Jamie Lee Curtis first made her mark in 1978’s Halloween, where she established herself as the horror queen. From comedic roles to dramatic ones, she gave numerous memorable performances that cemented her position in acting history.
Trading Places follows her portrayal of Ophelia, an energetic hustler. She balances humor and heart beautifully to bring exciting energy to the part.
Trading Places
Mortimer (Don Ameche) and Randolph Dukes, brothers Mortimer (Don Ameche) and Randolph (Ralph Bellamy) run Duke & Duke Commodity Brokers in Philadelphia. They place bets that street hustler Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) can become as rich as Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd). When Louis wins, his cousin Louis (Dan Aykroyd) gets fired but Coleman (Denholm Elliott). Together the pair set out on an adventure that turns around all their bettors – making for one of the greatest comedies ever produced during its run!
Trading Places was an epochal moment for Murphy and Curtis, who had previously only played horror roles like Halloween or Prom Night. Curtis made waves with her topless scenes in Trading Places; as a result, she would go on to perform many nudist roles over the next decade.
John Landis had no expectations for Eddie Murphy when they began production of Trading Places, as the actor was only known for minor roles at this point and had only ever made one film before 48 Hrs failing. Yet Landis trusted Aykroyd, who had proven himself in The Blues Brothers and The Nutty Professor; so against the Paramount executive’s wishes, Landis cast Murphy in Trading Places against all expectations.
A Fish Called Wanda
Cleese, Curtis, Palin, and Kline’s British crime caper is an entertaining comedy that succeeds on multiple fronts. While its humor works independently of Fawlty Towers or other Britcoms, its double-crossing plot offers never-ending laughs. Their ever-shifting loyalty keeps this comedy moving forward while providing memorable comedic scenes.
Jamie Lee Curtis stars as Wanda Gershwitz, an American vixen who joins forces with two Brits: Georges Thomason (George Osborne) and animal lover Ken Pile (Michael Palin). Together they join forces with Otto’s demented Nietzsche-quoting boyfriend Otto as they attempt to double cross gangster George by seducing Archie Leach’s barrister Archie Leach to find out where George hid diamonds and locate diamonds himself, but Otto wants his share! This film boasts stellar cast performances from all involved; one memorable scene where Ken attempts to witness by repeatedly deep-sixing their lap dogs makes an impression statement of excellence from its creative minds! This remarkable cast makes an outstanding debut film showcasing their talent beautifully!
Freaky Friday
Jamie Lee Curtis rose to stardom through her horror films and earned herself the unofficial moniker “Hollywood Scream Queen,” but soon demonstrated she could also excel at comedy through films like Trading Places, A Fish Called Wanda, and Freaky Friday (2003 movie featuring Curtis and Lindsay Lohan as mother and daughter who switch bodies to experience life from each other’s perspectives).
Tess Coleman (Curtis), an experienced psychotherapist and mother, often clashes with Annabelle (Lohan). Their disagreements escalate into a shouting match in the back room of a Chinese restaurant, where each receives magical fortune cookies that allow them to take over each other’s bodies.
At first, Annabelle and Tess struggle to adjust to their new lives; however, they learn from one another as the days pass. Annabelle shows Tess how to adopt a more relaxed outlook on life while Tess provides her daughter insight into some of the struggles they’ve been having at school. Although some situations might appear familiar or predictable, Curtis and Lohan deliver stellar performances that keep the story moving nicely.
Mother’s Boys
Jamie Lee Curtis plays Jude as an aggressive mother determined to wrest custody of her children from their estranged husband (Luke Edwards) using manipulative and coercive tactics to win them back from him. Elliot Davis’ innovative lensing and Curtis’ performance as Jude are among several elements that keep this psychological thriller from reaching a satisfying resolution for viewers who don’t see things her way – the obligatory female nudity aside, Mother’s Boys does little for anyone other than those already furious with themselves!
Mother’s Boys doesn’t attempt to explain why Judith abandoned her husband (Peter Gallagher) and three sons behind, yet quickly establishes her as an unpleasant character. After gradually ramping up her deviousness towards a laughably cruel finale, it becomes hard to sympathize with someone willing to kill for their kids; perhaps more sympathetic characters could have saved this melodrama from its spiral into darkness; unfortunately, aside from Vanessa Redgrave, who delivers an impressive supporting turn, none of the actors get much screen time nor chance to stand out as individuals from among themselves in any meaningful way despite their best efforts.
True Lies
Jamie Lee Curtis made her breakout comedic performance in John Landis’ 1983 comedy Trading Places alongside Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy as two protagonists who engage in an illegal lifestyle exchange wager.
Although this movie contains some sexual references, it remains a good family movie and is rated PG-13 for some sexual material and language. Additionally, it makes an ideal selection for teens looking for films with more action than your typical teen flick.
The TV series, airing on CBS, was an accurate adaptation of the film; unfortunately, it failed to receive enough viewers during its initial season; nonetheless, it earned many positive reviews and is worth watching.
Love Letters
Love letters are written to express our affection and can take any form, including handwritten and typewritten versions. A love letter can be an essential way of remembering happy times with someone special or simply showing our care; why not include something extra like a special present or photo to personalize the experience further?
After becoming known for her roles in both Halloween movies from 1978 and 1979, Curtis gained wider fame for her performance as a sex worker who befriends Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) while showing kindness toward him. This film featured topless scenes, which proved an essential early break through for Curtis.
While love letters remain widely utilized today, their use has declined steadily over time for various reasons. Such letters could violate national fair housing laws by discriminating against certain races or sexualities; they could waste your time and money.
The Fog
Jamie Lee Curtis first rose to fame with her role in Halloween (1978). It launched her career despite dropping out of college early due to its demands, eventually going on to star in several slasher flicks with its bloodcurdling thrills and earning her the moniker of “Scream Queen.”
After making her mark with horror films, she ventured into comedy with Trading Places, winning a BAFTA for her performance. From then on, she continued working across genres from comedy to action and thriller films.
Kathryn Bigelow cast Curtis as a rookie police officer taking on a serial killer in Blue Steel. It’s an engaging drama that showcases her dramatic abilities. Curtis also had her four-season sitcom about two co-workers who can’t seem to shake their attraction to each other.
Forever Young
Jamie Lee Curtis has delivered some of the finest performances of her career. Her roles in movies such as Trading Places and A Fish Called Wanda garnered critical acclaim, and she even garnered an Academy Award nomination. Additionally, her genuine personality made her one of Hollywood’s favorite actresses.
She has appeared in movies like Prom Night and Halloween, Mother’s Boys, and Virus; she also writes. Furthermore, Hasty Pudding Theatricals gave her its 2000 Woman of the Year award – genuinely making an impactful impression with every film!
As an unforgettable classic, Alphaville’s song, “Forever Young,” has stood the test of time. This powerful track captures what it means to be young and persevere in pursuit of one’s dreams; inspired by global political conditions during Cold War times when nuclear bombs could potentially go off at any moment, the song captures this sentiment perfectly.
