Directed by:
Frank OzCinematography:
Michael BallhausComposer:
Miles GoodmanCast:
Steve Martin, Michael Caine, Glenne Headly, Anton Rodgers, Barbara Harris, Ian McDiarmid, Dana Ivey, Meagen Fay, Frances Conroy, Nathalie Auffret (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
Martin is Freddy Benson, a smalltime conman sleazing his way through Europe on whatever handouts he can scam. Caine is Lawrence Jamieson, an impeccably dressed and high-minded artiste who thinks Freddy is giving him and all con men a bad name. At first, Lawrence agrees to help Freddy spruce up his talents and his wardrobe. But when it becomes apparent that the Riviera isn't big enough for the both of them, they make a winner-take-all wager over the fortunes of a naive American soap heiress (Glenne Headly): the first one to "clean her out" can make the other clear out and keep the Riviera and its unsuspecting tourists to himself! (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (3)
A comedy bull’s eye. Michael Caine called Dirty Rotten Scoundrels one of his favorite films he's appeared in, and I don't blame him at all. I'm not familiar with the original with David Niven and Marlon Brando, so fortunately I could avoid unpleasant comparisons and "just" had fun. A convoluted plot was the last thing that would bother me. The film is very funny from the very beginning, when we see Cain posing as a nobleman collecting gifts for African children, but the real rollercoaster starts some twenty minutes in, when Steve Martin becomes Cain's disciple. I thought that I would never see anything better than the scenes with Brother Ruprecht, but then came the bet and a stunningly imaginative performance of con-artist showmanship, a wheelchair and dance trauma, Dr. Schuffhausen and his examination of lame legs, the sailors... Perfect.
()
When two people fight, a third laughs. Even after almost three decades since its premiere, it is still a pleasant and functional comedy with several excellent moments resulting from the mutual rivalry of two swindlers in one arena. Glenne Headly is a good actress, but she lacks that little bit of charisma to keep up with her colleagues, so the majority of the runtime is rightfully dominated by Steve Martin and Michael Caine. It is not so surprising that the seasoned British veteran performs better on screen, embodying his character with charm and nobility. His American counterpart, on the other hand, tends to overplay his portrayal of an uneducated brute. It is paradoxical that even though Caine plays a polished man from a higher class, he actually comes from a neglected working-class housing estate. Overall impression: 65%.
()
There are two of them, two of the many unctuous liars who steal from rich ladies. The first one is worse than the second and thus qualified to give, under duress, his competitor a few lessons in being a sleazeball. After a remedial retraining and a few warm-up betrayals, the prodding with much sharper objects begins. Their strengths are extraordinarily well balanced and if you don’t want to be the next victim, don’t bet on the outcome of this pissing match. Frank Oz can make very funny and endearingly politically incorrect comedies about people whose company you would actually prefer to avoid in favour of pumping out your neighbour’s septic tank. Fortunately, however, this isn’t reality, but a brilliant comedy. It is a joy to watch Caine and Martin dive into their roles and their one-upmanship in the art of wilful imbecility. Furthermore, you can see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels as an unconventional lesson in social immorality, without which it’s hard to get by today. 80%
()
Gallery (52)
Photo © Orion Pictures Corporation
![Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/164/637/164637147_90d8a6.jpg)
Ads