Movies of 1988 Bracket Game: A Fish Called Wanda Vs. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
This was our first real blow-out of the game. While the general consensus was that the one-joke comedy, Twins, was at least built around a pretty funny visual gag, voters overwhelmingly preferred the antics of Roger Rabbit in Toontown by nearly 85%. One of the difficulties of putting together these games is that even if you set up some really difficult decisions in the first round, the second round can lead to some lopsided pairing. For example, I fully expect Working Girl to get stomped tomorrow. But hey, you never know until the votes are counted. So be sure to come back and support your favorites.share
A Fish Called Wanda was written and directed by John Cleese and Charles Crichton. Odds are you are familiar with Monty Python member, Cleese. But you’ll be forgiven if Crichton’s name escapes you. Crichton was an English filmmaker who did most of his work in the 1950’s. After a few flops in the sixties, he moved into television. In the late sixties, Crichton and Cleese tried to make a movie together, but it didn’t pan out. Eventually, Crichton transitioned from television into directing corporate videos for Cleese’s video company. Cleese suggested that it was time for the director to return to film.
Cleese and Crichton spent four years developing the script for A Fish Called Wanda. Once they had assembled their cast, they spent a week rehearsing and then another two weeks polishing the script to incorporate any new ideas they liked. The studio was a little uncertain about having Crichton direct the movie. He was 77 years old at the time of filming and hadn’t made a movie in over twenty years, In order to assuage their concerns, Cleese agreed to “co-direct” the movie though he had no idea how to do so. Ultimately, Cleese got a credit, but Crichton directed the movie by himself. According to Cleese, “That was a subterfuge. I knew the studio would be worried about Charlie’s age. I don’t know anything about how to direct, but that doesn’t stop one-half of the directors. I simply prayed that Charlie would be on the set every morning.”
On the set, Crichton wore a T-shirt given to him by Cleese. It read “Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.” The director went out on a high note. After Wanda’s critical and commercial success, Crichton retired. While fishing in Scotland, he liked to tell the tale of a Hollywood executive who called Wanda’s producers looking for a referral. According to Crichton, the exec said “We’ve got a comedy we need a director for. Do you think your new young guy, Crichton or whatever his name is, would be interested?” He wasn’t.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was directed by Frank Oz. Even if you weren’t familiar with his work behind the camera, you most likely know Oz as Jim Henson’s right-hand man. Oz performed as Bert, Fozzie Bear and Ms. Piggy. He also gave life to Yoda in the Star Wars films. As Henson was distancing himself from the Muppets, he and Oz co-directed the fantasy film, The Dark Crystal. Oz made his solo directorial debut with the next Muppets feature, The Muppets Take Manhattan. Oz’s experience with puppetry came in handy when he directed Little Shop of Horrors in 1986. That movie’s success gave Oz the clout to make “real” movies with no puppets at all.
Prior to Michael Caine being cast as a slick European conman, Both John Cleese and Michael Palin were approached for the part. Cleese reluctantly turned the part down and later expressed regret over it. Palin flew to America to read for the role, but later decided he wasn’t right for it. Originally, Steve Martin was supposed to read for Caine’s part but there was some kind of miscommunication with Richard Dreyfuss. Dreyfus had been asked to read for the part of the American, but prepared for Jameson instead. So Martin read the part of Benson with Dreyfus and Oz loved what he brought to the role.
Which of these comedies makes you laugh harder?