Michael Caine has had an illustrious career over six decades, playing a wide array of roles, from spies to superheroes’ butlers. Yet, when it came to his personal favorite film, he chose the 1968 comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which was directed by Frank Oz and also starred Steve Martin.
In an interview with Esquire Middle East, Caine shared what makes Dirty Rotten Scoundrels special for him: “It’s the funniest movie I ever did and the happiest movie to make. We shot on the French Riviera, where it was set, which is one of my favourite places in the world, and they rented a villa for me in the summer.”
Interestingly, the film’s journey began as a project for rock stars Mick Jagger and David Bowie. In 1986, United Artists sought writer Dale Launer to create a film featuring these iconic musicians. However, due to rights issues concerning the original film, the project stalled. Launer attempted to revive the idea for Eddie Murphy, but Universal Pictures declined again.
After some years, the rights reverted to one of the original writers, allowing the project to move forward with Caine and Martin. The film was ultimately completed ahead of schedule, earning about $42 million at the box office following its release in December 1988.
This comedic classic showcases Michael Caine’s range as an actor and remains a high point in his celebrated career.
