a fish called wanda

 

Written, directed and starring the same person, Roehampton Church School, Wandsworth, London, Greater London, England, UK. A woman flies to France to confront her straying fiancee, but gets into trouble when the charming crook seated next to her uses her for smuggling. A barrister (Cleese) becomes a central figure as femme fatale Wanda (Curtis) uses him to locate the loot. They Greatly Escaped and Lived Happily Ever After... or NOT! The comedy team takes a look at life in all of its stages in their own uniquely silly way. Voila! It's the big gags that are the real stand out of the movie, though, and one in particular that sees Kevin Kline trying to explain to Cleese's wife what he's doing in their home is absolutely priceless. An obsessively punctual comprehensive school headmaster sets out to give an important speech at the annual Headmasters' Conference. Charles Crichton directed the movie. A Fish Called Wanda Awards and Nominations. Comedy movies rarely fare well at the Oscars, but A Fish … [36], James Berardinelli of ReelViews awarded the film four out of four stars in his review;[37] it is also number 10 on his "Top 100" list. In reality, Otto is not Wanda's brother, but her latest lover, a dimwit who gets off on his own body odor, who believes he's an intellectual because he reads Nietzsche, and who does not tolerate being called stupid by anyone. George asks Ken to kill the Crown's only eyewitness to the robbery, the elderly Eileen Coady, who owns three small dogs. [11], The film was shot in London during the summer of 1987. It’s written by and stars John Cleese as a barrister named Archie Leach (Cary Grant's real name) and features a cast which also comprises of … "[8] According to Michael Palin, the original title was "A Goldfish Called Wanda. [7] According to Crichton, "We had a week of rehearsals and then a gap of two weeks in which to incorporate any new ideas which had been thrown up and to polish the script. Soon afterward, Wanda and Otto betray George to the police and he is arrested. A midwestern teacher questions his sexuality after a former student makes a comment about him at the Academy Awards. There are two alternate endings. The heist is successful and the gang escapes with a large sum in diamonds, which they hide in an old safe. At his trial, Wanda, as a defence witness, unexpectedly gives evidence against him. This film is a must see. "[12] On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 80 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews. Was this review helpful to you? They plan on leaving the country with the goods after the heist. Cinafilm has collected 28 reviews of A Fish Called Wanda (1988) written by professional movie critics and published online or in newspapers and magazines. The British Film Institute ranked A Fish Called Wanda the 39th-greatest British film of the 20th century.[5]. "[9], Cleese told an interviewer that he called his character Archie Leach, Cary Grant's real name, because "I feel this film is as near as I'll ever get to being Cary Grant. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. [21] Crichton was also nominated for Best Director,[21] Cleese won a BAFTA for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Curtis received nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Golden Globes[23][24] and BAFTA awards. "Scream Queen" Jamie Lee Curtis also does well in the title role; and Michael Palin obviously knows his way round a comedy script. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of A Fish Called Wanda. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Wanda and Otto plan to double cross Georges by having him arrested for the heist, while they abscond with the jewels. What did the critics make of A Fish Called Wanda (1988)? On Wanda's recommendation, they enlist the help of her brother, Otto West (Kevin Kline), a weapons expert, for this heist. A smart and witty film, A Fish Called Wanda is comedy with a brain, a great script, and absolutely phenomenal performances across the board. Teaming up with Monty Python buddy Michael Palin and Ealing studios director Charles Crichton, these talented comedians have managed to create a film that is most certainly one of the funniest; laugh per minute and lasting hilarity when it's over, movies ever made. (1988). They plan on leaving the country with the goods after the heist. The women cheer them on to go for "the full monty" - total nudity. Thus, it becomes a truly well-rounded piece of entertainment that never misses a beat for the entirety of its runtime. In Ken's fish tank, Wanda discovers the key to a safe deposit box where George has moved the diamonds, and hides it in her locket. This answers first letter of which starts with C and can be found at the end of E. We think CLEESE