The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Jonathan Lynn

Writers (WGA):

Marty Kaplan (story) and
Jonathan Reynolds (story) ...

Release Date:

4 December 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

From con man to congressman

Plot:

A Florida con man uses the passing of the long time Congressman from his district who he just happens to share a name with...

Plot Keywords:

Congressman | Lobbyist | Cancer | Election | Van

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Eddie Murphy	...	Thomas Jefferson Johnson
Lane Smith	...	Dick Dodge
Sheryl Lee Ralph	...	Miss Loretta
Joe Don Baker	...	Olaf Andersen
Victoria Rowell	...	Celia Kirby
Grant Shaud	...	Arthur Reinhardt
Kevin McCarthy	...	Terry Corrigan
Charles S. Dutton	...	Elijah Hawkins
Victor Rivers	...	Armando
Chi McBride	...	Homer (as Chi)
Sonny Jim Gaines	...	Van Dyke
Noble Willingham	...	Zeke Bridges
Gary Frank	...	Iowa
Daniel Benzali	...	'Skeeter' Warburton
Cynthia Harris	...	Vera Johnson

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:S | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

In the scene between 'Eddie Murphy' and 'Charles Dutton' eating crab they are eating Dungeoness crab, which is found only on the west coast. Washington DC, Baltimore is known for their blue crab - an entirely different species typically eaten exactly the same way shown in the film. Dungeoness crab are not.

Goofs:

Continuity: The videotape at the end sounds different when played back than the actual conversation that took place.

Quotes:

Thomas Jefferson Johnson: Hey, yo, Van Dyke!
Van Dyke: Yeah?
Thomas Jefferson Johnson: Y'all remember Willie Sutton?
Van Dyke: My hero.
Thomas Jefferson Johnson: What did he say when they asked him why he robbed banks?
Van Dyke: 'Cause that's where the money is.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)

Soundtrack:

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN

Wonderful satire!

As a political wonk, I found this movie perfect! I think this is the best Eddie Murphy movie ever! Actually, I am disappointed it took me so long to see it (today, 12/28/02). I was amazed at the negative reviews. What is these people's problem? That the US government doesn't work like this? Or that Eddie's character could actually realize that screwing ordinary citizens is different from swindling corporations and rich people?