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IMDbPro

The Commitments

  • 1991
  • R
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
37K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,229
269
Robert Arkins in The Commitments (1991)
Trailer for The Commitments
Play trailer1:58
2 Videos
98 Photos
ComedyDramaMusic

Jimmy Rabbitte, an unemployed Dublin boy, decides to put together a soul band made up entirely of the Irish working class.Jimmy Rabbitte, an unemployed Dublin boy, decides to put together a soul band made up entirely of the Irish working class.Jimmy Rabbitte, an unemployed Dublin boy, decides to put together a soul band made up entirely of the Irish working class.

  • Director
    • Alan Parker
  • Writers
    • Roddy Doyle
    • Dick Clement
    • Ian La Frenais
  • Stars
    • Robert Arkins
    • Michael Aherne
    • Angeline Ball
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    37K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,229
    269
    • Director
      • Alan Parker
    • Writers
      • Roddy Doyle
      • Dick Clement
      • Ian La Frenais
    • Stars
      • Robert Arkins
      • Michael Aherne
      • Angeline Ball
    • 126User reviews
    • 65Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 11 wins & 13 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Commitments: 25th Anniversary Edition
    Trailer 1:58
    Watch The Commitments: 25th Anniversary Edition
    The Commitments
    Trailer 0:29
    Watch The Commitments

    Photos98

    Angeline Ball, Dave Finnegan, Bronagh Gallagher, Félim Gormley, Glen Hansard, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Ken McCluskey, and Andrew Strong in The Commitments (1991)
    Andrew Strong in The Commitments (1991)
    Angeline Ball, Dave Finnegan, Bronagh Gallagher, Félim Gormley, Glen Hansard, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Ken McCluskey, and Andrew Strong in The Commitments (1991)
    Angeline Ball, Bronagh Gallagher, and Maria Doyle Kennedy in The Commitments (1991)
    Félim Gormley and Johnny Murphy in The Commitments (1991)
    Dick Massey in The Commitments (1991)
    The Commitments (1991)
    Angeline Ball, Dave Finnegan, Félim Gormley, Glen Hansard, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Dick Massey, Ken McCluskey, Johnny Murphy, and Andrew Strong in The Commitments (1991)
    Johnny Murphy in The Commitments (1991)
    Angeline Ball, Dave Finnegan, Bronagh Gallagher, Félim Gormley, Glen Hansard, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Ken McCluskey, Johnny Murphy, and Andrew Strong in The Commitments (1991)
    The Commitments (1991)
    Robert Arkins in The Commitments (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Arkins
    Robert Arkins
    • Jimmy Rabbitte
    Michael Aherne
    Michael Aherne
    • Steven Clifford
    Angeline Ball
    Angeline Ball
    • Imelda Quirke
    Maria Doyle Kennedy
    Maria Doyle Kennedy
    • Natalie Murphy
    • (as Maria Doyle)
    Dave Finnegan
    • Mickah Wallace
    Bronagh Gallagher
    Bronagh Gallagher
    • Bernie McGloughlin
    Félim Gormley
    Félim Gormley
    • Dean Fay
    Glen Hansard
    Glen Hansard
    • Outspan Foster
    Dick Massey
    • Billy Mooney
    Johnny Murphy
    Johnny Murphy
    • Joey 'The Lips' Fagan
    Ken McCluskey
    Ken McCluskey
    • Derek Scully
    • (as Kenneth McCluskey)
    Andrew Strong
    Andrew Strong
    • Deco Cuffe
    Colm Meaney
    Colm Meaney
    • Mr. Rabbitte
    Anne Kent
    Anne Kent
    • Mrs. Rabbitte
    Andrea Corr
    Andrea Corr
    • Sharon Rabbitte
    Gerard Cassoni
    • Darren Rabbitte
    Ruth Fairclough
    • Rabbitte Twin
    Lindsay Fairclough
    • Rabbitte Twin
    • Director
      • Alan Parker
    • Writers
      • Roddy Doyle
      • Dick Clement
      • Ian La Frenais
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The kid on the skateboard who appears outside Jimmy's window during the first third of the movie when the band are recruiting members is Peter Rowen, the then boy from the covers of U2's "Boy" (1980) and "War" (1983) albums. At the time this movie was filmed, he owned a skate shop in Dublin and was a champion skateboarder.
    • Goofs
      When "The Commitments" play in their last gig, there is a big brass accompaniment. They are supposed just two. It's best heard during "In the Midnight Hour": there's a tenor saxophone from nowhere playing.
    • Quotes

      Jimmy Rabbitte: Do you not get it, lads? The Irish are the blacks of Europe. And Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. And the Northside Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin. So say it once, say it loud: I'm black and I'm proud.

    • Connections
      Edited into The Commitments: Try a Little Tenderness (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Mustang Sally
      Written by Mack Rice

      Performed by Andrew Strong, with Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Bronagh Gallagher

    User reviews126

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    "This way it's poetry..."
    This is the simple and captivating story of Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins, fantastic like the whole cast), a young guy who decides to form a soul band in Dublin, and all the amazing people who join him. They've got musical talent and big dreams, but is that enough to climb to the top (and stay there)?

    Alan Parker has made some very diverse films ("Midnight Express", "Angel Heart", "Mississippi Burning", "Angela's Ashes") in his long career, but you can see that music is in his blood and one of his favourite themes ("Bugsy Malone", "Fame", "Pink Floyd The Wall", "Evita"). He orchestrates a mostly unknown cast (which includes a very young Glen Hansard, from the recent hit "Once") in a tale of hope, determination, and great music. The British have a great eye for the bittersweet side of life and misfits in general ("The Full Monty", "Little Voice", "Billy Elliot" are fine examples), often with music as an important factor in the background (coincidence? I don't think so!). "The Commitments" is a beautiful, cheerful film, as passionate and memorable as Cameron Crowe's masterpiece "Almost Famous", and certainly one of the best music films of all time. 10/10.
    helpful•33
    7
    • Benedict_Cumberbatch
    • Jan 26, 2008

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    FAQ8

    • Is "The Commitments" based on a book?
    • Who are, and in what order did Jimmy put together, the musicians for The Commitments?
    • What other names were suggested for the band before they chose "The Commitments"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 13, 1991 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Ireland
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Irish Gaelic
    • Also known as
      • Camino a la fama
    • Filming locations
      • St Francis Xavier's Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland(church - The song 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' played on organ)
    • Production companies
      • Beacon Communications
      • Beacon Pictures
      • Dirty Hands Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,919,570
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $271,333
      • Aug 18, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,919,570
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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