The Commitments (1991)

The travails of Jimmy Rabbitte to form the "World's Hardest Working Band," The Commitments, and bring soul music to the people of Dublin, Ireland.

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers:

Roddy Doyle (novel), Dick Clement (screenplay),

Stars:

Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne, Angeline Ball

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 10 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Arkins	...	Jimmy Rabbitte
Michael Aherne	...	Steven Clifford
Angeline Ball	...	Imelda Quirke
Maria Doyle Kennedy	...	Natalie Murphy (as Maria Doyle)
Dave Finnegan	...	Mickah Wallace
Bronagh Gallagher	...	Bernie McGloughlin
Félim Gormley	...	Dean Fay
Glen Hansard	...	Outspan Foster
Dick Massey	...	Billy Mooney
Johnny Murphy	...	Joey 'The Lips' Fagan
Ken McCluskey	...	Derek Scully (as Kenneth McCluskey)
Andrew Strong	...	Deco Cuffe
Colm Meaney	...	Mr. Rabbitte
Anne Kent	...	Mrs. Rabbitte
Andrea Corr	...	Sharon Rabbitte

Storyline

Jimmy Rabbitte, che vive di piccoli espedienti in un quartiere proletario di Dublino, si e' messo in testa di organizzare una band musicale per rinverdire i fasti del rythm&blues e del soul. Grazie ad un annuncio sul giornale, Rabbitte comincia a selezionare giovani dal lavoro precario ma pieni di talento: Dean, Fay, Outspan, l'occhialuto Steven , Clifford, Deco, il ciccione senza buone maniere ma con una grande voce, Billy il batterista e Joey "The lips", un bizzarro e maturo anziano suonatore di tromba che si vanta di aver suonato con famosi soul-singers. Aggrega anche Natalie, Imelda e Bernie, tre grintose ragazze, ottime coriste e molto sexy. Procuratisi a credito la strumentazione, cominciano le prove, massacranti, che impegnano tutti. Si inizia a suonare in pubblico, in capannoni e feste sociali: il gruppo sembra pervaso dal fuoco della musica e dell'ambizione. La band, pur se dilettantesca e provinciale, sembra lanciata verso il vertice e finisce invece nel fallimento: ...

---

Plot Keywords:

band | ireland | music club | conquest | price of fame | 

---

Taglines:

They Had Absolutely Nothing. But They Were Willing To Risk It All.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site of the Commitments band

Country:

Ireland UK USA

Language:

English Irish

Release Date:

4 October 1991 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Camino a la fama

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Box Office

Gross:

$14,919,570 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beacon Communications, Dirty Hands Productions, First Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The pool hall in this movie was a place called Ricardo's (now called Camden Deluxe) on Camden Street south of Temple Bar. It is now a bar and the upstairs junk room where the band rehearse is Poolhall. The scene outside the hotel where Wilson Pickett was supposedly staying was filmed outside the Mansion House, which is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

---

Goofs

As Andrew Strong is about to go into the main Chorus towards the end of "Try A Little Tenderness", when the drums kick in, the piano player goes for a strike down the keys, but in the next shot he's playing it normally.

---

Quotes

Natalie: You all right, Jimmy?
Jimmy Rabbitte: Sure. They just get on my arse at times.
Natalie: Wanna share a taxi home?
Jimmy Rabbitte: For fuck's sake, Natalie. How could you ask me that after what I just said in there?
Natalie: Well if you weren't the manager, would you?
Jimmy Rabbitte: Would I what?
Natalie: ...take me home?
Jimmy Rabbitte: But I am the manager.

---

Connections

Referenced in Movie Connections: The Commitments (2007)

---

Soundtracks

"Mustang Sally"
Written by Bonny Rice
Performed by Andrew Strong, with Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle and Bronagh Gallagher

User Reviews

Brilliant!

I first heard of the Commitments when I heard someone playing the soundtrack on their car radio. I quickly bought myself a copy and played it about 10 times a day - the music and the singing were unlike anything I'd ever heard before, even though all the songs are covers.

It wasn't until about 6 months later that the film was on an obscure cable channel, and I literally got goosebumps as soon as the opening credits rolled with "Treat her right". It was so incredible to actually see the characters performing the songs that I'd grown to love. It all became complete actually seeing the story unfold, and by the end you're really rooting for the band to succeed. When they perform "Try a Little Tenderness" I've never managed to watch that scene without tears in my eyes, it's such a fantastic version of the song and the energy Andrew Strong brings to it is just incredible, especially as he was only 16 at the time.

Anyone who loves music has to see this film, even you're not familiar with soul music - I promise you'll be hooked after seeing The Commitments!