Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 1988

Directed by Frank Oz
Written by Dale Launer, Stanley Shapiro, and Paul Henning
Starring Michael Caine, Steve Martin, Glenne Headly

This is one of my all-time favorite movies. It's the story of two con-men -- the older classier Brit (Caine, of course) and the younger, crasser American (Martin) -- as they battle for the money of an American woman (Headly).

The script is great, with deceptions and double-meanings abounding. The direction is crisp and clever. The music has a lovely, old-school feel to it. And the performances are all right on the money, from the leads and all the supporting actors. There's some not-very politically correct humor involving the handicapped, but it's never at their expense.

I can and have watched this movie over and over again. (Disclosure: I am a big Steve Martin fan, as evidenced here, here, and here.)

I believe this is the movie that caused the creation of the pantheon.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at IMDB.

The Absent-Minded Waiter, 1977

Directed by Carl Gottlieb
Written by Steve Martin
Starring Steve Martin, Buck Henry, Teri Garr

This short film (7 minutes) chronicles the outrageously bad service that an absent-minded waiter (Martin) gives to a couple (Henry and Garr). It's classic Steve Martin from the apex of his stand-up period, when he used to play it prior to his performances. Simple and very funny.

The Absent-Minded Waiter at IMDB.