Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

"Nice guys finish last. Meet the winners."

1988 1h 50m EN

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 1,097

ComedyCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Con artist Lawrence Jamieson is a longtime resident of a luxurious coastal resort, where he enjoys the lavish fruits of his deceptions -- that is, until a competitor, Freddy Benson, shows up. When the new guy's lowbrow tactics impinge on his own sophisticated work and believing him to be the infamous conman 'The Jackal', Lawrence resolves to get rid of him. Confident of his own duplicitous talents, he challenges Freddy to a winner-takes-all competition: whoever swindles their latest mark, American heiress Janet Colgate, out of $50,000 first can stay, while the other must leave town.

“Nice guys finish last. Meet the winners.”

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Cast

Steve Martin
Freddy Benson
Michael Caine
Lawrence Jamieson
Glenne Headly
Janet Colgate
Anton Rodgers
Inspector Andre
Barbara Harris
Fanny Eubanks
Ian McDiarmid
Arthur
Dana Ivey
Mrs. Reed
Meagen Fay
Lady from Oklahoma

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Frank Oz
Writers: Dale Launer, Paul Henning, Stanley Shapiro
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 6.5× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Frank Oz, shot by Michael Ballhaus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Miles Goodman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Stephen A. Rotter shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Steve Martin and Michael Caine and Glenne Headly carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Nice guys finish last. Meet the winners.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0095031 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Frank Oz directs. Michael Ballhaus behind the camera. Miles Goodman scores. Stephen A. Rotter cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 6.5× over at the box office.
238 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Frank Oz, shot by Michael Ballhaus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Miles Goodman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Stephen A. Rotter shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Steve Martin and Michael Caine and Glenne Headly carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Nice guys finish last. Meet the winners.".
8IMDB entry: tt0095031 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 19 themes, including "bet", "casino", "competition", "southern france".

The technical file

Cinematography: Michael Ballhaus
Original score: Miles Goodman
Editing: Stephen A. Rotter
Production design: Roy Walker
Costume design: Marit Allen
Makeup / hair: Janet Flora
Sound: Mark Berger
Runtime: 110 min · 1h 50m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $6,500,000
Box office: $42,000,000
Return: 646% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

Also by

Frank Oz

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2014-09-26
★ 8/10
Do you ever have a single thought that originates from above the waist? Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is directed by Frank Oz and written by Dan Launer, Stanley Shapiro and Paul Henning. It stars Michael Caine, Steve Martin, Glenne Headly and Anton Rogers. Music is by Miles Goodman and cinematography by Michael Ballhaus. Two con-men from different ends of the spectrum, prey on women's good nature to fund their lifestyles. Both operating out of the same Mediterranean town, they agree that the town simply isn't big enough for the both of them. They strike a bet where the first one to get fifty thousand out of the chosen female target, gets to stay in town while the other has to leave. A loose remake of Bedtime Story (1964) that starred David Niven and Marlon Brando, Frank Oz's picture is deliciously amoral, sly, clever and very funny. Boosted by the casting of Caine (oily slick) and Martin (live wire bottom feeder), who are both having a wonderful time of it, the film unfolds in a whirl of bluffs, chaos conning and oneupmanship. The story is slight for sure, but as the comedy set-pieces come and go, the ribs are tickled and the surprises that the makers have in store for us late in the day, are truly inspired. The French Mediterranean makes for a visually pleasing backdrop, while Goodman's score is consistently upbeat and perfect for such mirthful shenanigans. They are dirty, they are rotten and they are definitely scoundrels, but once your belly has subsided form the laughter, you may find yourself wondering just how the makers got you to cheer on such shifty characters?! The answer? Inspired casting and smooth construction of plotting by the director. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a real joy. 8/10
DougG_YVR2023-06-07
★ 10/10
Sometimes I’m just looking for a laugh. That’s when a movie like Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is the perfect fit. Through a series of hilarious cons and misadventures, Michael Cain and Steve Martin keep me laughing throughout their entire adventure. This is one of my go-to movies if I’m looking for some hearty laughs while not having to think too deeply.
kevin20192024-08-23
★ 8/10
"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" is terrific fun all round and the luscious locations look absolutely gorgeous - the sun kissed French Riviera has never looked more inviting. The humour is genuinely funny and Michael Caine in particular is obviously enjoying himself tremendously in the guise of Doctor Emil Schaffhausen - he takes great pleasure in torturing a wheelchair-bound Steve Martin, especially during one scene where he vigorously whips his ankles repeatedly using a length of cane. It could have been a major miscalculation telling us from the outset that this film is all about con men. This information leaves you forewarned and continually on the alert during every twist of the story, but that is never a consideration on this occasion. The guile used to construct the film combined with the final pay off is completely unanticipated in what can only be described as a wonderful slice of satisfying entertainment which has been expertly produced.