For me, Trading Places is the greatest and one of the most underrated Christmas movies of all time.
Itโs almost criminal we never got to see more of Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd working together, they had such great chemistry. And letโs not forget 25-year-old Jamie Lee Curtis โ the smoking hot and a phenomenal actress delivered some unforgettable scenes.
But did you know that several hilarious moments in the film happened completely by accident?
If any other actors had been cast inย Trading Places, it simply wouldnโt have worked. Itโs like a rare alignment of the planets โ everything came together perfectly. From Eddie Murphyโs comedic genius to Dan Aykroydโs sharp performance andย Jamie Lee Curtisโsย unforgettable presence at just 25 years old (yes, she wasย smokinโ hot), this movie is nothing short of brilliant.
Released nearly 40 years ago, it remains a timeless classic. Can you believe that? Four decades later, youโd think a movie of that age would feel dated, yetย Trading Placesย still feels fresh every time. Many fans even make it a Christmas tradition, proving its enduring charm.
Stay tuned as we dive into behind-the-scenes stories, unexpected bloopers, and little-known facts that makeย Trading Placesย the comedy masterpiece it is today.
The deeper message of the movie
If you havenโt seenย Trading Places, itโs a classic comedy from 1983 about a wild social experiment. Two rich brothers, Randolph and Mortimer Duke, make a bet to see if a personโs success is based on their environment or their personality.
To test their theory, they swap the lives of their spoiled, wealthy employee, Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd), with a fast-talking street hustler, Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy).
The Dukes completely wreck Louisโs life โ taking away his money, job, and status โ and hand it all to Billy Ray. But when Louis and Billy Ray figure out theyโre being played, they join forces with a clever woman named Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis) to get back at the Dukes and teach them a lesson theyโll never forget.
Itโs a sharp, funny movie about class, greed, and what really makes a person who they are. One of its deeper messages โ being careful about judging others โresonates just as much today.
A tennis game inspired the screenwriters
Trading Placesย was written by Timothy Harris and Herschel Weingrod, and the idea came to life in the early 1980s when Harris met two wealthy (and incredibly cheap) brothers who couldnโt stop competing with each other.
Screenwriter Timothy Harris shared that he used to play tennis with two brothers who were both doctors. They were incredibly annoying to play with because they constantly argued, not just about the game, but about everything.
Harris got the idea to turn this dynamic into a story and pitched the concept of brothers arguing over the โnature versus nurtureโ debate to his writing partner, Herschel Weingrod. The rest, as they say, is comedy gold.
A bikini picture changed everything
The story wasย originally meant to starย comedy legends Richard Pryor andย Gene Wilder.
When that didnโt work out, director John Landis brought in Dan Aykroyd, who heโd worked with before, and Eddie Murphy, who was just starting to make waves in Hollywood with this being only his second movie.
โThe only character in the script I had a problem with, because sheโs such a fantasy, is Ophelia. The classic โhooker with a heart of goldโ ย โ sheโs such a fantasy that I thought how the fuck am I going to get away with this?โ,โ Landis said.
John Landis made a daring move when he approached Jamie Lee Curtis for Ophelia. He had her in mind for the role, but the studio wasnโt on board at first. Back then, Curtis was primarily known for her scream-queen roles in horror films.
It would be Curtisโ first major big-budget film, a real A-list opportunity that gave her the chance to show she could do more than just outrun a slasher in a hockey mask.
โNobody else wanted me. I guarantee you, John Landis was the only person who said, โSheโs going to play this part.โ And without that moment I wouldnโt have now the career that I get to have,โ Curtisย shared.
John Landis later admitted that Curtisโ decision to do a topless scene helped change the minds of the Paramount executives. After seeing a photo of her in a bikini, they were convinced it would help make the movie more marketable.
John Landis didnโt know who Eddie Murphy was
When the movie was being cast, director John Landis didnโt even know who Eddie Murphy was yet. Murphyโs breakout filmย 48 Hoursย (1982) hadnโt been released, but the studio had already previewed it and knew he was a star in the making.
Landis recalls being asked, โWhat do you think about Eddie Murphy for the role of Billy Ray Valentine?โ To which he humorously responded, โWhoโs Eddie Murphy?โ
The movie played a huge role in making Eddie Murphy one of the highest-paid and most sought-after comedians in Hollywood. Murphy mentioned that he was paid $350,000 for his role, though some reports claimed it was as high as $1 million.
