The Fisher King (1991)

Director:

Terry Gilliam

Writer (WGA):

Richard LaGravenese (written by)

Release Date:

20 September 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

A radio DJ, suicidally despondent because of a horrible mistake he made, finds redemption in helping a deranged homeless man who was a victim of it.

Plot Keywords:

Massacre | Friendship | Redemption | Holy Grail | Love

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Jeff Bridges	...	Jack Lucas
Robin Williams	...	Parry
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Anne Napolitano
Amanda Plummer	...	Lydia Sinclair
David Hyde Pierce	...	Lou Rosen (as David Pierce)
Adam Bryant	...	Radio engineer
Paul Lombardi	...	Radio engineer
Ted Ross	...	Limo bum
Lara Harris	...	Sondra
Warren Olney	...	TV anchorman
Frazer Smith	...	News reporter
Kathy Najimy	...	Crazed video customer
Harry Shearer	...	Sitcom actor Ben Starr
Melinda Culea	...	Sitcom wife
James Remini	...	Bum at hotel

MPAA:

Rated R for language and violence.

Runtime:

137 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Australia:M | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Peru:14 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Norway:15

Filming Locations:

101 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

For the "waltzing commuter" scene in Grand Central station, the main hall of the terminal was shut down for the shoot from 8pm until the first commuter trains arrived at 5:30 am the next morning. Lighting effects outside of the large terminal windows made it seem to be 5:00 in the evening the entire night, and over 400 extras waltzed around the mirror-ball topped Information Booth again and again throughout the night. Now, on New Year's, an orchestra plays there and people waltz for real.

Goofs:

Continuity: 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.

Quotes:

Parry: [singing] Holding my penis... what a wonderful way of saying how much you like me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Jeff Goldblum/Aerosmith (#19.3)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Rose's Turn

Wow! Sooooooooo overlooked. A mini-masterpiece

I've watched Robin Williams/Jeff Bridges in this "fairytale" more times than I count. Finally bought it. You have to watch it at least twice , in my opinion,because the first time all I could do was try to let it "settle in".

I love movies that hit me broadsided and then blind me! I keep trying to watch it with my daughter, who only likes love stories, but if I can keep her still long enough she'll find out that this IS a love story, of the most incredible kind. A love story for all mankind.

I hate to gush, but if it's ever called for, it's called for here.

The first time I saw it, I was soooooooo impressed with Mercedes Rhuel's performance and actually said to my friend in the theatre, "That woman's gonna get nominated for the Oscar for this performance", which of course she won for her performance. So, I'm not so unsophisticated after all.