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A Fish Called Wanda. A Fish Called Wanda (1988) was one these films I loved, and I was afraid it would suffer the same fate as so many of those other films from that period. Jamie Lee Curtis and John Cleese have reunited 32 years after they shared the screen in the film A Fish Called Wanda. Something goes wrong along the way, however, and the heist does not go as planned. A Fish Called Wanda is the greatest Ealing Studios comedy never made at Ealing Studios. This 1998 film starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, John Cleese and Michael Palin was directed by Charles Crichton from a screenplay by Charles Crichton and John Cleese. Other Opinions Are Available. (1951).. Charles Crichton (1988). One character was named after a legend CRICHTON AND JOHN CLEESE SPENT FIVE YEARS WRITING THE FILM.. A Fish Called Wanda was years, even decades, in the... 3. Jamie Lee Curtis, 61, reunites with John Cleese, 80, 32-years after playing lovers in A Fish Called Wanda By Jason Chester for MailOnline Published: 12:07 EDT, 12 … She suggested it was the first time she had met up with 80-year-old Cleese in a while. With John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin. Editor Roundtable: A Fish Called Wanda. A Fish Called Wanda is a 1988 comedy film about four very different people who team up to commit armed robbery in London, then try to double cross each other for the loot. In the weeks before writing this feature, as yours truly was making his way through the remainder of 2020’s releases, it looked highly unlikely that a new Fish Called Wanda would be crowned. The disc is two-sided, with a decent widescreen transfer on one side and a standard full-screen transfer on the other. ''A Fish Called Wanda'' recalls those radio commercials Mr. Cleese has been doing in this country in behalf of an English candy company. A barrister (Cleese) becomes a central figure as femme fatale Wanda (Curtis) uses him to locate the loot. It’s hard to believe that A Fish Called Wanda turns 30 this year. It also doesn't feel like an 80s film. Fierce Creatures (1997). “A Fish Called Wanda” is a film from the 80s, about a group of four people from different backgrounds with different ideas on how to commit an armed robbery in order to complete a jewel heist. A Fish Called Wanda ... It’s been almost 30 years since it’s release but still feels as fresh as ever. A Fish Called Wanda is now 30 years old, so what better time to take a look back at this classic with some facts about the movie that you may not have known… 1. A FISH CALLED WANDA: Directed by Charles Crichton, 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Download the Math of Storytelling Infographic. Released multiple times on DVD and Blu-Ray Disc before, Arrow Video is now bringing fans a Special Edition that is not only featuring the film itself, but also a host of bonus features. This week, Jarie pitched A Fish Called Wanda as a great example of set and setting driving dialogue. The streak of cruelty that runs through much of John Cleese’s work is too salient in A Fish Called Wanda for this comedy to be enjoyable. Many years after the brilliant Fawlty Towers, too. Picture 9/10. A Fish Called Wanda … Well, it's a bit American. This new release has added so much value in the way of special features that honestly it’s worth re-buying for those alone, and to get the crisp new picture quality. There were three – 1) Visiting my family in NB 2) Getting a job 3) Finishing my PhD 3) What was your least favorite moment of the year… A Fish Called Wanda is a 1988 heist comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and written by John Cleese.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. Not just because it's got Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis in it, but because it was mostly funded by MGM. He also famously made 'The Lavender Hill Mob' as well. Getting all of them now just made its genius all the more obvious. A smart and witty film, A Fish Called Wanda is comedy with a brain, a great script, and absolutely phenomenal performances across the board. A Fish Called Wanda Directed By – Charles Crichton, John Cleese Written By – John Cleese. There’s a fittingly dark footnote in the history of the classic 1988 comedy A Fish Called Wanda: the movie killed someone.. “She ate over 200 pounds of food in the year we had her,” recalled Campbell. Directed by Charles Crichton, John Cleese. I can see why people would enjoy A Fish Called Wanda, and I did like it in spots, but unfortunately it mostly fell flat for me. Set in the aftermath of a near perfect heist, a group of eccentric criminals turn on … Despite being a full-fledged comedy, the 1988 film "A Fish Called Wanda" has received Oscar nominations in the screenplay and director's category, and has won Kevin Kline his first and only Oscar for supporting actor. 