#96 - "Trading Places" (1983) with Tyra Williams

This 80’s flick is more than just a vehicle for laughs; it's a biting satire that skewers societal norms and exposes the fault lines of privilege and inequality. Its significance lies in using humor as a Trojan horse for razor-sharp commentary, causing audiences to laugh and reflect on the absurdity of the disparities between the haves and the have-nots. As we revisit this holiday cult classic, we will celebrate not only the impeccable comedic timing of its top-notch cast but also the film's ability to tackle weighty social issues with a lighthearted touch. Whether it's the memorable scenes in the commodities exchange, the rowdy party at Winthorpe's townhouse, or the unforgettable New Year’s Eve train ride, it still holds up as a great example of satirical comedy that has an impact beyond its time. So, look over your pork belly futures, dust off your “quart of blood” karate technique, and try not to misplace your guerrilla costume as Tim Williams and guest co-host, Tyra Williams, discuss “Trading Places” from 1983 on this episode of the 80s Flick Flashback Podcast. Here are some additional behind-the-scenes trivia we were unable to cover in this episode: In his mug shot scene in the movie "Trading Places," Dan Aykroyd's character Louis Winthorpe III is given a number, 74745058, which happens to be the same number given to John Belushi's character Jake Blues in "The Blues Brothers (1980)." This was done intentionally by Aykroyd as a tribute to Belushi, who had passed away the year before. In Italy, on the night of Christmas Eve, a local TV channel Italia 1 broadcasts the movie "Trading Places", which has become a popular Christmas tradition. This is similar to the way the movie "A Christmas Story" is played on a continuous loop in the United States on December 24th and 25th. Along with "Trading Places", the tradition also includes airing of other movies like the first three "Home Alone" films, "Jack Frost", and "A Nightmare Before Christmas". During the summer of 1983, which lasted from June to September, the movie industry expected to surpass the previous year's record-breaking $1.4 billion in theater ticket sales. The season included highly anticipated films such as "Return of the Jedi" (the third installment in the Star Wars series), "Superman III", and the latest James Bond movie, "Octopussy". More than 40 movies were scheduled for release over the 16-week period, so studios had to carefully plan their release schedules to avoid competing with each other. Paramount Studios decided to release "Trading Places" at the beginning of the summer, so it could benefit from being in theaters longer during the busy season. Comedy movies were considered a counterprogramming strategy that attracted audiences who had already seen or were not interested in the major film releases, which were mainly focused on science-fiction and superheroes. "Trading Places" was released between "Return of the Jedi" in May and "Superman III" in mid-June. Although sequels were expected to perform well due to their built-in audience, "Trading Places" was predicted to be successful thanks to its talented cast. Sources: Wikipedia, IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes https://screenrant.com/things-never-knew-about-trading-places-1983/#italian-christmas-tradition We'd love to hear your thoughts on our podcast! You can share your feedback with us via email or social media. Your opinions are incredibly valuable to us, and we'd be so grateful to know what you enjoyed about our show. If we missed anything or if you have any suggestions for 80s movies, we'd love to hear them too! If you're feeling extra supportive, you can even become a subscription member through "Buy Me A Coffee". For more details and other fun extensions of our podcast, check out this link. Thank you for your support! https://linktr.ee/80sFlickFlashback