A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
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- R
- 1h 48min
- Comedy, Crime
- 29 Jul 1988 (USA)
- Movie
In London, four very different people team up on a jewel heist, then try to double-cross one another for the loot, complicated by their efforts to fool a very proper barrister.
Directors:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 8 wins & 21 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| John Cleese | ... |
Archie
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| Jamie Lee Curtis | ... |
Wanda
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| Kevin Kline | ... |
Otto
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| Michael Palin | ... |
Ken
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| Maria Aitken | ... |
Wendy
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Tom Georgeson | ... |
George
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| Patricia Hayes | ... |
Mrs. Coady
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| Geoffrey Palmer | ... |
Judge
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| Cynthia Cleese | ... |
Portia
(as Cynthia Caylor)
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Mark Elwes | ... |
Customer in Jeweler's Shop
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| Neville Phillips | ... |
Manager of Jeweler's Shop
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Peter Jonfield | ... |
Inspector Marvin
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Ken Campbell | ... |
Bartlett
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Al Ashton | ... |
Warder
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Roger Hume | ... |
Locksmith
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Roger Brierley | ... |
Davidson
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Llewellyn Rees | ... |
Sir John
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| Michael Percival | ... |
Percival
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| Kate Lansbury | ... |
Magistrate
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| Robert Ian Mackenzie | ... |
Copper
(as Robert Cavendish)
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| Andrew MacLachlan | ... |
Zebedee
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Roland MacLeod | ... |
Vicar
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| Jeremy Child | ... |
Mr. Johnson
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Pamela Miles | ... |
Mrs. Johnson
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| Tom Pigott Smith | ... |
Child Johnson (13)
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Katherine John | ... |
Child Johnson (10)
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Sophie Johnstone | ... |
Child Johnson (8)
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Kim Barclay | ... |
Nanny
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| Sharon Marino | ... |
1st Junior Barrister (Defence Counsel)
(as Sharon Twomey)
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Patrick Newman | ... |
2nd Junior Barrister (Defence Counsel)
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David Simeon | ... |
Clerk of Court (Old Bailey)
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| Imogen Bickford-Smith | ... |
Stenographer
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Tia Lee | ... |
Junior Barrister (Prosecutor Counsel)
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| Robert Putt | ... |
Police Officer (Old Bailey)
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Waydon Croft | ... |
1st Prison Officer
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John Dixon | ... |
2nd Prison Officer
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Anthony Pedley | ... |
Irate Driver
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| Robert McBain | ... |
Hotel Clerk
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Clare McIntyre | ... |
Airline Employee
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Charu Bala Chokshi | ... |
Indian Cleaner
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| Stephen Fry | ... |
Hutchison
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Roy Beck | ... |
Man in Street (uncredited)
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| John Bird | ... |
Clerk of the Magistrate's Court (uncredited)
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Chris Chering | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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Terence Conoley | ... |
Airline Passenger (uncredited)
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Gary Dean | ... |
Man in Court (uncredited)
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| Robert Goodman | ... |
Street thug (uncredited)
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| Pat Gorman | ... |
Man at Airport (uncredited)
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Aidan Harrington | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Barrie Holland | ... |
Defence Barrister (uncredited)
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Rebecca Moore | ... |
Jury member (uncredited)
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Mike Reynell | ... |
Man in Street (uncredited)
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Peter Roy | ... |
Man in Street (uncredited)
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| Guy Standeven | ... |
Jeweler (uncredited)
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David Stone | ... |
Man in Line Up (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Charles Crichton | ||
| John Cleese | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| John Cleese | ... | (story) and |
| Charles Crichton | ... | (story) |
| John Cleese | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Steve Abbott | ... | executive producer |
