In A FISH CALLED WANDA, veteran director Charles Crichton and scriptwriter-star John Cleese create a dazzling quilt from various strands of English and American comedy. The plot,... more
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veteran Ealing Comedy director. After 1986's Clockwise--in which he played a manic loser similar to Basil Fawlty--A Fish Called Wanda saw Cleese opting for a mor...
thief Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) - who can charm the pants off anyone! To make things worse Wanda is already using her charms on fellow partner-in-crime Otto (Kevin Kl...
veteran Ealing Comedy director. After 1986'sClockwise--in which he played a manic loser similar to Basil Fawlty--A Fish Called Wandasaw Cleese opting for a more ...
9 out of 9 similar offers for A Fish Called Wanda (Special Edition)
A Fish Called Wanda
Barrister Archie (John Cleese) falls in love and tosses off more than his wig for sexy
... more
thief Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) - who can charm the pants off anyone! To make things worse Wanda is already using her charms on fellow partner-in-crime Otto (Kevin Kline in an Oscar-wining performance) a dim-witted intellectual psychopath who thinks the London Underground is a political movement! Meanwhile Otto is making eyes at henchman Ken (Michael Palin) an animal loving multiple dog-killer who is infatuated with a fish...called Wanda. Get the Picture? A British comedy gem A Fish Called Wanda "takes a spot... as one of the funniest romantic comedies of the decade (Box Office).
A Fish Called Wanda [1988]
This 1988 comedy starred and was scripted by John Cleese and directed by Charles Crichton,
... more
veteran Ealing Comedy director. After 1986's Clockwise--in which he played a manic loser similar to Basil Fawlty--A Fish Called Wanda saw Cleese opting for a more sympathetic lead role. Cleese plays Archie Leach (Cary Grant's real name), a barrister living a typically English life of quiet desperation, who falls prey to the American charms of Jamie Lee Curtis. Posing as a law student, she's actually involved in a diamond robbery with psychotic but occasionally clueless Kevin Kline ("The London Underground is not a revolutionary movement!") and Michael Palin, an animal rights' activist. A Fish Called Wanda is, typically of Cleese, well constructed but the romantic heart of the movie softens it a little. It was intended as a satire on Anglo-American differences but most people remember it for a running joke involving squashed dogs, the chips up Palin's nose and the scene where Cleese is hung out of a window by his ankles. The same cast reassembled for 1997's vastly inferior Fierce Creatures.--David Stubbs
A Fish Called Wanda [1988]
This 1988 comedy starred and was scripted by John Cleese and directed by Charles Crichton,
... more
veteran Ealing Comedy director. After 1986'sClockwise--in which he played a manic loser similar to Basil Fawlty--A Fish Called Wandasaw Cleese opting for a more sympathetic lead role. Cleese plays Archie Leach (Cary Grant's real name), a barrister living a typically English life of quiet desperation, who falls prey to the American charms of Jamie Lee Curtis. Posing as a law student, she's actually involved in a diamond robbery with psychotic but occasionally clueless Kevin Kline ("The London Underground is not a revolutionary movement!") and Michael Palin, an animal rights' activist.A Fish Called Wandais, typically of Cleese, well constructed but the romantic heart of the movie softens it a little. It was intended as a satire on Anglo-American differences but most people remember it for a running joke involving squashed dogs, the chips up Palin's nose and the scene where Cleese is hung out of a window by his ankles. The same cast reassembled for 1997's vastly inferiorFierce Creatures.--David Stubbs
love and tosses off more than his wig for sexy thief Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) - who can charm the pants off anyone! To make things worse Wanda is already using her charms on fellow partner-in-crime Otto (Kevin Kline in an Oscar-winning performance) a dim-witted intellectual psychopath who thinks the London Underground is a political movement! Meanwhile Otto is making eyes at henchman Ken (Michael Palin) an animal loving multiple dog-killer who is infatuated with a fish called Wanda. Get the Picture? A British comedy gem A Fish Called Wanda 'takes a spot' as one of the funniest romantic comedies of the decade (Box Office). Dirty Rotten Scoudrels (Dir. Frank Oz 1988): One's got a sophisticated suave and debonair con act. The other's got... well an act. Together Steve Martin and Michael Caine are Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and they're absolutely ruining the Riviera in this wonderfully crafted absolutely charming classy and consistently amusing comedy. Martin is Freddy Benson a small-time con man sleazing his way through Europe on whatever handouts he can scam. Caine is Lawrence Jamieson an impeccably dressed and high-minded artiste who thinks Freddy's giving him and all con men a bad name. At first Lawrence agrees to help Freddy spruce up his stunts and his wardrobe. But when it becomes apparent that the Riviera isn't big enough for the both of them they make a winner-takes-all wager over the fortune of a na''ve American soap heiress (Glenne Headly): the first one to 'clean her out' can make the other clear out - and keep the Riviera and its unsuspecting tourists to himself!