2) What was your favorite moment of the year? Its chief characters, with one exception, are derided and/or humiliated throughout the film, a crime caper co-produced, written by and starring Cleese, and directed by Charles Crichton, an elder statesman of the Ealing school. Viewed 3k times 8. I liked it 25 years ago when I probably understood, at best, half of the jokes. Fish Called Wanda, A Date: 1988 Director: Charles Crighton Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Prominent Features, Star Partnership Stars: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin Location(s): London, Oxfordshire, Surrey The late 80s produced some great and memorable comedies, and, without a doubt, A Fish Called Wanda is one of the most recognizable and beloved achievements of the genre at the time. John Cleese, Michael Palin, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kevin Kline engineered a transatlantic smash with A Fish Called Wanda, one of the funniest movies ever made.Out of that film’s success and Cleese’s desire not to cheapen it came Fierce Creatures: not technically a sequel, but a reteaming of the core Wanda players in a new story. THE FISH CALLED WANDA FOR BEST OVERALL FILM. In London, four very different people team up to commit armed robbery, then try to doublecross each other for the loot. IT WAS DIRECTOR CHARLES CRICHTON’S FIRST FILM IN TWO DECADES.. Back in the 1950s, Charles Crichton was a famous... 2. 11 Fun Facts About A Fish Called Wanda 1. Roger Ebert The 1080p/24hz high-definition presentation comes from a new 4K restoration conducted by Arrow Video and scanned from the 35mm original camera negative. What did these people have to say about A Fish Called Wanda? Every year is a good year! Many a year ago John was brought up about twenty miles away from where Cary once lived. On several occasions, Campbell saw the fish consume as many as 12 7-inch channel catfish in a single setting. Johnson’s fish was an extremely aggressive feeder, as reflected in the 2 1/2 pounds she gained during her yearlong stay in the 3,500-gallon lunker tank. By Leslie Watts. This was made back in the 80s when the British film industry had about 76p to spend on films, after all, so we needed some help with it. Year-End Questionnaire 1) Was 2006 a good year for you? Thus, it becomes a truly well-rounded piece of entertainment that never misses a beat for the entirety of its runtime. In short, Kline’s character deserves to be made fun of, not to make fun of Palin’s character. At least he gets his comeuppance by the end. Bought by the BBC in 1959, after which it shifted entirely to television production, Ealing had its golden age in the 1950s when it produced a string of pitch-perfect pitch-black comedies, including The Ladykillers (1955) and The Lavender Hill Mob. Written and produced by Cleese, A Fish Called Wanda was made many years after his Python adventures. And yet, despite the ‘80s fashion, the crime caper farce still feels remarkably fresh. Active 3 years, 5 months ago. “Winners” of this category should be held as an example of what not to do when making a feature film, and in 2016 no film better exemplified this than Zoolander 2 . The film is consistently funny and blends British and American actors together seamlessly, making the film feel fresh compared to others of its era. For every Fish Called Wanda, there is a movie which offers nought – no innovation, no originality, and nothing to redefine the medium. Using the budget carefully It took John Cleese and director Charles Crichton four years to get the film made with and persuade MGM to take a chance and distribute it. I’m happy to report that the film not only holds up, but is still one of the funniest, quirkiest comedies ever made. Luckily, nobody succumbed to cardiac arrest during our viewing but if one thing became clear it was that A Fish Called Wanda is still comedy gold after more than 25 years. Best Supporting Actor, 1988 • Academy Award: Kevin Kline, A Fish Called Wanda It’s been a quarter-century now, and I still can’t quite believe this happened. (4) Archie's daughter is played by John Cleese's real daughter, Cynthia. (3) This was director, Charles Crichton's, last film. Fortunately it proved to be a huge sleeper hit and made a tidy profit for those involved. A very funny film from Monty Python regulars John Cleese and Michael Palin, A Fish Called Wanda in its current DVD format is a bare-bones release with very few extras. Asked 3 years, 9 months ago. A Fish Called Wanda Synopsis: In London, George Thomason, his seductive American girlfriend Wanda Gershwitz, and their associate Ken Pile are planning their latest crime, a diamond heist that should net them £13 million. Actress Curtis, 61, posted a picture on Instagram of the pair having what she called a “wanderful” lunch together. I needn’t tell you, the intelligent, right-thinking person reading this, of the immeasurable, profound effect Monty Python has had on the history of comedy and cinema. Arrow Video presents Charles Crichton’s A Fish Called Wanda in an all new Blu-ray edition in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 on a dual-layer disc. 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