Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986)

84% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
48% of users liked it
(15,302 ratings)

Down and Out in Beverly Hills is an updated remake of the 1932 Jean Renoir film Boudu Saved From Drowning. Philandering businessman Dave Whiteman (Richard Dreyfuss) rescues scraggly tramp Jerry Baskin (Nick Nolte) from drowning himself in Dave's swimming pool. Much against his will, Jerry is invited… More Down and Out in Beverly Hills is an updated remake of the 1932 Jean Renoir film Boudu Saved From Drowning. Philandering businessman Dave Whiteman (Richard Dreyfuss) rescues scraggly tramp Jerry Baskin (Nick Nolte) from drowning himself in Dave's swimming pool. Much against his will, Jerry is invited to enjoy the hospitality of Dave, his social-climbing wife, Barbara (Bette Midler), and their sexually ambivalent son, Max (Evan Richards). The hapless hobo bonds only with the family dog, Matisse, which fascinates Barbara to the point that she's willing to share her bed (and a few other things) with him. Dave is twice cuckolded when Jerry makes out with the maid (Elizabeth Peña), with whom he has been carrying on a torrid -- and noisy -- affair. He plans to wreak revenge on the tramp, but several plot twists result in Dave and Jerry becoming bosom companions. Little Richard appears as the family's easily irritated next-door neighbor. Down and Out in Beverly Hills was the R-rated film that compelled Disney to create its adult-oriented Touchstone Films division. The property was later cleaned up for TV consumption and converted into a short-lived Fox-network sitcom. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Paul Mazursky
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 31, 1986 Wide
On DVD: Aug 13, 2002

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
On the basically farcical level where it chooses to stay, it is a funny and likable movie.
Variety Staff, Variety
Although it is more of a comedy of manners than a well-developed story, there are enough yocks and bright moments to make it a thoroughly enjoyable outing.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
As a comedy of manners it has a dependably keen aim, with its most wicked barbs leavened by Mr. Mazursky's obvious fondness for his characters.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Let me just say that Down and Out in Beverly Hills made me laugh longer and louder than any film I've seen in a long time.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Paul Mazursky hasn't only remade Jean Renoir's sublime 1931 Boudu Saved From Drowning: he's yuppified it, inverting virtually every meaning until the film becomes a celebration of the crassest kind of materialism.
Frank Lovece, Film Journal International
A single moment of magical realism shows the Babe-that-might-have-been, very charitably speaking, had the makers of this doggie adventure-comedy chosen a more daring and creative route...
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The cast is entirely up to the comic hysteria Mazursky requires of them, though Mike the dog steals whatever scene he is in.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A funny and poignant if also broad reworking of Renoir's classic, Boudu Saved from Drowning, Paul Mazursky's satire also works as a critique of L.A. nouveau riche and their crass lifestyle, reflected, among other things, in the garrish color palette.
, Time Out
This update of Renoir's Boudu Saved from Drowning starts life as a satire on the tribal rites of the new and filthy rich, but goes badly wrong somewhere down the line.
Tony Medley, tonymedley.com
funny with bite
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Three great turns in one side-splitting movie
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Filled with hilarious incidents and clever one-liners.
, Film4
Silly but fun, and a big box-office earner.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
One of Mazursky's few completely successful films.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
An uneven satire with some wit, but sometimes too strident.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

A comical scenarios, with a fun harmless feel to it, an enjoyable feel good movie
Candy R

Funny comedy about a tramp who tries to kill himself in a rich family's swimming pool. They take him in. Good cast.
Lafe F

A rich Beverly Hills family takes in a stinky hairy street person... and he ends up enriching their lives in ways they never imagined. A great comedy and social-commentary. There's lots of dog-humour in here. There's also a lot of chemistry between the actors. Truly touching… More
A rich Beverly Hills family takes in a stinky hairy street person... and he ends up enriching their lives in ways they never imagined. A great comedy and social-commentary. There's lots of dog-humour in here. There's also a lot of chemistry between the actors. Truly touching movie. Great soundtrack as well. One of my favorite comedies.
xGary X

