Wine and Movie Pairing: A Big Two Weeks On The Riviera
“A poacher who shoots at rabbits may scare big game away.”
The sunny days of summer are waning, and the season on the French Riviera is getting quiet. Let’s pour out a glass of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne to toast one last bit of summer fun while watching Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)!
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) is a remake of the 1964 movie Bedtime Story starring Marlon Brando and David Niven. Lawrence Jamieson (Michael Caine) has spent years perfecting his “princely” ruse as a high-rolling con artist in the French Riviera town of Beaumont-sur-Mer. When Freddy Benson (Steve Martin) rolls into town with a wrinkled T-shirt and a penchant for extracting a buck from unsuspecting women, Lawrence quickly decides to mentor Freddy in the art and lifestyle of confidence tricksters. The ante gets raised when American heiress Janet Colgate (Glenne Headly) stumbles into town, and Lawrence and Freddy both attempt to swindle $50,000 out of her. Who will win the bet, and who will be forced to leave Beaumont-sur-Mer?
Michael Caine has said in interviews that Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is the funniest film he’s ever made, and while I personally think Miss Congeniality belongs in the conversation about hilarious Michael Caine movies, the comedy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels stands the test of time. Steve Martin’s penchant for physical comedy is truly unmatched; from his trident-wielding antics as “Ruprecht” to the attempts at maneuvering in and out of a wheelchair as a military officer with a psychosomatic illness, Martin is a whirling dervish with a larger than life screen presence.
Caine is every bit the stuffy faux aristocrat, slipping into over-the-top accents with dramatic flair and a little wink to the viewer every time he shifts into a new character. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was the late Glenne Headly’s first major motion picture, and Janet Colgate is a delightful role for an intelligent, cunning actor with her own warped and wonderful sense of comedic timing.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was adapted into a musical in 2005, and remade in an updated movie version in 2019’s The Hustle starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson. The story is wildly fun, with lessons for many generations to learn.
The good news for a wine and movie pairing is that there is so much wine in the movie. There’s an entire lesson devoted to opening and pouring champagne, and another lesson on the curation of a wine cellar. Because the movie feels like an indulgent, bubbly comedy that toasts the last bit of warm weather, I’ve chosen to pair Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Champagne Piper-Heidsieck’s signature Non Vintage Brut.
Champagne Piper-Heidsieck has a long association with Hollywood, the film industry, and the French Riviera. While it was tempting to pair the movie with Piper-Heidsieck’s Riviera cuvée (a demi-sec champagne that bears the instruction of pouring it over ice), something told me to stick with a classic favorite that Lawrence Jamieson would approve. There’s a few close-up moments in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels where the audience can see an off-white Piper-Heidsieck label on open bottles of champagne. I had a hard time identifying what specific cuvée was represented in those bottles, but the popularity of Piper-Heidsieck at events like Cannes Film Festival in the south of France and the Academy Awards lead me to believe that the NV Brut in the iconic red label would be an appropriate way to toast the movie at home.
Champagne Piper-Heidsieck’s signature label is a delightful house champagne with bubbles that last forever. With aromas of orange peel, candied ginger, and jasmine flowers, the bubbles are fine and consistent, and the wine feels sharp and bright while revealing different characteristics with every sip. Historically, the iconic red label has served as my Oscar night Champagne served alongside Popeye’s fried chicken, biscuits, and mac and cheese. Since the wine is so versatile, it would also work well with Freddy Benson’s dinner order from the train: Double turkey sandwich on rye, a large knockwurst, and potato chips.
Piper-Heidsieck’s NV Brut is available at your local independent wine store, or through wine.com. You can also check WineSearcher for details on stockists near you.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) is currently available to stream on Prime Video, Tubi, Pluto TV, and Roku. You can also rent it on YouTube, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home. Purchase the Blu-Ray or DVD version wherever physical media is sold.
I love this movie!