited)

John Black

Man Sitting on Couch at Party (uncredited)

John Landis

Man with Briefcase (uncredited)

Shirley Levine

Bag Lady (uncredited)

Charles Pendelton

Cop (uncredited)

Yvonna Russell

Girl in Park (uncredited)

Jan Saint

Man in Police Station (uncredited)

Arleen Sorkin

Woman at Party (uncredited)

Ronald Sylvers

Rolls Royce Driver (uncredited)

Marlene Willoughby

Woman Passed Out on Couch (uncredited)

Jim Gallagher

Duke & Duke Employee

Crew

Director

John Landis

Writer

Herschel Weingrod

Writer

Timothy Harris

Reviews

John Chard

December 23, 2018

The Prince and the Pauper with Eddie & Dan on sparkling form.

Mortimer & Randolph Duke are two repugnantly rich brothers, they make a bet that sees the role reversal of top toff yuppie, Louis Winthorpe, and wise cracking street hustler bum, Billy Ray Valentine. That's about the strength of the films plot, yet it makes for a very funny film that crackles with glee due to it's excellently written script. Watching the respective characters rise and fall respectively creates laughs aplenty whilst asking the question of how we all would cope in similar circumstances?

Sure the film does beat one over the head with its social message, we are in no doubt from the off about the gap between the rich and the poor, and yes the colour of a persons skin also rears its ugly head here to make this one of the more braver comedies of the 80s. Billy Ray Valentine (a brilliant dual performance from Eddie Murphy) is elevated up the social ladder, he becomes a force in industry, but as the progression enthrals him it also makes him aware that the things at the top end of the ladder aren't exactly stand up doings. Winthorpe (a perfectly casted Dan Ackroyd) drops further down the social ladder and resorts to behaviour that nobody from the upper echelons could ever have dreamed he would be capable of - it's only an encounter with prostitute Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis at the peak of her sexiness), and her good heart, that starts to see an upturn in his now dead bottom fortunes.

The gags come thick and fast, both verbally (Murphy on fire) and visually, as the film sees the whole cast fusing together to create a cracking comedy. Come the denouement on Wall Street we are privy to a joyous and savage turn of events that ice the clever Christmas cake we have just digested. It does have an 80s sheen about it, and viewing now in post 9/11 times it's got a tint of nostalgia value to it, but really it's all about the script, the stars and a kick in the eye for those who think nothing of treading on the people below them, enjoy. 8/10