Image: Cinema Group Ventures Eddie Murphy Productions
About This Quiz
"Trading Places" is the 1983 film featuring two of the '80s most popular comic actors Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. Many say it was inspired by the Twain novel, "The Prince and the Pauper," as two young men, a wealthy professional and a homeless hustler, are portrayed as a bet inspired by the '80s obsession with Wall Street.
"Trading Places" was one of the most popular films of 1983, grossing over $90 million over its box office release. You're an obvious fan of '80s movies, so how much do you think you remember from this hilarious movie that is all about the culture of the '80s? For starters, do you remember the disabilities Billy Ray Valentine pretends to have at the beginning of the movie? Or, how Valentine makes his first $15,000 profit for the Dukes?
Those questions are just a starter to get your lips wet and your mind flowing. But it gets harder from here. Do you remember the $7,000 item that Winthorp tried to pawn, and how much the pawnbroker actually offered him for the item?
It's time to make your bet on how well you'll do with this quiz. But, how much is a bet truly worth? $1, $50, or thousands of dollars? Not sure? Why don't you just ask Mortimer and Randolph?
Which stock did Louis Winthorpe III want to sell when it hit 76.25?
Auto parts.
Pork bellies.
"Pork bellies, hmmm. I have a hunch something very exciting is going to happen in the pork belly market this morning."
Potato chips.
Feed corn.
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What disabilities did Billy Ray Valentine pretend to have at the beginning of the movie?
He pretended he was deaf and blind.
He pretended he was missing one arm and both legs.
He pretended he was missing his legs and was blind.
Initially, Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder were set to star in the movie, originally titled "Black and White." Although Pryor was attached to the project, after he set himself on fire, director John Landis began looking for someone else.
He pretended he was missing one arm and was mute.
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What relationship did Penelope have to Mortimer and Randolph?
She was their granddaughter.
She was their cousin.
She was their daughter.
She was their grandniece.
honest woman of her.”
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Which actor played Winthorpe?
Gene Hackman.
Richard Gere.
Richard Dreyfuss.
Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd (born July 1, 1952) is a Canadian actor nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Driving Miss Daisy." He was nominated several times (and won in 1977) for an Emmy because of his work on "Saturday Night Live."
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How did Mortimer reply when Randolph said, “Mother always said you were greedy.”
“Only because she confused the two of us.”
“She meant it as a compliment.”
“Mother always said you were greedy.” “She meant it as a compliment.”
“I prefer to think of myself as thrifty.”
“I can’t help it that you were her favorite.”
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Where did Valentine run after taking Winthorpe’s briefcase?
Into the park.
Into a department store.
Into the gentlemen’s club.
Writer Timothy Harris set the movie in Philadelphia because of its connections with the founding of the country. He wanted to link the film with the idealism that built America—that all men were created equal.
Into the Dukes' car.
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What was planted on Winthorpe to show him as a thief?
A gold statuette.
An ancient vase.
A diamond necklace.
$50 bills marked with a red X.
"We marked three $50 bills with red Xs. Less than ten minutes ago those bills were stolen from a coat in the cloakroom."
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Who got Winthorpe out of jail?
Coleman.
Mortimer and Randolph.
Penelope.
Frank Oz (born May 25, 1944) played the corrupt cop who plants the drugs on Winthorpe when he is booked. Oz is well known for his puppeteering, which brought us such characters as Yoda (Star Wars), Cookie Monster/ Bert/ Grover (Sesame Street), and Miss Piggy/ Fozzie/ Animal (The Muppet Show).
Valentine.
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Billy Ray Valentine said he didn’t have bruises when he arrived in the jail cell because of what?
Karate men bruised on the inside.
"’Cause I’m a karate man, all right? Karate men bruise on the inside. They don’t show their weaknesses."
His makeup artist covered them.
He moved so quickly no one laid a hand on him.
He was a fast healer.
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What did Clarence Beeks pay the hooker at the police station to do?
Pretend she was engaged to Winthorpe.
Pretend Winthorpe was her drug supplier.
Paul Gleason (1939-2006), who played Beeks, had an impressive list of supporting roles that began in the early 1960s. Known for playing bullies and white-collar degenerates, he also had roles in "Die Hard," "All My Children," and "The Breakfast Club."
