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IMDbPro

A Fish Called Wanda

  • 1988
  • R
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
147K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,393
429
John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, and Michael Palin in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Watch Trailer [OV]
Play trailer1:29
1 Video
99+ Photos
ComedyCrime

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.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.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
    • Charles Crichton
    • John Cleese
  • Writers
    • John Cleese
    • Charles Crichton
  • Stars
    • John Cleese
    • Jamie Lee Curtis
    • Kevin Kline
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    147K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,393
    429
    • Directors
      • Charles Crichton
      • John Cleese
    • Writers
      • John Cleese
      • Charles Crichton
    • Stars
      • John Cleese
      • Jamie Lee Curtis
      • Kevin Kline
    • 276User reviews
    • 118Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 9 wins & 18 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 1:29
    Watch Trailer [OV]

    Photos140

    John Cleese and Jamie Lee Curtis in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
    Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
    Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin, and Tom Georgeson in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
    Kevin Kline and Michael Palin in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
    Michael Palin in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
    John Cleese in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
    Michael Palin in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
    John Cleese and Jamie Lee Curtis in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
    Kevin Kline and Michael Palin in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
    Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
    John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
    John Cleese and Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Cleese
    John Cleese
    • Archie
    Jamie Lee Curtis
    Jamie Lee Curtis
    • Wanda
    Kevin Kline
    Kevin Kline
    • Otto
    Michael Palin
    Michael Palin
    • Ken
    Maria Aitken
    Maria Aitken
    • Wendy
    Tom Georgeson
    • George
    Patricia Hayes
    • Mrs. Coady
    Geoffrey Palmer
    Geoffrey Palmer
    • Judge
    Cynthia Cleese
    Cynthia Cleese
    • Portia
    • (as Cynthia Caylor)
    Mark Elwes
    • Customer in Jeweler's Shop
    Neville Phillips
    Neville Phillips
    • Manager of Jeweler's Shop
    Peter Jonfield
    • Inspector Marvin
    Ken Campbell
    • Bartlett
    Al Ashton
    • Warder
    Roger Hume
    • Locksmith
    Roger Brierley
    • Davidson
    Llewellyn Rees
    • Sir John
    Michael Percival
    Michael Percival
    • Percival
    • Directors
      • Charles Crichton
      • John Cleese(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • John Cleese
      • Charles Crichton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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).
    • 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.
    • 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.

    • Crazy credits
      Archie and Wanda were married in Rio, had seventeen children, and founded a leper colony.
    • Alternate versions
      Approximately 2 minutes were removed from the original run time by India's Censor Board to achieve an 'A' (adults only) rating (Cert No.: 1975).
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Dead Pool/Phantasm II/Midnight Run/Boyfriends and Girlfriends/Die Hard (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Nel blu, dipinto di blu
      Written by Franco Migliacci and Domenico Modugno

      Performed by Domenico Modugno

    User reviews276

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Excellent caper comedy with a perfect cast
    This is one of the best, if not THE best, caper comedies of the modern era. The writing is very witty and at the same time sometimes turgid. The cast is absolutely perfect; Cleese makes a great subdued lawyer who wants to be a bad boy, Curtis is wonderful and just keeps you guessing (as perhaps her own character is guessing, as to what it is SHE wants), and Kline is perfectly annoying as the Nietzsche-quoting American. This movie has strong shades of "The Big Sleep" and other Howard Hawks comedies, even going so far as to name Cleese's character "Leach" in honor of Cary Grant.

    This film should appeal to those with no classic movie knowledge, but for those who have seen "To Catch a Thief" and other caper classics, this is even more of a treat. Romantic, funny, and slick.

    Also big ups to Michael Palin for another memorable supporting performance.
    helpful•52
    16
    • funkyfry
    • Aug 28, 2003

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    FAQ1

    • What was Wanda's ultimate plan?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 29, 1988 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • Russian
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Ein Fisch namens Wanda
    • Filming locations
      • Bermondsey, London, Greater London, England, UK(Archie & Wanda's apartment)
    • Production companies
      • Prominent Features
      • Star Partners Limited Partnership
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $62,493,712
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $115,418
      • Jul 17, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $62,493,712
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, and Michael Palin in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
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