Year:  1982
Rating: 7.5

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In one of the more peculiar film choices I can think of, after having a huge hit with the absurdly silly The Jerk in 1979, Steve Martin dedicated his next two films to nostalgic tributes of film genres from decades before. And they both crashed at the box office but I thought they were terrific when I saw them all those years ago. A mention of this film the other day reminded me of these films and I thought it was time for a re-visit. Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid immerses itself in film noir of the 40's and 50's but retains a quirky sense of humor and Pennies from Heaven made in the previous year is a moody at times depressing tribute to musicals. I don't think audiences knew what to expect - they wanted Jerk II and instead got these very clever somewhat experimental but far from uproariously funny films. Both of them some 30 years later look much better in retrospect.



Martin has gone on to a career of mixing up silly films with more sophisticated fare - inside I think is a serious guy who had to make crap like The Man with Two Brains, All of Me and Sgt Bilko to have the opportunity to make such gems as Roxanne, Planes Trains and Automobiles. L.A. Story, Grand Canyon, Bowfinger and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Perhaps the more depressing films are the in-between ones - the family friendly stuff that does well at the box office but you kind of feel he should not be doing that - The Father of the Bride and Cheaper by the Dozen dirges.


Directed by Carl Reiner, Dead Men stars Steve Martin and Rachel Ward but has perhaps the greatest supporting cast ever on film - Bogart, Stanwyck, Alan Ladd, Vincent Price, Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Veronica Lake, Lana Turner, Ray Milland, Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant. Not bad! Of course, what this film does is beautifully and seamlessly integrate scenes from noir films into this one (all in black and white of course). It is very clever and well done. I have to say that I knew what films they were all from except a couple - most of them classic noir films.


The film does have a plot - basically a parody of a noir film with the first scene starting as all great noir films do - with a knock on the door and the entrance of a girl - referred to throughout as Doll Face with more curves than a race track but twice as dangerous - she faints - the PI gives her a breast adjustment. What? Yes, a breast adjustment. Her father has died in an accident. She thinks it is murder. He thinks it is whatever she wants as long as he gets $10 a day and another chance to give her a breast adjustment. He gets it. He also gets shot three times and she has to suck the bullet out each time. Practice makes perfect and she is perfect.  The story doesn't much matter - at all - the device of editing the old films into the new one may get old for some - especially if those old films and actors mean nothing to you - there are also loads of noir references that will pass many by. But for noir fans it is just a lot of fun playing name the movie or spending just a little more time with Bogey. Martin is quite amusing in his straight faced inner narrative full of quips and black humor. Rachel Ward looks terrific adjusted or not.