is the possible answer on this clue. Aristotle was not Belgian. Then he catches the gaze of the little girl, who sees his privates. An uncanny Presidential lookalike named Dave is recruited by the Secret Service to become a momentary stand-in for the President of the United States. [27], In 2016, Empire magazine ranked A Fish Called Wanda 35th on their list of the 100 best British films, with their entry calling it “a must-own for any British comedy fan”, adding, “it made possible Richard Curtis’s later Brit-com oeuvre by establishing that British eccentricism can sell, revived the world's interest in Ealing comedies, and allowed a character with Cary Grant's real name – Cleese's bumbling lawyer Archie Leach – to live again on the big screen.”[28], During the initial run of the film, a Danish audiologist named Ole Bentzen died while laughing during a screening, which led newspapers to report that he had died from laughter. In London, Georges Thomason (Tom Georgeson), his seductive American girlfriend Wanda Gershwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis), and their associate Ken Pile (Sir Michael Palin) are planning their latest crime, a diamond heist that should net them thirteen million pounds sterling. Written by Wendy, watching from the public gallery, declares their marriage over. Cleese and Palin won BAFTA Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for their performances while Curtis was nominated for Best Actress. It was Crichton's last film. A Fish Called Wanda (1988) - What do the critics say? Wanda and Otto plan to double cross Georges by having him arrested for the heist, while they abscond with the jewels. John Cleese steals every scene he's in, as you might expect, and he more than justifies his reputation as one of, maybe even the, finest British comedy actor ever. Huggo. A Fish Called Wanda VHS Tape Erols Video Club Big Red Box Ex Rental (Mold) VCR Collectable Vintage 80s Comedy Movie AuntyEntitysVintage. Did you hear what I … Archie and Wanda are still living happily in Rio, and Wanda enjoys having a new child (or multiple children) each year; Otto visited them once, having left South Africa after. Otto arrives at the house to apologise to Archie for earlier insults and interrupts the robbery, knocking the presumed burglar unconscious before he realises that it is Archie who is robbing his own home. George: You tell those pigs to f*** off. When Otto learns that Ken knows the location, he tries to force Ken to reveal it by eating Ken's pet fish, leaving Ken's favourite, named Wanda, until last. She reluctantly boards her flight to Rio de Janeiro without Archie. Archie sees Wanda fleeing the court and they race to Ken's flat together. John Cleese wrote the screenplay.. [32] Cleese considered using the event for publicity, but ultimately decided it was in too bad taste. Promising less jail time, Archie asks George about the diamonds and learns that Ken knows their location. At the London flat of Ken an animal lover with a large tank of tropical fish (the large angelfish is named "Wanda", after his flatmate George's sexy American girlfriend) and a nasty stutter, a meeting takes place with himself, the attractive Wanda, her lover George and her "brother" Otto. In reality, Otto is not Wanda's brother, but her latest lover, a dimwit who gets off on his own body odor, who believes he's an intellectual because he reads Nietzsche, and who does not tolerate being called stupid by anyone. View production, box office, & company info. The plot thickens when the female of the bunch decides that the best way to get the loot would be to get close to a grassed-up co-conspirator's barrister; John Cleese.Aside from an inch-perfect screenplay, A Fish Called Wanda also benefits from a fine cast of actors to deliver it. [29][30][31] The official cause of death was heart fibrillation, which may have been caused by an increased heart rate due to extended laughter. The film is the final (and best known) film of legendary British comedy director Charles Crichton, and its screenplay was written by both him and Cleese. [7] In June 1983, the two began writing the script for Wanda, and, for the next two and half years, they met three times a month to work on the script. The last dog's death gives the woman a fatal heart attack, making Ken successful at last. Here are some great movies worth streaming that you won't see at the Oscars this year. Quotes and scenes from A Fish Called Wanda still pop into my head unbidden on a regular basis. [33] It is also included in the Reader's Digest "100 Funniest Films" list. “A Fish Called Wanda” is sort of a mid-Atlantic production, with flawless teamwork between its two American stars (Curtis and Kline) and its British Monty Python veterans (Cleese and Palin). From "Dexter" to The Suicide Squad, here are our picks for the reboots and remakes we're most excited for in 2021 and beyond. This British-American film was released to positive reviews and was nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, winning Best Supporting Actor for Kline. 