Bail Winthorpe out of jail.
Steal Winthorpe’s clothes.
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How did Valentine make his first $15,000 profit for the Dukes?
He found a discrepancy in the books.
He broke a vase with an overestimated insurance value.
“I think we paid $35,000 for it, but I seem to remember we estimated its value at $50,000 for the insurance company. You see, Mortimer, William has already made us a profit of $15,000.”
He fired Winthorpe.
He told them to wait to sell their commodities.
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Which actor played Valentine?
Eddie Murphy.
Eddie Murphy first appeared on "Saturday Night Live" in 1980 and was famous for his skits portraying Mr. Robinson, Buckwheat, and cynical Gumby. His first full-length film was "48 Hrs." (which grossed almost $79 million domestically), but "Trading Places" surpassed that (grossing $90 million domestically).
Arsenio Hall.
Richard Pryor.
Chris Rock.
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How did Coleman react when Winthorpe showed up on the doorstep?
He was outraged that Winthorpe would come to him.
He acted sympathetically and explained it was out of his control
The Dukes transferred Coleman to a different house, and a strange butler answered the door.
Coleman acted as if he had never seen Winthorpe before.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
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What did Ophelia do for a living?
She was a store clerk.
She was a drug dealer.
She was a prostitute.
This movie prompted the creation of “The Eddie Murphy Rule” in 2010. The rule bans the use of misappropriated government information for trading on the commodity markets. Prior to 2010, this was not illegal.
She was a librarian.
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Why couldn’t Winthorpe get his money out of the bank?
He didn’t have identification.
The IRS had frozen his assets.
"I’m sorry, Mr. Winthorpe, but the IRS has frozen your accounts."
Penelope had used the money to post his bond.
According to bank records, he closed the account the day before.
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What did Mortimer drop in Valentine’s office to try to trick him?
False commodity reports.
A handgun.
A bag of PCP.
His money clip filled with money.
They filmed the trading scenes in real trading pits. Many of the brokers helped Murphy and Aykroyd learn how to bid realistically.
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What did Ophelia want in return for helping Winthorpe?
Marriage.
To be his pimp.
Money when he got back on his feet.
"I’m talking about a business proposition, Louie. I help you get yourself back on your feet, and you pay me in cash five figures."
To move in with him.
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What did Winthorpe try to pawn?
His watch.
The pawnshop broker was Bo Diddley (born Ellas Otha Bates). An accomplished musician, Diddley’s compositions can be heard on over 150 soundtracks.
His shoes.
His coat.
His wallet.
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What did the pawnshop give Winthorpe for his item that retailed for $6,955?
$25
$50
"$50? This is a Roche Vouceau, the thinnest water-resistant watch in the world, singularly unique, sculptured in design handcrafted in Switzerland and water-resistant to three atmospheres. This is the sports watch of the ‘80s--$6,955 retail."
$100.
$1000.
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What drug did Valentine keep from the ones Winthorpe tried to plant on him?
Cocaine.
Marijuana.
Writer Harris (who also wrote "Twins," "Kindergarten Cop," and "Pure Luck") wrote "Trading Places" after encountering two obnoxious brothers on the tennis court. The brothers, like Mortimer and Randolph, almost always had some rivalry going, which made others dislike playing with them.
Heroin.
PCP.
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How much was the bet between Mortimer and Randolph?
$1.
“Pay up. I won the bet.” “Here. One dollar.”
$50.
$100.
$1000.
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Where did Valentine overhear the Dukes discussing the bet?
In his office.
In their living room.
In the bathroom
They filmed the trading scenes inside the World Trade Center, with its exterior shown in the background as Murphy and Aykroyd are preparing for the final trade. Terrorist attacks destroyed the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
In the limousine.
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How did Billy Ray reply when Randolph asked, “You’re from a broken home, of course?”
“Yeah, we was broke. So what?”
“You’re from a broken home, of course?” “Yeah, we was broke. So what?”
“Well the plumbing had broken once or twice, but for the most part, the house worked.”
“We were the family pictured in the dictionary under ‘broken home.’”
“We were so broken, the neighbors cried when they played with us.”