Nick Nolte as a tramp who's failed suicide bid results in his becoming embroiled in the affairs of a self absorbed Hollywood family. And as usual with these superficial pseudo-soul searching comedies of the 80s, it's self-concious, unfunny, and I found it very difficult to… More
Nick Nolte as a tramp who's failed suicide bid results in his becoming embroiled in the affairs of a self absorbed Hollywood family. And as usual with these superficial pseudo-soul searching comedies of the 80s, it's self-concious, unfunny, and I found it very difficult to give a crap about any of the characters.
danny d

great movie, classic story of a homeless guy who moves in with a rich family
Dean M

So hilarious between rich family and a homeless guy in Beverly Hills. There's still plenty to enjoy in this amusing satire on the lifestyles of the rich and famous in LA.
Leigh R

Hilarious.
Doctor S

Nick Nolte eating dog food from a bowl on the floor and the first instance I heard about dialing 911 for emergencies, the only impact I got from this 20 years later.
Lee K

I think i liked this but i'm not sure haven seen it when it was initially released
Jim W

Richard Dreyfus and Bette Midler star as a rich couple that take in a homeless man (Nick Nolte). Dreyfuss invites him to stay as long as he wants and Midler is a snob that doesn't want him there. I'd say that the heart of the movie is Richard Dreyfuss and Nick Nolte.… More
Richard Dreyfus and Bette Midler star as a rich couple that take in a homeless man (Nick Nolte). Dreyfuss invites him to stay as long as he wants and Midler is a snob that doesn't want him there. I'd say that the heart of the movie is Richard Dreyfuss and Nick Nolte. They're pretty fun together. The scene where Nolte gets Dreyfuss to spend the night with the homeless is hilarious. I also love how Nolte trains the dog. Better Midler is a little annoying at first but is a little likable as the movie goes on. The sexually confused son is annoying through-out though.
Anthony V

Sub-par Hollywood remake of a French film.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Nick Nolte as Jerry Baskin

            Richard Dreyfuss as Dave Whiteman

            Bette Midler as Barbara Whiteman

            Little Richard as Orvis Goodnight

            Tracy Nelson as Jenny Whiteman

            Elizabeth Peña as Carmen

            Evan Richards as Max Whiteman

            Donald F. Muhich as Dr. Von Zimmer

            Paul Mazursky as Sidney Waxman

            Valerie Curtin as Pearl Waxman

            Alexis Arquette as Band Member

            Michael Blue as Cop

            Jack Bruskoff as Mel Whiteman

            Eloy Casados as Tom Tom

            Eugene Choy as Chinese Delegation

            Bill Cross as Helicopter Pilot

            Neil Cunningham as Security Guard

            Geraldine Dreyfuss as Sadie Whiteman

            Salvador R. Espinoza as Caterer's Assistant

            Michael Greene as Ed

            Darryl Henriques as Geraldo

            Lew Hopson as Paramedic

            Sandy Ignon as Barry

            Sue Kiel as Roxanne

            Ken Koch as Patrick

            Allan Malamud as Caterer

            Betsy Mazursky as Stylish Jogger

            Mike the Dog as Matisse

            Felton Perry as Al

            Andre Philippe as Party Guest

            Bill Primus
            
            Nick Ullett as Nigel

            Michael Yama as Nagamichi

            Barry Primus as Lou Waltzberg

            Dorothy Tristan as Dorothy

            Irene Tsu as Shiela Waltzberg

            Jason Williams as Lance

            Donald V. Allen as Security Guard

            Carolyn Allport as Girl Feeding Kerouac

            Ranbir Bahi as Ranbir

            Reza Bashar as Iranian Neighbor

            Carlton Cuse as Water Man

            Bobby Good as Security Alarm Dispatcher

            Dr. Toni Grant as Herself

            Pearl Huang as Translator

            Mae Koh-Ruden as Chinese Delegation

            Joseph Makkar as Iranian Boy

            Margrit Ramme as Sandra Goodnight

            George Sasaki as Chinese Delegation

            Yung Sun as Minister Chan

            Michel Voletti as Maurice

            Leland Sun as Chinese Delegation

            Raymond Lee as Yamato
See full cast

Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Cast

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