History Film / TradingPlaces

** [[spoiler: The Dukes are willing to throw the street smart Billy Ray back into the street for no other reason than the color of his skin. While racism is a good enough explanation, there is also another more sinister reason: envy. Valentine, despite being a poor guy without much education, was able to learn the commodities game very quickly. Both Mortimer and Randolph have had their pride wounded seeing a poor black guy being better at them trading commodities. A more rational businessman, even one with prejudice, would want to have someone like Billy Ray, a street smart man without airs, on their staff. But being the immature brats they are, they're willing to destroy a valuable employee to make themselves feel good]].

** Their willingness to destroy the life of one of their most loyal employees, and the fiancé of their niece, speaks to a staggering degree of immaturity that only someone without any understanding of responsibility would ever do. Louis may be a snob, but he's an incredibly capable businessman, charming, hard-working, has good relations with most of his clients and seems devoted to Penelope. He's the kind of man who would want as an in-law and to one day run your business. And they cut this man's throat over a stupid bet?

* MorningRoutine: The opening sequence shows Louis morning routine, establishing him as an upper-class citizen.