Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Frank Oz and produced by Bernard Williams. The screenplay was written written by Dale Launer, Stanley Shapiro and Paul Henning.  It is a remake of the Henning and Shapiro script for the 1964 film ‘Bedtime Story’ staring Marlon Brando and David Niven.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Movie Poster | Steve Martin | Michael Caine | Glenne Headly | 1988
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Movie Poster

Rated:  PG (movie contains violence, sexuality and language)
Run Time:  1h 50min
Release Date:  December 14, 1988 (USA)
Genre:  Comedy, Crime
Director:  Frank Oz
Studio:  Orion Pictures
Budget:  $22 Million
Box Office:  $42 Million

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels stars Steve Martin, Michael Caine, Glenne Headly, Anton Rodgers, Barbara Harris and Ian McDiarmid.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is the story of two con men competing to swindle an American heiress out of $50,000. Lawrence Jamieson (Michael Caine) is a suave educated British con man who stages elaborate ruses to con rich women out of their wealth so he can maintain a lavish lifestyle. Freddy Benson (Steve Martin) is a less-refined American small-time hustler on the hunt for twenty-dollar bills and free meals.

Lawrence believes Freddy is a con man working his way through Europe known as the Jackal. Lawrence uses his inside ties in the police department to get Freddy out of his territory by putting him on a plane out of the country to avoid prosecution. Freddy meets one of Lawrence’s marks on the plane and she inquires how Freddy knows the prince and Freddy figures out that Lawrence is a con man as well. Freddy decides to blackmail Lawrence and forces him to teach him the art of the big con. During his tutelage Freddy and Lawrence team up on a few different wealthy women.

Eventually, Lawrence and Freddy have a difference in how to operate their joint cons, so they make a bet: the person who is able to con a mark out of $50,000 with get the French Riviera as their territory, with the other having to leave forever. With intelligence from Inspector Andre (Anton Rodgers) he alerts Lawrence about the arrival of American ‘Soap Queen’ Janet Colgate (Glenne Headly) who just arrived in the area and they make her the bet.

Movie Quotes

“Welcome to Hell.” – Arthur 
“A poacher who shoots at rabbits may scare big game away.” – Lawrence Jamieson

“May I take your trident, sir?” – Arthur

“Not mother?” – Freddy Benson

Official Movie Trailer

Movie Stars

Steve Martin as Freddy Benson

Michael Caine as Lawrence Jamieson

Glenne Headly as Janet Colgate

Anton Rodgers as Inspector Andre

Barbara Harris as Fanny Eubanks

Ian McDiarmid as Arthur


Additional Information

Wikipedia
IMDB