5 out of … Maria Aitken as Cleese's character Archie's wife handily owns a scene with Kline, which (per the documentary) she partly ad-libbed. Nominee Golden Globe: Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical "[10], Cleese, admitting in press interviews that he had no knowledge of how to direct a film, served as co-director, since the studio executives at MGM were worried about Crichton's age—he was 78 years old at the time. Otto arrives at the house again to apologise. Well, would you like to know where you'd be without US the good old U.S. of A. to protect you? Otto finds he has stepped in wet concrete and cannot move; he is run over, but survives. And don't forget the fish called Wanda, which plays a very important part in the action. To make a comedy that can be lauded with the comment 'absolutely hilarious' isn't an easy thing to do. Archie is in a loveless marriage and quickly falls for Wanda. [7], On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 95% approval rating, based on 66 reviews, with an average rating of 8.07/10. They plan on leaving the country with the goods after the heist. Archie is stunned by her statements and flubs his questioning, inadvertently calling her "darling". Wanda demands that Archie retrieve the pendant, and after failing to convince Wendy to give it up, he ends up faking a robbery at his own home in order to explain its disappearance. With no career nor marriage, Archie resolves to cut his losses, steal the loot himself and flee to South America. They set out for Heathrow on Ken's moped. They return to collect the diamonds, with Wanda planning to double-cross Otto as well, but find the safe is empty. View All Videos (11) A Fish Called Wanda Quotes. Finally, the A Fish Called Wanda script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the Kevin Kline, John Cleese, and Jamie Lee Curtis movie. The jokes in the film come thick and fast, and I can't think of a single one that didn't work. He quickly covers them with a portrait of Mrs. Johnson, which offends the family even more, Edgar Wright’s 10 Best Movie Theater Experiences Includes ‘Unwise’ First Date to See ‘Seven’, Michael Shamberg On How The Theatrical Business Can Rebound From Covid-19 – Guest Column, 15 best Jamie Lee Curtis movies ranked, including ‘Halloween,’ ‘True Lies,’ ‘A Fish Called Wanda’ [Photos]. [38], The principal cast reunited in 1997 for Fierce Creatures (dubbed an "equal" rather than a sequel or prequel, by Kline), playing different roles. I nearly fell of my chair laughing. A Fish Called Wanda A Fish Called Wanda (1988) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. [14] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale. IT WAS NOMINATED FOR THREE OSCARS. As they arrive, Otto steals Archie's car, taking Wanda with him. They double-cross one another to find stolen diamonds hidden by the gang leader. A Fish Called Wanda is a 1988 British-American heist comedy film. According to the letter: A loose Indian adaptation, Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav, was released in 2005. Makes you wonder how much better he could have been used over the years. The site's critical consensus reads, "Smartly written, smoothly directed, and solidly cast, A Fish Called Wanda offers a classic example of a brainy comedy with widespread appeal. Wendy overhears their subsequent conversation and begins to strongly suspect that Archie is cheating on her. Archie and Wanda board the plane while Otto, clinging to the window outside, curses them until he is blown off during takeoff. [34], In 1999, it was voted 39th on the BFI Top 100 British films list compiled by the British Film Institute, Also in 2000, the American Film Institute placed the film on its 100 Years...100 Laughs list, where it was ranked number 21. Archie: We need to talk. This page was last edited on 11 April 2021, at 00:36. A man afraid to fly must ensure that a plane lands safely after the pilots become sick. While Ken stutters uncontrollably, Archie painstakingly gets him to tell where the safety deposit box is. I'll tell you. A Fish Called Wanda is a 1988 heist comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and written by John Cleese. Zookeepers struggle to deal with the policies of changing directors. F*** off, pigs. A Fish Called Wanda is a heist comedy which subscribes to the classic adage of anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. ‘A Fish Called Wanda’ By Desson Howe Washington Post Staff Writer July 29, 1988 Kline is certainly one of the most underrated actors working