ComedyDrama

The Fisher King

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

Two troubled men face their terrible destinies and events of their past as they join together on a mission to find the Holy Grail and thus to save themselves.

Release Date : 1991-09-20

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : TriStar Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Parry

Original Name : Robin Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jack

Original Name : Jeff Bridges

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lydia

Original Name : Amanda Plummer

Gender : Female

Character Name : Anne

Original Name : Mercedes Ruehl

Gender : Female

Character Name : Homeless Cabaret Singer

Original Name : Michael Jeter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jamaican Bum

Original Name : William Jay Marshall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Red Knight

Original Name : Chris Howell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Radio Engineer

Original Name : Adam Bryant

Gender : Male

Character Name : Radio Engineer

Original Name : Paul Lombardi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lou Rosen

Original Name : David Hyde Pierce

Gender : Male

Character Name : Limo Bum

Original Name : Ted Ross

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sondra

Original Name : Lara Harris

Gender : Female

Character Name : TV Anchorman

Original Name : Warren Olney

Gender : Male

Character Name : News Reporter

Original Name : Frazer Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Crazed Video Customer

Original Name : Kathy Najimy

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sitcom Actor Ben Starr

Original Name : Harry Shearer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sitcom Wife

Original Name : Melinda Culea

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bum at Hotel

Original Name : James Remini

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doorman

Original Name : Mark Bowden

Gender : Male

Character Name : Father at Hotel

Original Name : John Ottavino

Gender : Male

Character Name : Little Boy

Original Name : Brian Michaels

Gender : Male

Character Name : First Punk

Original Name : Jayce Bartok

Gender : Male

Character Name : Second Punk

Original Name : Dan Futterman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hippie Bum

Original Name : Bradley Gregg

Gender : Male

Character Name : John the Bum

Original Name : William Preston

Gender : Male

Character Name : Superintendent

Original Name : Al Fann

Gender : Male

Character Name : Porno Customer

Original Name : Stephen Bridgewater

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stockbroker Bum

Original Name : John Heffernan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Strait Jacket Yuppie

Original Name : Richard LaGravenese

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bag Lady

Original Name : Anita Dangler

Gender : Female

Character Name : Drooler

Original Name : Mark Bringelson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pizza Boy

Original Name : Johnny Paganelli

Gender : Male

Character Name : Receptionist

Original Name : Diane Robin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Motorcyclist

Original Name : Benjamin Redman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Parry's Wife

Original Name : Lisa Blades

Gender : Male

Character Name : Edwin

Original Name : Christian Clemenson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Carlos Carrasco

Gender : Male

Character Name : Guard

Original Name : Joe Jamrog

Gender : Male

Character Name : TV Executive

Original Name : John de Lancie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nurse

Original Name : Lou Hancock

Gender : Female

Character Name : Radio Show Call-In (voice)

Original Name : Caroline Cromelin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Radio Show Call-In (voice)

Original Name : Kathleen Bridget Kelly

Gender : Male

Character Name : Radio Show Call-In (voice)

Original Name : Pat Fraley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Langdon Carmichael (uncredited)

Original Name : Mel Bourne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Kristen Connors

Gender : Male

Character Name : Passerby (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Mulcahy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Disabled Vet (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Waits

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bum (uncredited)

Original Name : Craig 'Radio Man' Castaldo

Gender : Male

Reviews

GenerationofSwine

@GenerationofSwine

2023-01-12

My dad and I had this thing we did where we went to see a movie or rented a movie from the time before I could remember to, well, almost until the day he passed away. There was always time to catch a movie, an it's a bit easier because it isn't as weather dependent as playing catch is. My dad took me to see this when I was a kid, and I absolutely hated it, I thought it was a horrible movie. And then, I watched it again when I was in high school and I absolutely loved it. Thought it was an amazing film. And then I showed it to my wife, who pointed out that I was only 11 when dad took me to see it. And now I can see how my attitude about this totally changed. It is really the story about the Fisher King isn't it? At least it's a grail quest to restore the health to someone who kind of acts like a charitable king with the worst Percival character known to mankind. And, I don't mean to cast shade on Jeff Bridges by that. He played a great role, the... well... I can't think of a polite word for his character. But we all know people a little like him don't we? He's a bit stereotyped of that friend that you also kind of hate, but he pulls it off absolutely brilliantly. He's just, you know, not the pure Godly Percival that we know from the legends. But then again, Williams isn't exactly the same dignified wounded king is he? He kind of comes across as a bit of a Leprechaun in this, and he is the most redeemed of any character in Arthurian Legends. He kind of out Percivals Percival in this... .... but who cares? It's Terry Gilliam redoing the Fisher King, once more tackling a Grail Quest and it is all brought to you in a way that only Terry Gilliam can bring it to you... ... OK, yeah, it's Gilliam, so it could be a bit of a bias review. At any rate, so long as you're not watching this in the theater with your dad when you are 11 you're going to enjoy the heck out of this film. And even if your dad does make you watch it when you are 11, give it a few years, watch it again, and I promise the second time around you will enjoy the heck out of it.

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-06-02

"Jack Lucas" (Jeff Bridges) is one of those late night radio presenters who loves the sound of his own voice and who enjoys nothing better than to put down, disdainfully, the collection of sad individuals who phone in with their problems. It's one of his casual off-the-cuff remarks that leads to a tragedy and a spiral that sends him into some serious doldrums. Things change for ever one night when he finds himself on the wrong end of a beating and then rescued by an eccentric looking fellow called "Parry" (Robin Williams). This is an erudite and complicated man who is obsessed with the "Fisher King" legend of the Holy Grail. Upon further investigation, "Lucas" learns more of the tragic cause of his new friend's predicament and as much as for his own salvation as for that of "Parry", he embarks on a task to find him meaning again. To that end he introduces him to the shy "Lydia" (Amanda Plummer) in the hope that this might help him find a new reason to live again. Things come full circle when "Parry" himself becomes a victim of the thugs and "Lucas" must strive to fulfil the quest and save something of both men. Whilst all of this chaos is bubbling away, it's down to "Anna" (Mercedes Ruehl) who is the former broadcaster's long-suffering girlfriend, to carefully tread on the eggshells of her relationship with him whilst quite temperamentally (and engagingly) trying to make sure she keeps him on as straight and narrow a path as possible. This is one of Bridges' better and more natural efforts and he works well with what I thought was an over-the-top performance from Williams to provide a film that is at times funny and at times quite poignant. The underlying mythology is quite effective at providing a modern day conduit for an ancient story of a hunt for the perfect in all of us and though it does take it's time, Bridges keeps it going.