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General Information
Poster for The Fisher King
Directed by
Terry Gilliam

Screenplay by
Richard LaGravenese

Music Composed by
George Fenton

Theatrical Release Date
September 20, 1991 (limited)
September 27, 1991 (wide)

DVD Release Date
February 16, 1999

Production Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.

Distribution Company
TriStar Pictures

Summary

Jack Lucas, a talk show DJ, inadvertently convinces a psychotic to blow away restaurant patrons and himself when the psycho calls in for advice. After 3 years of wallowing in his remorse, Jack is attacked and almost set on fire, but a crazy street person rescues him. Jack finds out the transient is on a mission to find the Holy Grail, and tries to repay his kindness with money, but the transient has more hands-on assistance in mind, and tries to convince Jack to help him find the Holy Grail.

Trailer
Richard LaGravenese about Robin

Robin's genius fit Parry's insanity like a glove. His ability to go off on a thousand creative tangents infused Parry with an electrically charged sense of awe, as if he had a nonstop fireworks display going on inside his head. And when he stops to take off the fool's mask, it breaks your heart. He also inspired the filming itself. I remember one night in particular, filming the Chinese restaurant scene. It was about five in the morning, and we'd been there since seven the night before. Everyone's energy was drained. Suddenly Robin did twenty minutes of nonstop impersonations and comedy. I remember one of the grips turning to me with tears in his eyes, he was laughing so hard. Everyone was rejuvenated and juiced. Then Terry turned to me and said: "Thank God for him."

Quotes

Parry
Hold, varlet...or feel the sting of my shaft! In the name of Blanche de Fleur, unhand that errant Knight! Do you speak English?! Let the bum go, dipshit!
Mendacity. Why are two attractive city squirrels like you abusing a knight like this?

City squire
You a faggot too?
Parry
Faggot? No, but I do believe in fairies. Oh, not without dinner.
City squire
Are you fucking nuts?
Parry
Voila! Let's show him what he's won. I advise you to let us go.
City squire
You advise us, huh?
Parry
Yes. You're outnumbered, son. You see?
Parry
Oh, look, it's show time. You know, boys... there's three things in this world that you need. Respect for all kinds of life, a nice bowel movement on a regular basis and a navy blazer. Oh, one more thing. Never take your eye off the ball!
City squire
You don't leave me tied up here alone, you fucking faggot!
Parry
Oh, you're not gonna be alone. Huh. Yo, come and get i-i-i-i-t!

Parry
Hey, I know a fabulous place with great ambiance.

Parry
These are raisins or ratshit. You can't tell sometimes. Oh! How about a fruit pie? You're right, I was off a couple of months.

Parry
They came to me about a year ago. I was sitting on the john having one of those satisfying bowel movements. You know, that ones that border on mystical. Where you're like--And there they were. Hundreds of the cutest little fat people floating right in front of me. It was wonderful. And then...they spoke.

Parry
I love this guy! You hear me?! I love this guy!

Jack
I gave you the money. You wanna keep it, fine. You wanna give it away, fine. I just want You to know I did give him the money, okay? Are we clear?
Parry
Who are you talking to, Jack?

Parry
Heaven be praised giving soon the opportunity to fulfill the duties of my profession. These cries proceed from a miserable male or female in need of my aid and my protection.

Jack
Where would King Arthur be without Guinevere?
Parry
Happily married, probably.

Parry
I'm in love with you. And not just from tonight, I've known you for a long time. I know that you come out from work at noon every day and you fight your way out that door and then you get pushed back in and three seconds later you come right back out again. And I walk with you to lunch, and I know it's a good day if you stop and get that romance novel from that bookstore. I know what you order, and I know on Wednesdays you go to that dim sum parlor, and I know that you get a jawbreaker before you go back into work. And I know you hate your job and you don't have many friends and I know sometimes you feel a little uncoordinated and you don't feel as wonderful as everybody else and feeling as alone and separate as you feel you are... I love you. I love you, and I think you're the greatest thing since spice racks. And I would be knocked out several times if I could just have that first kiss. And I won't... I won't be distant. I'll come back in the morning and I'll call you if you let me. But I still don't drink coffee.

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

Photo Gallery
Main Cast

Robin Williams
Parry/Henry Sagan

Jeff Bridges
Jack Lucas

Amanda Plummer
Lydia Sinclair

Mercedes Ruehl
Anne

Michael Jeter
Homeless cabaret singer

Taglines

A modern day tale about the search for Love, Sanity, Ethel Merman and the Holy Grail.

Filming Info

Dates
May 21, 1990 - August 16, 1990

Locations
New York City, NY
Los Angeles, CA

Shooting in and around New York took place on Park Ave., in Central Park, Grand Central Station, Manhattan Bridge, Manhattan, and the Metropolitan Life Tower.

International Release Dates

Argentina
February 6, 1991

Italy
September 1991 (Venice Film Festival)

Canada
September 13, 1991 (Toronto Film Festival)

France
October 2, 1991

Sweden
October 11, 1991

Germany
October 31, 1991

Australia
November 7, 1991

UK
November 8, 1991

Netherlands
November 15, 1991

Finland
November 22, 1991

Spain
January 17, 1992

Argentina
February 6, 1992

Japan
April 11, 1992

International Titles

Austria / Germany
König der Fischer

Spain
El rey pescador

France
Fisher King - Le roi pêcheur

Serbia
Kralj ribara

Slovenia
Kraljevi ribic

Italy
La leggenda del re pescatore

Canada
Le roi pêcheur (French title)

Brazil
O Pescador de Ilusões

Portugal
O Rei Pescador

Greece
O vasilias tis monaxias

Argentina
Pescador de ilusiones

Media Availability

This title is available on:

DVD
Video
CD
Book

Laserdisc Extra Features
Audio Commentary by Terry Gilliam
6 Deleted scenes
Original Theatrical Trailers
Key scenes analyses
Storyboards
Screenplay excerpts
Behind-the-scenes photos
Costume tests of Robin Williams, Amanda Plummer, Mercedes Ruehl and Jeff Bridges
Box Office Details

Budget
$24,000,000

Gross
$41,895,491 (USA)
N/A (international)
$41,895,491 (total)

Opening Weekend
Limited: $311,662 (10 theaters)
Wide: $7,067,908 (1,214 theaters)

Widest Release
1,551 theaters

Awards

Academy Awards
Nom - 1992 - Best Actor (Robin)
Won - 1992 - Best Actress (Mercedes Ruehl)
Nom - 1992 - Best Art Direction
Nom - 1992 - Best Music, Original Score
Nom - 1992 - Best Writing, Screenplay

Golden Globes
Won - 1992 - Best Performance by an actor in a motion picture - Comedy/Musical (Robin)
Nom - 1992 - Best Performance by an actress in a motion picture - Comedy/Musical (Mercedes Ruehl)
Nom - 1992 - Best Director (Terry Gilliam)
Nom - 1992 - Best Motion Picture

British Academy Awards
Nom - 1992 - Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Amanda Plummer)
Nom - 1992 - Best Screenplay - Original