Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
Seen it?1982 | 89 min | Comedy, Mystery, Crime
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (77% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Knives Out or Shadow of a Doubt, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Provocative satire that goes after everyone, tense.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 29 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
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'.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.6 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$18 million worldwide on a $9 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 99K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Carl Reiner
- Steve MartinRigby Reardon
- Rachel WardJuliet Forrest
- Alan Ladd(in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
- Carl ReinerJuliet's Butler / Field Marshal Wilfried von Kluck
- Barbara Stanwyck(in "Sorry - Wrong Number") (archive footage)
- Ray Milland(in "The Lost Weekend") (archive footage)
- Ava Gardner(in "The Killers" / "The Bribe") (archive footage)
- Burt Lancaster(in "The Killers") (archive footage)
- Humphrey Bogart(in "The Big Sleep" / "In a Lonely Place" / "Dark Passage") (archive footage)
- Cary Grant(in "Suspicion") (archive footage)