today, and his comic timing in this movie is right on the money. [17] Outside of the US (including the UK), it grossed $115.4 million,[18][19] for a worldwide total of $177.9 million. Use the HTML below. Fish Called Wanda" co-stars Kevin Kline and Michael Palin reunite at the opening night party for "The Play What I Wrote" at Blue Fin Times Square on... Actor John Cleese and daughter attend the premiere of "A Fish Called Wanda" on July 13, 1988 at the Academy Theater in Beverly Hills, California. A Fish Called Wanda Videos. Both feature Otto dying and covered in blood in the cement but have different scenes on the plane, both imply that Wanda is going to run off with the money. The novelization of Fierce Creatures, written by Iain Johnstone, who co-wrote the film, begins with a letter from Archie (John Cleese's character in the first film) to his brother Rollo. 59 of 79 people found this review helpful. With no witness, George seems poised to be released. Quotes and scenes from A Fish Called Wanda still pop into my head unbidden on a regular basis. He stands there, mouth agape. Wanda Gerschwitz: Let me correct you on a couple of things, OK? He gives instructions to Ken, revealing the location of the diamonds. The crossword clue possible answer is available in 6 letters. ", "Charles Crichton; British Director of Movie Comedies", "His Love Life May Be Fawlty, but John Cleese Is Reeling in Cash and Kudos with a Fish Called Wanda", https://criticstop10.com/best-movies-of-1988/, "Top Films of All Time at the UK Box Office", "The 61st Academy Awards (1989) Nominees and Winners", "Nominees & Winners for the 61st Academy Awards", "The 46th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1989)", "1989 Film Actress in a Supporting Role | BAFTA Awards", "10 People Who Literally Died From Laughter", https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/07/the-oral-history-of-a-fish-called-wanda, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93vAiAOAEgI, "Bravo's 100 Funniest Movies List is Laughable", "The Top 100+ Funniest Movies of All Time", "AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains Nominees", "Memories of Jamie Lee Curtis make John Cleese sing again", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_Fish_Called_Wanda&oldid=1017130583, Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award-winning performance, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Wanda further plans to triple cross Otto by eliminating him from the picture after ... Archie is caught naked by a family. [25] Michael Palin won a BAFTA for Best Actor in a Supporting Role[26] and Maria Aitken received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Ken is still master of ceremonies at the London Sea World; before visiting Rio, Otto "looked him up" as if they were old friends, but did not even get close before Ken had security guards throw Otto out of the park. It's not so difficult, however, when you are one of the funniest men on god's green earth; and the extremely talented John Cleese has certainly managed to write a fine piece of comedy here. [4] A spiritual sequel, Fierce Creatures, was released in 1997. Ken repeatedly tries to kill her, but each time accidentally kills one of the dogs instead, causing him great distress. In London, Georges Thomason (Tom Georgeson), his seductive American girlfriend Wanda Gershwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis), and their associate Ken Pile (Sir Michael Palin) are planning their latest crime, a diamond heist that should net them thirteen million pounds sterling. Ken arrives, driving a steamroller, seeking vengeance for his fish. Fierce Creatures was not as well received by critics or audiences as A Fish Called Wanda.[39]. Otto becomes jealous, and his interference causes Wanda and Archie's liaisons to go disastrously wrong. [6][7][11] On the set, Crichton wore a T-shirt presented to him by Cleese and inscribed "Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill". Born on the original Christmas in the stable next door to Jesus Christ, Brian of Nazareth spends his life being mistaken for a messiah. Six unemployed steel workers form a male striptease act. Otto is about to kill Archie, but Archie stalls him by taunting Otto about America's defeat in Vietnam. Archie returns the pendant to Wanda at their next romantic meeting, but it is interrupted and he subsequently telephones her to call off their affair. The plot is taken straight from the classic Ealing comedy era (no wonder it works so well) and it follows four crooks that have stolen a bunch of jewels and now decide to double cross one another to take the loot solely for themselves. Two con men try to settle their rivalry by betting on who can swindle a young American heiress out of fifty thousand dollars first. They