Page One: “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” (1986)

Screenplay by Paul Mazursky & Leon Capetanos, play by René Fauchois

A trailer for the movie:

Plot summary: A rich but troubled family find their lives altered by the arrival of a vagrant who tries to drown himself in their swimming pool.

This movie was a hit when it was released in 1986. High concept in the vein of Trading Places. It would be interesting to see this updated with contemporary sensibilities about wealth and poverty.

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

For more Page One posts, go here.

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