Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) | Presenting Hitchcock Podcast

Gooooood evening. In this month’s episode of Presenting Hitchcock, Cory and Aaron need some money to help a sick grandmother as they discuss Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Written by: Dale Launer, Stanley Shapiro, Paul Henning

Starring: Steve Martin, Michael Caine, Glenne Headly, Anton Rodgers, Barbara Harris, Ian McDiarmid, and Dana Ivey

Directed by: Frank Oz

Trailer:

Our Favourite Trivia:

Hitchcock Comparisons:

• To Catch a Thief
• Strangers on a Train

Director cameo: Frank Oz is the police officer rushing Freddy to meet Lawrence at the airport near the end of the movie.

This film started as a possible vehicle for Mick Jagger and David Bowie, who approached Dale Launer to write a screenplay for them. They eventually dropped out to pursue a film with Martin Scorsese. Eddie Murphy was considered for the role of Freddy Benson. John Cleese was also approached for the role of Jamieson, but declined. 

Steve Martin was sent the script so he could audition for the Jaimieson character, but a miscommunication with Richard Dreyfuss saw him prepare for the role, and Frank Oz had Martin read for Benson instead. He loved his take and this landed him the role. This is the third of five collaborations between Oz and Martin, having previously worked together on The Muppet Movie (1979) and Little Shop of Horrors (1986), then teaming again on Housesitter (1992) and Bowfinger (1999).

When Michael Caine was first approached about a key role in the movie, Frank Oz tempted him with the promise of a cozy villa in the south of France for the three-month period of the shoot. Once Caine learned that the villa happened to be conveniently situated between the villas of two old friends, actor Roger Moore and film composer Leslie Bricusse, he jumped at the opportunity.

This movie is a loose remake of Bedtime Story (1964) , which starred David Niven and Marlon Brando. Niven was a friend and childhood hero to Michael Caine, he made a deliberate choice to model his look and performance as a homage to Niven who had passed away 5 years earlier. This film was also loosely remade as The Hustle (2019), starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson.

Director Frank Oz encouraged Steve Martin and Michael Caine to improv on set, particularly in the jail scene when Freddy struggles to remember Lawrence’s name, and the film’s ending.

Janet’s name is a clue that she’s the Jackal: (Ja)net (Col)gate.

The 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 leading you to believe the film is uplifting, however, it ends with Freddy pushing an elderly woman into the harbor with the warning to not see the film during its Christmas release.

The Random Draw for Next Picture:

Next up, we’ll be discussing A Perfect Murder

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