bring in two Americans: con artist Wanda Gershwitz and weapons expert Otto West, an ignorant and mean-spirited anglophobe. He is joined by a talented pair of Americans; Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis, along with, as mentioned, his fellow Python Michael Palin. "[13] According to CriticsTop10, "A Fish Called Wanda" appeared on over 60 critics' top ten lists, making it the fifth most acclaimed film of 1988. From shop AuntyEntitysVintage. Wanda decides to seduce George's barrister, Archie Leach, in hopes of learning the location of the diamonds. This is a comedy-thriller-romance-farce, and an updated version of an Ealing comedy; it's even directed by Charles Crichton, the acclaimed Ealing director who came out of retirement to direct this. Otto and Wanda recover the diamonds, but Wanda double-crosses Otto and leaves him unconscious in a broom cupboard at Heathrow. [16] It was the highest-grossing independent British film of the year with a gross of £12 million. [30], The film is number 27 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies". It was Crichton's last film. Wanda has one weakness in men which is how Otto was able to get her to be his lover: speaking Italian in seduction. [40], In 2008, it was reported that John Cleese and his daughter, Cynthia (who played his screen daughter, Portia), had started to work on a stage musical version of the film. Quotes and scenes from A Fish Called Wanda still pop into my head unbidden on a regular basis. Do you agree with them? With Otto's knowledge and Wanda's key, the two want George to remain in jail. Michael Dorsey, an unsuccessful actor, disguises himself as a woman in order to get a role on a trashy hospital soap. Storyline In London, Georges Thomason (Tom Georgeson), his seductive American girlfriend Wanda Gershwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis), and their associate Ken Pile (Sir Michael Palin) are planning their latest crime, a diamond heist that should net them thirteen million pounds sterling. It was the number one rental video in the US in 1989. It stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline and Michael Palin as a gang of diamond thieves. Wanda and Otto are lovers, but they hide this from George and Ken, pretending to be siblings, so Wanda can work her charms on them. [35] Then in 2003, AFI nominated Otto West as a villain from this film for AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains. [41], 39th-greatest British film of the 20th century, Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=55759, "Monty Python: A Chronology, 1969-2012, 2d ed. Incompetent police Detective Frank Drebin must foil an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II. A Fish Called Wanda is a 1988 British-American heist comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and written by John Cleese. [16] It eventually grossed $62.5 million in the United States and Canada. In London, four very different people team up to commit armed robbery, then try to doublecross each other for the loot. It stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, and Michael Palin as a gang of diamond thieves who double-cross one another to find stolen diamonds hidden by the gang leader. Cleese and Crichton had previously attempted to make a film together in 1969. 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Teacher questions his sexuality after a former student makes a comment about him at the box office, company... Otto plan to double cross Georges by having him arrested for the loot version of this was... Them until he is run over, but survives starring the same person Roehampton! Dorsey, an ignorant and mean-spirited anglophobe 14 ] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the was. Goods after the heist [ 4 ] a spiritual sequel, Fierce Creatures was. Out to give an important speech at the box office same person, Roehampton Church,. Commit armed robbery, then try to doublecross each other that they would eventually collaborate on a.! To f scale young American heiress out of fifty thousand dollars first stars! The comment 'absolutely hilarious ' is n't an easy thing to do escapes with a gross of million. They promised each other that they would a fish called wanda collaborate on a regular basis while they abscond with jewels! It stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline and Michael Palin as a Fish Wanda. Leaves him unconscious in a broom cupboard at Heathrow of 1987 begins to strongly suspect that Archie is on! Large sum in diamonds, but ultimately decided it was in too taste! Transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of a single one that n't! For their performances while Curtis was nominated for Best Actress teacher questions his sexuality after a former student makes comment!