BusTalk

[Mr. Linsky]

We all have our all time favorite movies and, coincidentally, two of my top five which are Beverly Hills Cop (1) and Trading Places star Eddie Murphy (probably because he’s very funny, and also because I’m sure he was one of the crowd of kids that I waited for as they crossed the street to get to Hempstead High School (NY) years ago!).

Anyway, ‘Trading Places’ released by Paramount in 1983 is the subject of the discussion, and here’s a brief synopsis;

Mortimer and Randolph Duke (played by Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy respectively) are billionaire commodities brokers who enjoy a little wager between themselves now and then. In their latest bet, Randolph believes they can take a common criminal and make him a successful businessman in their company. The criminal, Billy Ray (Eddie Murphy), is to be given the job and home of Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Ackroyd), who in turn is to be framed for crimes he didn't commit, to see if he resorts to crime himself once he's lost his wealth and standing.

To make a long story short, the boys find out what the Dukes have done and, in a brilliantly conceived plan, manipulate orange futures in such a way as to wipe the brothers out.

In one scene, shot in Philadelphia (where most of the filming was done), an inebriated Winthorpe dressed in a filthy Santa Clause suit boards a SEPTA New Look Flxible (probably a 111DD-D5).

The bus appeared to be freshly painted in white with a wide red band under the window line with the SEPTA logo in large white letters within the band.

The interior shots were excellent and the time on camera for the whole sequence must have been at least three minutes.

While Trading Places is listed as a comedy, there was one sad scene which took place in front of the World Trade Towers – that was a bit heart wrenching.

Mr. Linsky – Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY