Though Kevin Kline is a Julliard trained actor who has done film and theater, performed in many Shakespearean stage productions, won two Tonys and been nominated for numerous other awards (Golden Globe, BAFTA, Emmy), the film for which he won an Academy Award is no highbrow drama and the role was not Hamlet. Rather, Kline won for playing a psychopathic dolt in the brilliant comedy, A Fish Called Wanda. He seems more the family man these days (who can blame him, with the ageless Phoebe Cates as his wife?) but, Kline’s crazy performance as Otto still holds up—as does Fish—which was written, secretly co-directed and starred in by Basil himself (John Cleese). Here are some tasty fishbits over which to savor and perhaps entice you into watching again. Just don’t laugh too enthusiastically…
Denmark resident, Ole Bentzen laughed himself to death (literally) when he watched this scene where Otto stuffs chips up Ken’s nostrils. Reminded of a similar incident at a family dinner, Bentzen laughed so hard (heartily?)that his heart stopped.
Though Kevin Kline offered to eat live fish for the Otto torture scene, the ones he actually ate were Jello.
When he undresses and speaks Russian to Wanda, Archie is reciting a poem called, “The Prayer,” by Mikhail Lermontov. Cleese has stated that he had no idea what he was saying; he memorized the poem phonetically. In a related note, during the love scene, when Wanda opens up her blouse, Otto says in broken Italian “Ecco le due cupole del catedrale di Milano!” which translates “There are the two domes of the Milan cathedral.” Milan’s cathedral, actually, has no domes at all.
The film holds the record of longest time to reach number 1; it was released July 15, 1988 and finally topped the box office, September 16th.
Kevin Kline wanted Otto to seduce Wanda in French (because he was fluent) rather than Italian, but John Cleese refused him.
A Fish Called Wanda is the last film Charles Crichton directed; he also did some television, including episodes of “The Avengers” and directed one of film critic, Gene Siskel’s favorite movies, The Lavender Hill Mob.
Leach’s daughter Portia is played by John Cleese’s real-life daughter Cynthia Cleese, credited as Cynthia Caylor.
John Cleese chose his character name, Archie Leach, because it is the real name of his favorite actor, Cary Grant.
More fun with names: Actor Tom Georgeson plays crook “George Thomason” and Kevin Kline suggests a snitch with his own first and middle names, “Kevin Delaney.”
Producer Michael Shamberg served on Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion and he’ll Executive Produce Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming Southern Spaghetti Western, Django, Unchained.
Costume designer, Hazel Pethig also did costuming for “Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Doctor Who, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian and Fierce Creatures.
Score composer, John Du Prez was a member (trumpet player) of eighties Pop/Salsa band, Modern Romance. The band had several top-40 hits, including this one, where you can see Du Prez doing a little solo work:
A Fish Called Wanda is John Cleese’s favorite of his own films.
Though the film’s sequel, Fierce Creatures also starred Cleese, Kline, Curtis and Palin, it was as big a bomb (both commercially and with audiences and critics) as Wanda was successful. John Cleese has said that making Fierce Creatures is one of his greatest regrets.
Arguably, one of AFCW’s funniest scenes features Michael Palin’s character, Ken trying to pass on where Otto is headed with Wanda and the diamonds. Palin modeled his speech impediment on his own father, who stuttered. After the film, Palin lent his name and fame to a the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children.
Here’s an extended scene where you can see some of the deleted bits of other ways Archie tried to get the information out of Ken:
A Fish Called Wanda scores a Fresh rating of 96% at rottentomatoes.com and is number 21 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Funniest Movies
Because it upset audiences too much, the entrails obtained from butchers to serve as dead dog guts were replaced with a straw dog, easily seen as fake. Moreover, the film also featured a deleted subplot that involved Kevin Kline’s Nietzsche-loving psychopath using stray cats for target practice
Michael Palin went on to found the London Centre for Stammering Children after a group of stutterers confronted him regarding the sensitivity with which he dealt with Ken’s handicap in this film.
Jamie Lee Curtis was listed as “Jamie Lee Schwartz” on all the call sheets, because John Cleese found it amusing that her father Tony Curtis’s real name was Bernard Schwartz.
Cindy Davis would pay Kevin Kline to sniff her boots and speak Italian.
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One of those really great flicks that I've only seen because of DarthCorleone.
Posted by: Angeleno Ewok at September 12, 2011 3:18 PM
Not only do I love this film, I unabashedly loved Fierce Creatures. Yes, it wasn't anywhere near as good as Wanda, but they still managed something worth watching.
This is one of those movies where it's been passed down from generation to generation in my family, along with Blazing Saddles and History of the World Part I. It's practically a rite of passage to have seen this film if you're going to get involved with me and mine.
I, too, think Fierce Creatures is somewhat underappreciated.
"Where does he put the third one?"
Posted by: Ghisent at September 12, 2011 3:42 PM
WAKE UP LIMEY FISH!
I just wanted to say that.
Posted by: Mrs. Julien at September 12, 2011 3:44 PM
This is the greatest comedy ever.
Good facts, including more than a few I did not know.
Fierce Creatures was a relative disappointment, but Wanda was an impossible act to follow. I think it had its moments and gets a slightly bad rap.
Posted by: DarthCorleone at September 12, 2011 3:57 PM
One of my favorite movies ever. I think it created a life long habit of never being able to say I'm sorry with real sincerity.
Posted by: icyn2 at September 12, 2011 4:14 PM
Fierce Creatures takes it own sweet time to warm up, and I think a lot of critics tuned out before the insanity starts (right around when John Cleese's character "shoots" the surplus animals. I loved it, although nothing tops AFCW.
Posted by: PDamian at September 12, 2011 4:20 PM
Throw me on the list of people that really liked Fierce Creatures though it could be my undying love for Wanda that causes it.
Posted by: Paultera at September 12, 2011 4:30 PM
I still remember Kevin Kline's look of incredulity when he won the Oscar. He had this look that said, "Thanks! All the classy work I've done for you and I win an Oscar for THIS?"
Posted by: BWeaves at September 12, 2011 4:32 PM
K-k-k-Ken is c-c-c-coming to k-k-k-kill me!!
Posted by: Djngo at September 12, 2011 4:43 PM
"Don't call me stupid!"
Posted by: John W at September 12, 2011 4:59 PM
I'm not too shocked to learn someone died from laughter at that movie. I took my father to see it when it was released, and he laughed so hard I feared for his safety -- he just wasn't giving himself a chance to breathe in! Love this film.
Posted by: melia at September 12, 2011 5:03 PM
I did not know that Kline had won an Oscar for this! That makes me happy -- AFCW is one of my favorite movies. It was one of my mom's favorite movies as well -- she laughed so hard she hyperventilated on one of the dog deaths. Yes, I inherited my sick sense of humor.
And I love that the film includes both one of the worst apologies ever and one of the best: "I offer a complete and utter retraction. The imputation was totally without basis in fact, and was in no way fair comment, and was motivated purely by malice, and I deeply regret any distress that my comments may have caused you, or your family, and I hereby undertake not to repeat any such slander at any time in the future." [Archie Leach, while being dangled out of a window.]
Posted by: elisamaza at September 12, 2011 5:11 PM
I've always wanted to memorize that full apology and recite it at the appropriate moment in my life someday.
Posted by: DarthCorleone at September 12, 2011 6:43 PM
Fucking limey cement.
Posted by: Harvey Manfrenjensen at September 12, 2011 6:55 PM
I've never seen Fierce Creatures but I would have if they had stuck with their original idea and called it Death Fish 2. That would have the best sequel name evar!
Posted by: Ballymena Bob at September 12, 2011 8:51 PM
*would have been
Posted by: Ballymena Bob at September 12, 2011 8:52 PM
I watched this on the weekend and noticed that Stephen Fry pops up right at the end. I think he gets bopped on the head by Otto at the airport.
Posted by: Brett at September 12, 2011 9:30 PM
To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people!!!
Posted by: mux at September 12, 2011 10:53 PM
Carey Grant? CAREY Grant?
Posted by: Anna at September 13, 2011 1:08 AM
Mrs. Julien, I still scream "WAKE UP LIMEY FISH!!" whenever I'm trying to wake my husband (or anyone else for that matter.) It is never not funny. To me, anyway.
For more Kevin Kline being handsome and hilarious, see Soapdish*. With bonus RDJ!
*Can't remember if Pajiba has unearthed that Underappreciated Gem before. If so, apologies, but a reminder never hurts.
Posted by: MG at September 13, 2011 1:48 AM
Fierce Creatures and Soapdish are both streaming on netflix!
Posted by: MN_Jen at September 13, 2011 2:39 AM
Otto: [superior smile] Apes don't read philosophy.
Wanda: Yes they do, Otto, they just don't understand it! Let me correct you on a few things; 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. I looked them up.
Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at September 13, 2011 2:49 AM
It's the "I loo0ked them up" that kills me every time. As does this film.
Posted by: cinekat at September 13, 2011 5:10 AM
I was going to be coy about it, but seeing as other people said it first: Fierce Creatures is excellent.
Posted by: Grafty at September 13, 2011 8:27 AM
No need to be coy, Roy. This is Pajiba.
Posted by: cinekat at September 13, 2011 9:24 AM
As Anna pointed out -- it's not Carey Grant. It's Cary Grant.
Posted by: BWeaves at September 13, 2011 9:50 AM
I heart cinekat.
Posted by: Alarmjaguar at September 14, 2011 1:23 AM
This is good writing. Kudos to the author very well said. Keep up the good work!
Hello, K-k-ken's p-p-pets! I so love this movie!