On this day in comedy on December 4, 1992 The Distinguished Gentleman was released by Buena Vista Pictures.
Eddie Murphy stars in this comedy about a con man who uses the name recognition of a deceased career politician to be elected to the US Congress. After his win, he tries to address real issues along with taking the system for all he can get. It turns out the system in Washington is even more corrupt than Murphy expected. He’s being blocked by a crooked official. So, after an elaborate con, Murphy exposes the trouble maker as an elected criminal and in the process, exposes himself as a fraud.
The Distinguished Gentleman was directed by Jonathan Lynn. It also stars Lane Smith as the crooked politician and features Sheryl Lee Ralph, James Garner, Victoria Rowell, Charles S. Dutton, Chi McBride, Joe Don Baker and Noble Willingham.
The film was critically panned, but made $47 million at the box office and was granted the Environmental Media Award for feature film and the Political Film Society Award.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
Check out this clip:
