One of the greatest of all American comedies. Eddie Murphy, just barely into his twenties (48 Hrs. was released six months before, Beverly Hills Cop would follow the next year), is the heart of this masterpiece, and John Landis surrounds him with a cross-generational cast including Dom Ameche, Ralph Bellamy, Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Denholm Elliott, who perfectly compliment the newly crowned biggest star in the world. From the opening title sequence showing the disparity of Philadelphia, to the final music cue, Trading Places is scene for scene, line for line, one of the last films that can truly call itself heir to the best of Hollywood’s golden age.

Screening as a part of Holidays at Metrograph.