Advantages: English mean comedy Disadvantages: Cruelty to animals
...even the 2nd film, not a sequel, Fierce Creatures was even better, but that's another review.
When I saw this advertised on TV, I knew I had to buy it and my partner, to my horror said that he had never seen it and knowing his type of humour, I knew he would enjoy this.
The Plot
Wanda, Ken Otto, and George are jewel thieves and hide the stash away for a while until they can leave the country, but really Wanda and Otto are trying to get ... ...much so he has named a fish after her. Ken has a stutter and is a big animal lover so when his is asked, by George to kill a witness, poor Ken ends up killing her Yorkshire Terriers instead which he has complete remorse for.
Characters
Archie - John Cleese
Wanda - Jamie Lee Curtis
Otto - Kelvin Kline
Ken - Michael Palin
George - Tom Georgeson
This may have been a low budget film but the cast give an excellent performance in this ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: AN ABSOLUTLEY SPOT ON BRITISH COMEDY Disadvantages: SEQUEL WAS DISAPPOINTING 'FIERCE CREATURES'
A Fish Called Wanda is a superb comedy which is about a group of thieves ( Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin and Tom Georgeson ) who steal some diamonds but not all goes to plan. John Cleese plays Archie Leach a lawyer who fools head over heels for Wanda Gershwitz one of the thieves ( Jamie lee curtis ) and finds himself getting mixed up with trouble from the rest of the mob. A totally tremendous performance by Kevin Kline who plays Otto ... ...of the robbers who has a hilarious stutter and also a jinx on running down Yorkshire terriers. John Cleese did a great job in not only acting but directing and writting too, which I find is extremely admirable and maybe marks his finest achievement in his career. In a quick summary A fish Called Wanda is a true Brit classic that was much needed at the time for are film industry also both the casting and story line was spot on. This DVD comes with ...
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28.08.2006
(31.08.2006)
Fish Called Wanda Review ofA Fish Called Wanda (Special Edition)by
05lonst
Advantages: Funny Disadvantages: None
a fish called wanda is a classic film that is really funny and is about a bunch of crooks that have stolen alot of moneys worth of diamonds and they are all getting involved with a crazy american. who is planning to keep it all for him and his girl friend but they have the probem that his girl freind like another man who she meets and there is this big conflict. it is a helarios film and i advise it to everyone. There are some very good one linners ...
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Actor(s): John Cleese, Michael Palin, Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director(s): Charles Crichton
Genre: Comedy
Classification: 15 years and over
Production Year: 1988
Running Time: 1 hour 43 minutes
Video Category: Feature Film
Country Of Origin: United Kingdom
Plot: A strangely assorted group of jewel thieves pull off a heist in London's Hatton Garden. But only George, the brains of the operation, knows where the gems are hidden. Unfortunately, he's been sent to prison and needs the help of his defence counsel and so do other double-crossing members of the gang...
In A FISH CALLED WANDA, veteran director Charles Crichton and scriptwriter-star John Cleese create a dazzling quilt from various strands of English and American comedy. The plot, in which four disparate characters attempt a daring heist, comes from Ealing caper comedies, such as Crichton's own THE LAVENDER HILL MOB. Cleese and Michael Palin, as the hit man with a stutter and a love of animals, come from the anarchic tradition of Monty Python. The movie pays savage tribute to another Ealing comedy, THE LADYKILLERS, as Palin attempts to kill a witness to the gang's getaway. The glamorous con woman (Jamie Lee Curtis) is from Preston Sturges's great comedy THE LADY EVE, while Kevin Kline provides his own unique feverish comic intensity. But, in the midst of this breathless comedy, something else happens. The barrister, Archie Leach (Cleese), who is defending one of the gang, is jolted out of his tight-laced British existence by Curtis's life force. And Curtis--like Barbara Stanwyck in THE LADY EVE--falls into her own trap: falling in love with the man she's conning. The 78-year-old Crichton never before had such rich material. He times everything in this brilliant comedy with the precision of a Swiss watch.
Technical information
Special Features: Something Fishy Documentary, John Cleeses First Farewell Performance Documentary, Deleted Scenes With Introductions By John Cleese, Original Featurette On Location With A Fish, Original Featurette A Message From John Cleese, Alternate Ending, Easter Eggs, Audio Commentary By John Cleese, Photo Galleries, Trailers, TV Spots, Trivia Tracks
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Wide Screen
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 English German
Award information
OSCAR: Best Actor In A Supporting Role 1989 (Kevin Kline)
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