| John Cleese | ... | executive producer |
| John Comfort | ... | associate producer |
| Michael Shamberg | ... | producer |
Music by
| John Du Prez | ||
Cinematography by
| Alan Hume | ||
Editing by
| John Jympson | ||
Editorial Department
| Kevin Phelan | ... | unit projectionist: Mercury Theatres, London |
| William Webb | ... | assistant film editor |
| David Barrett | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Jonathan Lucas | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Priscilla John | ||
Production Design by
| Roger Murray-Leach | ||
Art Direction by
| John Wood | ||
Set Decoration by
| Stephenie McMillan | ||
Costume Design by
| Hazel Pethig | ||
Makeup Department
| Lynda Armstrong | ... | makeup artist (as Lynda Armstrong-Lawlor) |
| Paul Engelen | ... | makeup supervisor |
| Barry Richardson | ... | key hair stylist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Jonathan Benson | ... | assistant director |
| Melvin Lind | ... | second assistant director |
| David Skynner | ... | third assistant director |
| Derek Harrington | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| David Allday | ... | set designer |
| Leon Apsey | ... | head of construction |
| Bruce Bigg | ... | property master |
| Roy Evans | ... | construction manager |
| Dougie Lankston | ... | props |
| Kevin Phipps | ... | assistant art director |
| Brian Read | ... | production buyer |
| Alfie Smith | ... | stand-by property supervisor |
| Micky Swift | ... | stand-by propman (as Mickey Swift) |
| Gill Andrae-Reid | ... | portrait artist (uncredited) |
| Michael Law | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
| Bill Stallion | ... | storyboard artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Jonathan Bates | ... | sound editor |
| Charlotte Haupt | ... | sound editor |
| Gerry Humphreys | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Chris Munro | ... | sound recordist |
| Andrew Sissons | ... | sound maintenance engineer |
| Colin Wood | ... | boom operator |
Special Effects by
| George Gibbs | ... | special effects supervisor |
| David Watson | ... | special effects technician (as Dave Watson) |
| Terence J. Cox | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
| Alan Poole | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Alan Church | ... | optical camera (uncredited) |
| Simon Margetts | ... | director of photography: main title sequence (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Romo Gorrara | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Neil Binney | ... | camera operator |
| Bob Bremner | ... | gaffer (as Bobby Bremner) |
| Graham Hall | ... | clapper loader |
| Simon Hume | ... | focus puller |
| David James | ... | still photographer |
| Bill Thornhill | ... | best boy |
| Jimmy Waters | ... | grip |
| Jimmy Worley | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Stephen Cornish | ... | wardrobe assistant (as Steve Cornish) |
| Jenny Hawkins | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Ray Usher-Cooper | ... | wardrobe master (as Ray Usher) |
Location Management
| Nick Daubeny | ... | location manager: Oxford |
| Christopher Knowles | ... | assistant location manager: London |
| William Lang | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Peter Holt | ... | music editor |
| André Jacquemin | ... | music producer |
| Luis Jardim | ... | musician: percussion |
| Skaila Kanga | ... | musician: harp |
| Dick Lewzey | ... | orchestral recordist |
| John Williams | ... | musician: solo guitar |
| John Du Prez | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| George Hamer | ... | orchestra contractor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Diana Dill | ... | continuity |
Transportation Department
| Mark White | ... | production driver / transportation |
| Roy Clarke | ... | driver: Jamie Lee Curtis (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Andy Birmingham | ... | production accountant |
| Peter Byck | ... | assistant: Mr. Shamberg, USA |
| Sophie Clarke-Jervoise | ... | assistant: Dr. Cleese |
| Pauline Clift | ... | animal supplier |
| Robert Conway | ... | legal advisor |
| Wayne Docksey | ... | Fish Supplier |
| Bill Edwards | ... | unit publicist |
| Yvonne Heeks | ... | assistant accountant |
| Ralph Kamp | ... | production assistant |
| Liz Lehmans | ... | production assistant |
| Ian Miles | ... | financial controller |
| Janine Modder | ... | production coordinator (as Janine Lodge) |
| Alexandra Stone | ... | assistant to producer |
| Mark Birmingham | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| John Cleese | ... | unused stand-by director (uncredited) |
| Robin Demetriou | ... | catering supervisor (uncredited) |
| Yvonne Eastmond | ... | assistant production accountant (uncredited) |
| Alan Ladd Jr. | ... | presenter (uncredited) |
| Richard Morrison | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
| Kimberley Vashiell | ... | choreographer (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Prominent Features (A Michael Shamberg/Prominent Features Production)
- Star Partners Limited Partnership
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1988) (World-wide)
- MGM/UA Distribution Company (1988) (United States) (theatrical)
- Metro Goldwyn Mayer (1988) (Mexico) (theatrical) (as MGM) (limited)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1988) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Columbus Film (1989) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Germany) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (France) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (1989) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (1989) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- CBS/Fox (1989) (United States) (VHS) (for MGM/UA Home Entertainment)
