The Commitments (1991)

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 (novel), Dick Clement (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne, Angeline Ball

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 11 wins & 12 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

Funny, musical and occasionally dramatic, this is the story of tumultuous rise and fall of a Dublin Soul band, The Commitments. Managed by Jimmy Rabbitte, an unemployed wheeler and dealer with a vision to create "The Worlds Hardest Working Band".

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Plot Keywords:

working class | ireland | soul music | reference to wilson pickett | barrytown trilogy | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Derek Scully, the bassist, is nearly electrocuted onstage from touching an electrified microphone. Later, at the hospital, Derek asks Jimmy, "Isn't this how the guy from AC/DC died?" Jimmy replies, "No, he choked on his own vomit." In 1980, Bon Scott, lead singer of AC/DC, reportedly died by choking on his own vomit while sleeping in his car outside a London house. However, in 1976, Keith Relf, vocalist of The Yardbirds, died from electrocution while playing an improperly-grounded guitar in the basement of his London home.

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Goofs

Several band members are kicking a can in an alley waiting for the others just before the Mr. Chippy van scene. Joey's scooter appears around the corner in the distance at the end of the alley, approaching the group, and gets partway down the alley. We change camera angles, but this time there's someone walking a dog across the end of the alley where the scooter just entered, and the scooter continues toward us down the alley. We change camera angles again, and although the scooter is further down the alley, the dog walker is just starting to cross at the alley entrance again.

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Quotes

Deco: If I'm gonna front the band, I like the sound of "Deco."
Billy: Deco the bus conductor. Is that "top-Deco" or "bottom-Deco"?

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Connections

Referenced in Sammy the Screenplay (1997)

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Soundtracks

Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
Written by Dan Penn and Chips Moman
Performed by Niamh Kavanagh, with Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Bronagh Gallagher

User Reviews

"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.

Details

Country:

Ireland UK USA

Language:

English Irish

Release Date:

13 September 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Commitments

Filming Locations:

Ballymun, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$271,333, 18 August 1991

Gross USA:

$14,919,570

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,919,570

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beacon Communications, Beacon Pictures, Dirty Hands Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1