He also said that makingย Trading Placesย was the most fun heโd ever had on a movie set. He joked that every film after that felt more like โwork.โ
Ever heard this classic Eddie Murphy joke?
Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche were absolutely spot-on as the Duke brothers, Randolph and Mortimer, inย Trading Places. These two wealthy and clueless elites drive the movieโs infamous social experiment with their scheming and arrogance, making them the perfect villains you love to watch get what they deserve.
Interestingly, Bellamy and Ameche reprised their roles as the Dukes in Eddie Murphyโsย Coming to Americaย (1988), where they make a hilarious cameo as homeless men. In a full-circle moment, Murphyโs character, Prince Akeem, gives them a generous sum of money to help them get back on their feet.
Oh, and hereโs a fun tidbit:ย Trading Placesย was Bellamyโs 99th film and Amecheโs 100th. Eddie Murphy couldnโt resist joking, โBetween the three of us, weโve made 201 movies!โ Classic Murphy humor!
A neat detail after 3 minutes
Comedies likeย Trading Places, especially from the โ80s, are a rare find these days. That perfect mix of humor and heart just hasnโt been replicated in decades. And hereโs a fun twist: unlike most โ80s comedies, which are set in New York, this one takes place in Philadelphia.
There was actually a reason they chose to film in Philadelphia. The city had a strong connection to the founding of the country, the Constitution, and the idea that everyone is entitled to the pursuit of happiness โ everything that embodies the idealism of America.
โI thought it was a good way to highlight that, especially in the opening scene when you see the legless black guy,โ screenwriter Timothy Harris told Business Insider.
For the sharp-eyed viewer, thereโs also another neat Easter egg in the opening montage.
If you look closely at around the 3-minute mark, youโll spot the iconic Rocky statue. It was first seen inย Rocky IIIย (1982) in front of the Philadelphia Spectrum arena. These days, itโs hanging out at the bottom of the museum steps, where itโs become a huge part of Phillyโs tourist scene.
The weather mystery inย Trading Places
During the first fifteen days of filming in Philadelphia, the weather was so freezing that they had to shoot in a snow-covered city.
In one scene where Randolph and Mortimer pick up Valentine from jail, director John Landis had to sit in a towing truck, pulling the Rolls-Royce with Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy, and Eddie Murphy inside.
Landis wore a thick parka to stay warm while the actors had a space heater to keep cozy. And hereโs the kicker โ Landis was listening to their dialogue through a radio!
But, fast-forward to later scenes, and youโd think they filmed in a completely different place. Suddenly, Philadelphiaโs streets were dry and snow-free.
One overhead shot of Constitution Hall even shows lush green grass and trees with leaves. Oops! Looks like the weather inย Trading Placesย was as unpredictable as the plot twistsโฆ
Theย Eddie Murphyย rule
In 2010, a rule was added to the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act, aimed at regulating financial markets and preventing people from using insider information to manipulate the market โ kind of like what the Duke brothers tried to pull off inย Trading Places. Since the movie played a role in inspiring this rule, itโs now known as the โEddie Murphy Rule.โ
Funny enough, Eddie Murphy admitted that during the chaotic commodities exchange scene in the film, he was just following the script. He had no clue what was going on because, as he put it, commodities trading was way too confusing for him. So, in a way, Eddie helped teach the world about market manipulationโฆ without really understanding it himself!
A Hollywood legendโs comeback
Don Ameche, a Hollywood icon since the 1930s, usually starred as the dapper, mustached leading man. But did you know that the veteran actor had taken a 13-year break from acting before appearing inย Trading Places?
When John Landis found out that Don Ameche hadnโt made a film in thirteen years, his first reaction was to ask, โHas he passed away?โ
Landis specifically wanted Ameche for the film because heโd never played a villain before, andย Trading Placesย offered the perfect opportunity for that. Despite being such a big name in Hollywood, Ameche admitted he wasnโt familiar with Eddie Murphy or Dan Aykroyd โ two of the hottest comedians at the time.
The feeling was mutual, as both Murphy and Aykroyd confessed they didnโt know much about Ameche either! Itโs a fun little piece of Hollywood history that shows the blending of generations and talents.
Religious beliefs made one scene hard
Don Ameche, a devout Roman Catholic and loyal Republican, had strong religious convictions that made him uncomfortable with swearing.
This became a challenge during the scene at the end of the movie, where he had to shout, โF**k him!โ at a group of Wall Street executives. True to his principles, Ameche insisted on doing the scene in one take, refusing to repeat the line for a second shot.