- CBS/Fox (1989) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Gativideo (1989) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1989) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1991) (India) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1991) (United States) (tv)
- Canal+ (1991) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (United States) (VHS)
- Varus Video (Russia) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1993) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- Warner Home Video (1993) (United States) (VHS)
- Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
- Warner Home Vidéo (1997) (France) (VHS)
- Warner Home Vidéo (1999) (France) (DVD)
- Hollydan Works (2000) (Yugoslavia) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (France) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2006) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- Metro Goldwyn Mayer Home Entertainment (2003) (Mexico) (DVD) (as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (Italy) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (United States) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Arrow Films (2017) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- One from the heart (2020) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Paramount Channel (2020) (France) (tv)
- Pluto TV (2022) (United States) (video)
- Pluto TV (2023) (United States) (video)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
- Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- British Airways (special thanks)
- C.T.S. Studios (music recorded at)
- Damson Studios (title sequence)
- Descriptive Video Works (descriptive video)
- Lee Electrics (lighting)
- Lee Lighting (grip and lighting equipment)
- London Independent Players (orchestra)
- Plume (titles)
- Redwood Recording Studios (music produced at)
- Twickenham Film Studios (re-recording facilities)
- Wet Pets (fishes provided by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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 13 million pounds sterling. They plan to leave the country with the goods after the heist. On Wanda's recommendation, they enlist the help of her weapons-expert brother Otto West (Kevin Kline) for this heist. Actually, Otto isn't Wanda's brother, but her latest lover, a dimwit who gets off on his own body odor and believes he's an intellectual because he reads Nietzsche and does not tolerate being called stupid by anyone. Wanda has one weakness in men which is how Otto was able to get her to be his lover: speaking Italian in seduction. Wanda and Otto plan to double-cross Georges by having him arrested for the heist while they abscond with the jewels. Wanda further plans to triple-cross Otto by eliminating him from the picture after she has the jewels. They are able to get Georges arrested with him not knowing who tipped the off the police, and implicated by elderly eyewitness Eileen Coady (Patricia Hayes). With Georges in jail, Wanda and Otto discover that he has protected his investment by moving the jewels from their agreed location to a hidden one, telling nobody where they are but offering Ken a slight hint. Georges gives Ken, an animal lover with an extreme stutter, the task of killing Mrs. Coady before she is able to testify against him, as she is the Crown's primary witness. Meanwhile, Wanda has her own plan to reach her end goal: seduce George's defense lawyer Archie Leach (John Cleese) and find out Georges' secrets about the heist, including the location of the jewels. Archie may be easy prey for Wanda's seduction, as his wife Wendy (Maria Aitken) is a self-absorbed woman who pays him little attention. Otto might throw a wrench into Wanda's plans if he finds out what she's doing. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | A tale of murder, lust, greed, revenge, and seafood. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Budget | $7,500,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United Kingdom | GBP147,607, 16 Oct 1988 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Michael Palin's father stuttered, so Palin used a lot of his real-life experience when playing Ken Pile, including the fact that Ken's stutter is less pronounced around people he trusts (George Thomason and Wanda Gershwitz) and worse around people with whom he is uncomfortable (Otto West). See more » |
| Goofs | When Otto fires his gun on the safe in the hideout, the gun makes the sound of a silenced weapon, but his gun is not equipped with a silencer. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Dead Pool/Phantasm II/Midnight Run/Boyfriends and Girlfriends/Die Hard (1988). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Nel blu, dipinto di blu See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Archie and Wanda were married in Rio, had seventeen children, and founded a leper colony. See more » |
| Quotes |
Wanda:
[after Otto breaks in on Wanda and Archie in Archie's flat and hangs him out the window]
I was dealing with something delicate, Otto. I'm setting up a guy who's incredibly important to us, who's going to tell me where the loot is and if they're going to come and arrest you. And you come loping in like Rambo without a jockstrap and you dangle him out a fifth-floor window. Now, was that smart? Was it shrewd? Was it good tactics? Or was it stupid? Otto West: Don't call me stupid. Wanda: Oh, right! To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people! I've known sheep that could outwit you. I've worn dresses with higher IQs. But you think you're an intellectual, don't you, ape? Otto West: Apes don't read philosophy. Wanda: Yes they do, Otto. They just don't understand it. Now let me correct you on a couple of things, OK? Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not "Every man for himself." And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked them up. See more » |