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A Fish Called Wanda

  • 1988
  • R
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
160K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,763
127
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
CaperDark ComedyHeistScrewball ComedySlapstickComedyCrime

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 the very proper barrister Archibald Le... Read allIn 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 the very proper barrister Archibald Leach.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 the very proper barrister Archibald Leach.

  • Directors
    • Charles Crichton
    • John Cleese
  • Writers
    • John Cleese
    • Charles Crichton
  • Stars
    • John Cleese
    • Jamie Lee Curtis
    • Kevin Kline
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    160K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,763
    127
    • Directors
      • Charles Crichton
      • John Cleese
    • Writers
      • John Cleese
      • Charles Crichton
    • Stars
      • John Cleese
      • Jamie Lee Curtis
      • Kevin Kline
    • 299User reviews
    • 117Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 9 wins & 22 nominations total

    Videos1

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

    Photos143

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    + 137
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    Top cast55

    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
    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
    • 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 reviews299

    Featured review
    8/10

    Wackiest Craziest Characters

    Four crazy characters team up to steal diamonds, and then try to doublecross each other. Georges Thomason (Tom Georgeson) is the elder. Wanda Gershwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis) is a vixen who play all the men like a fiddle. Otto (Kevin Kline) is blindly in love with Wanda and easily goes violently crazy. Ken Pile (Michael Palin) is the stuttering animal lover. When the double-crossing begins, Georges' attorney Archie Leach (John Cleese) is dragged into the chaos.

    The wacky craziness is punctuated by Michael Palin and Kevin Kline. They've created two of the craziest most memorable characters. Who can truly forget Kevin Kline shoving that fish back in his mouth? It helps that Jamie Lee Curtis is both beautiful and ballsy. It serves her well in this movie.
    • SnoopyStyle
    • Nov 9, 2013
    • Permalink

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    FAQ21

    • How long is A Fish Called Wanda?Powered by Alexa
    • 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
      • Los enredos de 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

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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