The Curse of the Jade Scorpion

2001
PG-13
1h 43m

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

43K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer2:31

2 Videos

88 Photos

Comedy Crime Mystery Romance

An insurance investigator and an efficiency expert who hate each other are both hypnotized by a crooked hypnotist with a jade scorpion into stealing jewels.An insurance investigator and an efficiency expert who hate each other are both hypnotized by a crooked hypnotist with a jade scorpion into stealing jewels.An insurance investigator and an efficiency expert who hate each other are both hypnotized by a crooked hypnotist with a jade scorpion into stealing jewels.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

43K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination

Trivia
With its production budget of $26 million, this is Woody Allen's most expensive film.

Goofs
The story took place in October 1940 and they were going to go to Paris for their honeymoon. The Nazis occupied Paris beginning in June, 1940.

Quotes
Chris: You know, there's a word for people who think everyone is conspiring against them.
C.W.: I know, perceptive.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Captain Corelli's Mandolin/American Outlaws/Tortilla Soup/The Curse of the Jade Scorpion/Ghosts of Mars (2001)

Soundtracks
Sophisticated Lady
Music by Duke Ellington
Lyrics by Mitchell Parish & Irving Mills
Performed by Duke Ellington
Courtesy of Columbia Records by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User reviews195

Review

Featured review

8/10

"It's a match made in heaven... by a retarded angel."

"The Curse of the Jade Scorpion" is a romantic comedy/crime/mystery set in New York City of the 1940s which involves a love-hate relationship between veteran insurance investigator CW Briggs (Woody Allen) and his new boss Betty Ann Fitzgerald (Helen Hunt). One night, while watching the Magician's show with the rest of the employees, they are both hypnotized by a sinister hypnotist with a jade scorpion who later uses them into unknowingly stealing jewels for him. Had this comedy been written and directed by someone else, it would've been a disaster but Allen with his magic touch, had produced a funny and charming delight. That's what my husband called it after we enjoyed it together and I can't agree more. I love Ellington's music, the whole 40-th setting, and Woody's one-liners. His face in the scene where he and Helen Hunt were both hypnotized was simply hilarious - the guy knows how to do a physical comedy to perfection. I don't care if this picture has been called "a lesser Allen's movie" - it is still much better than majority of the comedies that come out every year. Even "lesser Allen" is enjoyable and memorable.