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Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)

PG   |    |  Comedy, Crime, Mystery

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) Poster

Film noir parody with a detective uncovering a sinister plot. Characters from real noirs appear as scenes from various films are intercut.

6.9/10
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67 Metascore

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  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
  • Steve Martin in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)

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Cast & Crew

Top Billed Cast

Director:

Carl Reiner

Writers:

Carl Reiner, George Gipe, Steve Martin
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Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
16 September 2003 | davidals
7
| As strong as a cup of my famous java...
I first saw this in the theater with my dad, at the age of 13, when it was first released - he was a huge fan of classic movies and usually suffered through the stuff he took me to. Not this one - we were both in hysterics, and I'd have to say I owe my huge love of classic Hollywood (and global) cinema to this film. CITIZEN KANE it may not be but no matter - I dug the humor and the atmosphere at the time, and even then was aware of how much work this must have been.

I still watch this one on occasion, and it is the rare comedy that has held up very well with the passage of time - critics at the time seemed to write it off as a stunt, but I've noted that at least a little reevaluation of DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID has occurred over the years. The performances - as both a spoof and a love-letter to film noir - are top notch, with Steve Martin at his best here. The dialog gets deep into Raymond Chandler/Dashiell Hammett hard-boiled private-eye stylishness, serving up gumshoe-with-dame clichés just juiced up enough to give Steve something to run with, while still offering an a solid story. The finale is magnificent, Martin and Carl Reiner jousting their way through an avalanche of every two-bit dime-store whodunnit game-over cliché to ever grace the big screen, cheap alibis falling like drunken angels across the naked city as the big heat descends... Or - ahem -something like that...

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The car accident at the beginning of the movie (the killing of the scientist) is taken from "Keeper of the Flame (1942)." That movie, however, is not listed in the credits as the source of the footage.

Quotes

Captain Carlos Rodriguez: Are you wearing pajamas? Senor, I'll help you take them off.
Rigby Reardon: I don't need help with my pajamas!
Captain Carlos Rodriguez: Stop! Now.
Rigby Reardon: See? Carlos!
Captain Carlos Rodriguez: Don't worry about your pajamas, senor. I'll take care of them.
Captain Carlos Rodriguez: Out of the way! We're chasing a killer! Everybody, stand back! He's ...
Captain Carlos Rodriguez: ...

Goofs

In the grocery store by the boxes of Farina, in the shot with Steve Martin, the baby on the box is facing the left of the box. In the shot from Double Indemnity with Fred MacMurray, the baby is facing the right side of the box.

Crazy Credits

The logo Universal Pictures 1928-1931.

Soundtracks

Dead Men's Bolero
Music by Miklós Rózsa
Lyrics by Steve Goodman

Storyline

Plot Summary

Genres

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Details

Release Date:

21 May 1982

Language

English

Country of Origin

USA

Filming Locations

Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,289,601 23 May 1982

Gross USA:

$18,196,170

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$18,196,170

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