22 unknown facts about the film “Trading Places,” which forced the United States to change the law on commodity markets (11 photos)

Talented acting and a twisted plot make you watch “Trading Places” (1983), again and again immersing yourself in the atmosphere of Christmas miracles that happen even on Wall Street.





1. This was Eddie Murphy's second film. The first is “48 Hours” (1982). Director John Landis had not yet seen the actor in action, but after the first auditions he said that “this guy is going to be a star.”

2. The roles of Billy and Louis were originally intended for the duo Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, who are known for such films as Silver Arrow (1976), Crazy (1980) and See Nothing, Hear Nothing (1989). When Pryor turned down the role and Murphy was brought on board, the first thing he did was demand to replace Wilder, because he believed that pairing him with him would be associated exclusively with Pryor.



2.1. You can tell that the role of Billy was written for Pryor in the scene when Billy begs, pretending to be a veteran of the Vietnam War. Murphy is too young to be a veteran.





3. Filming took place at the New York Mercantile Exchange and real traders participated in the crowd. The shooting was supposed to take place on a weekday, but the appearance of Murphy and Aykroyd caused a stir and a halt in bidding. Therefore, filming was postponed until the weekend.

4. In 2010, the United States passed the Dodd-Frank Act, which prohibited the use of insider information to manipulate commodity markets. They say that legislators took inspiration from “Trading Places,” which is why the law itself is behind their backs called the “Eddie Murphy Rule.”

5. Ophelia's (Jamie Lee Curtis) "Swedish" cover was originally "Austrian". But the actress could not convincingly parody the German accent. However, when Bix hands her a backpack from the shelf, she answers in German “Danke”, and not “so” in Swedish.



6. The Dukes always wear the same suits. The only difference is that Randolph has a bow tie, and Mortimer has a tie.



6.1. On Randolph's desk is a photograph of Ronald Reagan, and on Mortimer's desk is a photograph of Richard Nixon.

7. Billy’s salary ($80 thousand) in 2021 prices is about $220 thousand. Don’t keep your money in the bank!

8. Until recently, the Westin Hotel in Philadelphia operated a restaurant called Winthorpe and Valentine, named after the main characters in the film.

9. When Louis and Billy arrive at the auction at the World Trade Center, the former says to the latter: “Here, either you kill or you will be killed.” This phrase is cut out when broadcast on American television in memory of the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack.

10. John Landis Easter egg :)



11. The original title of the film is “Black and White.” Well, yes, I agree, this is too much. "Snow White and the Miner."

12. The porters on the train are the hosts of the famous show “Saturday Night Live” Al Franken and Tom Davis. Franken admitted that he still receives royalties from the film company for this role.



13. Oh, who is this? John Landis!



14. Louis' license plate number matches that of Jake Blues (John Belushi) in another John Landis film, The Blues Brothers (1980).



15. In fact, these films have a lot in common. For example, the cop who takes Louis in is played by Frank Oz, who also played the cop who lets Jake go in The Blues Brothers. The scene of Billy's arrest in the club, when many guns are pointed at him at once from the same place.

16. At the beginning of the film, Mozart’s opera “The Marriage of Figaro” is heard, in the action of which the moments of “Trading Places” can also be traced.

17. The powerful boys from prison are named like this in the credits. Well, really, how could it be otherwise? :)



18. Louis and Billy's badges are green at the beginning of the auction, and gray at the end. All other data on them is the same.

19. When Louis goes to work there is practically no snow on the streets. At the same time, in the same city, but in different scenes, the streets are covered with snow.

20. When the Dukes go to the office, they show it like this in the car: Mortimer on the left, Randolph on the right. However, they arrive at their destination in reverse.

21. Randolph and Mortimer appear in a scene from another John Landis film starring Eddie Murphy, Coming to America (1988). They play a couple of homeless people who are presented with a money cutlet by Prince Akim. The hint about the future fate of these characters is very clear!



22. Since 1997, Italia 1, one of the main terrestrial channels in Italy, has been broadcasting "Trading Places" on the evening of every Christmas. And gets more than 10% of the Italian audience! Here's "The Irony of Fate" in Italian!