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 & 37 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:

The 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:

137 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robin Williams' character says he practices "cloud busting" while in the middle of Central Park with Jeff Bridges, who later does the same thing in The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009).

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Goofs

Jack and Anne have a violent quarrel, upon which he grabs her from behind to calm her down. In the next shot, Anne is in Jack's arms facing him.

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Quotes

Jack Lucas: I was attacked, two kids tried to set me on fire.

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Connections

Referenced in Lost in La Mancha (2002)

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Soundtracks

Hit The Road Jack
Written by Percy Mayfield
Performed by Ray Charles
Courtesy of Ray Charles Enterprises, Inc.

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.