May 21, 1982 –
The technically clever parody of and a homage to film noir, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, directed, and co-written by Carl Reiner and starring Steve Martin, Rachel Ward, Carl Reiner, and a boat load of actors from the ‘40s, opened in the US on this date.
Final film of legendary costume designer Edith Head. There is a tribute to her and the personnel who worked on films from the Golden Age of Hollywood in the closing credits. Head died a short time after production on the movie had wrapped. Fittingly, the film features many of her earlier designs in cleverly edited clips from old movies. According to Carl Reiner, Head had possession of a hat that Ava Gardner had worn and was protective of the prop.
The Haus of Dcaligari 