One line almost got cut
Eddie Murphy didnโt like some of the stereotypical lines in the originalย Trading Placesย script. He thought lines like โjive turkeyโ and โsuckerโ werenโt realistic. He explained that a white writer writing for a black person would use stereotypical dialogue. So, he changed many of his lines to make them sound more natural.
But one line almost got cut โ Murphyโs line, โWho put their Kools out on my Persian rug?โ The studio thought it could be seen as racist since Kool cigarettes were mostly marketed to African Americans, but Murphy kept it in anyway.
Hair switches sides
Inย Trading Places, several hilarious moments came about by accident, and itโs no surprise considering Eddie Murphyโs knack for improvisation.
For instance, Mortimer Duke (Don Ameche) having trouble catching the money clip wasnโt part of the plan, but the actors just rolled with it, staying in character, and it made it into the movie.
Hereโs another fun detail: When Mortimer Duke is signing the paychecks, one of the shots is actually flipped horizontally. At first, he signs with his left hand, then switches to his right, and then back to his left. Oh, and his part in his hair switches sides too! Has anyone else caught this little mix-up?
The truth about Inga from Sweden
Remember when Jamie Lee Curtisโ character, Ophelia, introduces herself as โInga from Svedenโ? Well, there was some behind-the-scenes confusion. Her co-stars noticed she was wearing lederhosen, which is actually traditional in German-speaking countries, and thought it was a little odd for a โSwedishโ character!
The whole โSwedishโ disguise came about because Jamie Lee Curtis had trouble nailing the Austrian accent, so they decided to go with a Swedish twist instead.
How Jamie Lee Curtis felt about nude scene
The comedy marked Jamie Lee Curtisโ first nude scene, and she actually went on to do another topless scene later that same year inย Love Lettersย (1983).
In a 1990 interview, Jamie Lee Curtis was pretty confident about her topless scene.
She even said, โMy breasts are beautiful, and I gotta tell you, theyโve gotten a lot of attention for what is relatively short screen time,โ when speaking to the Chicago Tribune.
But fast forward to 2022, and her perspective had changed a bit. Looking back, Curtis admitted, โI was 21 years old and the part required Ophelia to take off her dress,โ in an interview withย People. โDid I like doing it? No. Did I feel embarrassed that I was doing it? Yes.โ
Now, at her current age, she couldnโt imagine doing a nude scene again: โI also am married for 37 years, I wasnโt married then. Iโm a mother of children. Absolutely not,โ Curtis.
Family ties and fashion fumbles
At around 58 minutes in the film, when Ophelia takes Louis to her apartment, you can spot that sheโs wearing pantyhose. But later, when she removes her dress, sheโs only in panties.
Also, did you know that Penelopeโs (Kristin Holby) friend Muffy is actually played by Jamie Lee Curtisโ sister, Kelly Curtis? And her future brother-in-law, Nicholas Guest, makes an appearance as Harry! Pretty cool family connection!
The quiet tribute to John Belushi
The number on Dan Aykroydโs mug shot, 74745058, is the same one given to John Belushi inย The Blues Brothersย (1980).
Aykroyd included this as a heartfelt homage to his late comedy partner who had passed away the year before. Additionally, Jim Belushi, Johnโs brother, made a cameo in the film as a circus performer dressed in an ape suit.
The scene that didnโt make the theatrical cut
I thought Iโd seen it all when it comes toย Trading Places, but turns out thereโs a little hidden gem that didnโt make the original theatrical cut! Thereโs a scene that often pops up when the movie is shown on TV, probably to fill in that extra time between commercials.
So, after Clarence Beeks (Paul Gleason) chats with the Dukes on the phone, and Billy Ray (Eddie Murphy) eavesdrops on their scheme, things take a turn. In the original version, Beeks heads straight from the phone booth to the Amtrak platform with the crop report briefcase in hand.
But in the added scene, we get a behind-the-scenes look where Beeks is off to a secured vault, where he knocks out a security guard and cracks open a safe deposit box to get those reports. I mean, talk about some extra shady business going on behind the curtainโฆ
Trading Placesย really was one of a kind, wasnโt it? Movies like this, filled with unforgettable characters, hilarious moments, and a perfect mix of humor and social commentary, seem like a thing of the past. Itโs a shame we donโt get that same magic today. But hey, thank goodness for the 80s and 90s!
Letโs keep theย Trading Placesย spirit alive, because, letโs face it, itโs a classic weโll always treasure.