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What happened when Winthorpe attempted to shoot himself?
The gun misfired.
Aykroyd stated in an interview that if he ever lost all his money, he holds a license in Canada for driving a dump truck or heavy truck and he knows how to run a bulldozer. He would be able to find some work even if he didn’t have his money—unlike his character who had nothing but the good graces of others to fall back on.
A truck splashed him with water.
A dog bit his leg.
Valentine pulled the gun away from him.
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Who was Clarence Beeks?
Winthorpe’s chauffeur.
The front desk attendant at Duke & Duke.
The security man delivering the crop report.
"And now for the news. Under heavy security, the crop estimates for next year’s orange crop are being delivered from Miami to the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D. C. In charge of security is Mr. Clarence Beeks, head of Lyndhurst Security."
The Santa hired at the Duke & Duke office party.
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What method of suicide did Winthorpe use that almost worked?
He overdosed on prescription drugs.
Clips from "Trading Places" are still used in many business schools to explain certain aspects of the stock market. Machines have replaced most of the people on the trading floor.
He shot himself in the stomach.
He tried drowning himself in the toilet.
He attempted to jump out the window.
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Why were Randolph and Mortimer paying Beeks?
To find the thief in their business.
So they could get the crop report early.
“Mortimer said it was for research.” "Yeah, researching how he can get his hands on that top secret crop report two days before it goes public.”
To ensure Valentine followed all the rules of his new job.
So he would take the crop report to the Department of Agriculture on time.
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Where do Valentine and Winthorpe get the crop report away from Beeks?
On a train.
Eddie Murphy said he doesn’t feel anyone should try to look for hidden meaning in movies like "Trading Places." He believes motion pictures and entertainment can be compelling and prone to misinterpretation, and he doesn’t want to influence the public beyond entertaining them.
On an airplane.
In a taxi.
At a hotel.
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Finish the quote: “The good part, William, is that no matter whether our clients make money or lose money, Duke & Duke get the commissions.” “ …Sounds to me like _______________.”
“…Rich people can make money off anything.”
“…A couple of bookies.”
“The good part, William, is that no matter whether our clients make money or lose money, Duke & Duke get the commissions.” “ …Sounds to me like a couple of bookies.” “I told you he’d understand.”
“…A very complicated process.”
“…A scam.”
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As what animal do they dress up Beeks?
A giraffe.
A gorilla.
Comedy team Al Franken and Tom Davis were the two baggage handlers dealing with the gorilla. Franken and Davis were friends since high school and became the first two writers for "Saturday Night Live" in 1975.
A cow.
A dinosaur.
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Who loaned Valentine and Winthorpe the money to purchase stocks?
Penelope.
Todd and Harry.
Randolph and Mortimer.
Coleman and Ophelia.
“Lose it? Coleman, in a couple of hours, you’re gonna be the richest butler that ever lived, man.”
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Who gives the false crop report to Randolph and Mortimer?
Winthorpe.
Beeks.
Valentine.
The characters Randolph and Mortimer appear in a later Eddie Murphy film, "Coming to America." They are poor bums still living on the street, who plan to rise again after Prince Akeem Joffer gives his travel money to them in passing.
Coleman.
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Finish the quote: "Yeah, you know, it occurs to me that the best way you hurt rich people _____________________."
"…Is by shooting out their kneecaps."
"…Is by turning them into poor people."
"Yeah, you know, it occurs to me that the best way you hurt rich people is by turning them into poor people.” “You have to admit, sir, you didn’t like it yourself a bit.”
"…is to have them arrested for drug dealing."
"…is to seduce their spouses."
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Which actress played Ophelia?
Demi Moore.
Linda Hamilton.
Jamie Lee Curtis.
Jamie Lee Curtis (born November 22, 1958) is the daughter of screen icons Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis. An accomplished actress in her own right, she got her start in the movie, "Halloween" (1978).
Carrie Fisher.
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What commodity put the Duke brothers into the poorhouse?
Corn.
Orange juice.
“The Dukes are going to corner the entire frozen orange juice market.” “Unless somebody stops them.”
Pork bellies.
Gold.
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You Got:
/35
Cinema Group Ventures Eddie Murphy Productions