Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)

Sharky's Machine (1981)

Rachel Ward

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Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

(1982)

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Titanic (1953)

Barbara Stanwyck

Both Rachel Ward and Barbara Stanwyck appeared in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid.

About Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

"Laugh, or I’ll blow your lips off..."

Juliet Forrest is convinced that the reported death of her father in a mountain car crash was no accident. Her father was a prominent cheese scientist working on a secret recipe. To prove it was murder, she enlists the services of private eye Rigby Reardon. He finds a slip of paper containing a list of people who are 'The Friends and Enemies of Carlotta'.

Directed by Carl Reiner
Written by George Gipe, Steve Martin, Carl Reiner

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Top cast

Steve Martinas Rigby Reardon

Rachel Wardas Juliet Forrest

Alan Laddas (in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)

Carl Reineras Juliet's Butler / Field Marshal Wilfried von Kluck

Barbara Stanwyckas (in "Sorry - Wrong Number") (archive footage)

Ray Millandas (in "The Lost Weekend") (archive footage)

Ava Gardneras (in "The Killers" / "The Bribe") (archive footage)

Burt Lancasteras (in "The Killers") (archive footage)

Humphrey Bogartas (in "The Big Sleep" / "In a Lonely Place" / "Dark Passage") (archive footage)

Cary Grantas (in "Suspicion") (archive footage)

Behind the camera

Box office

Soundtrack

Movie trivia

• 1

  The film is a neo-noir comedy-mystery that parodies and pays homage to 1940s film noir and pulp detective films, featuring Steve Martin as a private investigator.

• 2

  Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid incorporates clips from 19 vintage films, blending them with new footage to create a unique narrative experience.

• 3

  Director Carl Reiner and co-writers Steve Martin and George Gipe developed the film's concept during a lunch meeting, leading to the innovative use of classic film clips.

• 4

  Costume designer Edith Head created over 20 suits for Steve Martin, inspired by the styles of Cary Grant and James Stewart, marking her final film before her death.

• 5

  Director of photography Michael Chapman conducted six months of research to replicate the lighting and angles typical of 1940s film noir for the film's new footage.

• 6

  Steve Martin intentionally avoided watching classic film noir to prevent being influenced by the performances of actors like Humphrey Bogart.

Themes

Videos

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) Original Trailer [HD]

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) (TV Spot)

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