FBMR - Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

Steve Martin and Carl Reiner both spoof and pay hommage to the film noir movies of the 40s and 50s in this private detective caper. The story for this film could have been stronger, the plot was quite confusing until the very end. It stays true to the film noir genre, but what really makes this film great is the inclusion of clips from these older films. Where else can you find a movie that includes appearences by Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Cary Grant, Fred MacMurray, Ingrid Bergman, and Veronica Lake, to name a few. Steve Martin's performance was also top notch, playing a suave, yet goofy private detective.

The writers, Steve Martin being one of them, must have had a lot of fun putting these pieces together and working various scenes around previously filmed sequences. Not only did they all have to make sense, but they all had to be funny. And on most levels, it worked very well. It was interesting to see how they were able to work around certain unchangeable lines that could have blown the scene. A very clever idea that's a treat for film-buff's like me (and you) to watch.


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DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID (1982) ***1/2 Steve Martin and Carl Reiner both spoof and pay hommage to the film noir movies of the 40s and 50s in this private detective caper. The story for this film could have been stronger, the plot was quite confusing until the very end. It stays true to the film noir genre, but what really makes this film great is the inclusion of clips from these older films. Where else can you find a movie that includes appearences by Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Cary Grant, Fred MacMurray, Ingrid Bergman, and Veronica Lake, to name a few. Steve Martin's performance was also top notch, playing a suave, yet goofy private detective. The writers, Steve Martin being one of them, must have had a lot of fun putting these pieces together and working various scenes around previously filmed sequences. Not only did they all have to make sense, but they all had to be funny. And on most levels, it worked very well. It was interesting to see how they were able to work around certain unchangeable lines that could have blown the scene. A very clever idea that's a treat for film-buff's like me (and you) to watch.