The Fisher King (1991)

A former radio DJ, suicidally despondent because of a terrible mistake he made, finds redemption in helping a deranged homeless man who was an unwitting victim of that mistake.

Director:

Terry Gilliam

Writer:

Richard LaGravenese

Stars:

Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams, Adam Bryant

Won 1 Oscar. Another 13 wins & 35 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Bridges	...	Jack
Adam Bryant	...	Radio Engineer
Paul Lombardi	...	Radio Engineer
David Hyde Pierce	...	Lou Rosen (as David Pierce)
Ted Ross	...	Limo Bum
Lara Harris	...	Sondra
Warren Olney	...	TV Anchorman
Frazer Smith	...	News Reporter
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Anne
Kathy Najimy	...	Crazed Video Customer
Harry Shearer	...	Sitcom Actor Ben Starr
Melinda Culea	...	Sitcom Wife
James Remini	...	Bum at Hotel
Mark Bowden	...	Doorman
John Ottavino	...	Father at Hotel

Storyline

After hearing a popular DJ rail against yuppies, a madman carries out a massacre in a popular New York bar. Dejected and remorseful, the DJ strikes up a friendship with Parry, a former professor who became unhinged and then homeless after witnessing his wife's violent death in the bar shooting. The DJ seeks redemption by helping Parry in his quest to recover an item that he believes is the Holy Grail and to win the heart of the woman he loves.

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Plot Keywords:

holy grail | redemption | massacre | friendship | video store | 

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Taglines:

A Modern Day Tale About The Search For Love, Sanity, Ethel Merman And The Holy Grail.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 September 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fisher King

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$24,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$311,662, 22 September 1991, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$41,895,491

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ellen Barkin was considered for the role of Anne.

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Goofs

After the double date dinner at the Chinese restaurant Anne unlocks the door to the apartment and puts her keys in her purse. The next scene she is hugging Jack and you can clearly see the keys still in her hand.

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Quotes

Jack Lucas: Hey! Edwin! Hey, c'mon now, I told you about these people, they only mate with their own kind, it's called yuppie inbreeding. That's why so many of them are retarded and wear the same clothes. They're not human, they don't feel love, they only negotiate *love moments*. They're evil, Edwin, they're repulsed by imperfection, horrified by the banal, everything that America stands for, everything that you and I fight for! They must be stopped before it's too late! It's us or them!
Edwin: [quietly] OK, Jack.

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Connections

References You'll Never Get Rich (1941)

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Soundtracks

Some People
Written by Stephen Sondheim & Jule Styne

User Reviews

a modern romance

This is one of the best movies I've ever seen. I kept returning to it over they years and I always found it a great and enriching experience to watch. I especially like the shifting incarnations of the legendary Fisher King in this film (the wounded hero, kind of the wasteland, keeper of the holy grail. The archetype of the knight and of the wounded warrior can be seen as one of the prominent archetypes of masculinity we have. By this view, this movie can be seen as a research into masculinity as such. The performances by Bridges, Williams and Ruehl are exquisite. The eighties' New York is a great setting for this ethereal, symbolic quest, and the surreal theatricalness of some of the scenes (a la "Brazil") only adds to the overall artistic congruence of the film. The visuals are great. The movie works on many levels, so apart from this very abstract layer, we get a funny and intelligent comedy about modern misfits - with a great love story, or two. Also, I especially recommend this movie to anyone who loves New York City.