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The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh

  • 1979
  • PG
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979)
The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania basketball team is hopeless. Maybe with the aid of an astrologer, and some new astrologically compatible players, they can become winners.
Play trailer2:01
2 Videos
39 Photos
BasketballComedySport

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania basketball team is hopeless. Could they become winners with help from an astrologer and some new astrologically-compatible players?The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania basketball team is hopeless. Could they become winners with help from an astrologer and some new astrologically-compatible players?The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania basketball team is hopeless. Could they become winners with help from an astrologer and some new astrologically-compatible players?

  • Director
    • Gilbert Moses
  • Writers
    • Jaison Starkes
    • Edmond Stevens
    • Gary Stromberg
  • Stars
    • Julius Erving
    • Jonathan Winters
    • Meadowlark Lemon
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    1.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gilbert Moses
    • Writers
      • Jaison Starkes
      • Edmond Stevens
      • Gary Stromberg
    • Stars
      • Julius Erving
      • Jonathan Winters
      • Meadowlark Lemon
    • 23User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
    • 40Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:01
    Trailer
    The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh Clip
    Clip 2:59
    The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh Clip
    The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh Clip
    Clip 2:59
    The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh Clip

    Photos39

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    + 33
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    Top Cast74

    Edit
    Julius Erving
    Julius Erving
    • Moses Guthrie
    Jonathan Winters
    Jonathan Winters
    • H.S. Tilson…
    Meadowlark Lemon
    • Rev. Grady Jackson
    Jack Kehoe
    Jack Kehoe
    • Setshot
    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    Margaret Avery
    Margaret Avery
    • Toby Millman
    James Bond III
    James Bond III
    • Tyrone Millman
    Michael V. Gazzo
    Michael V. Gazzo
    • 'Harry the Trainer'
    Peter Isacksen
    Peter Isacksen
    • 'Driftwood'
    Nicholas Pryor
    Nicholas Pryor
    • George Brockington
    M. Emmet Walsh
    M. Emmet Walsh
    • Wally Cantrell
    Stockard Channing
    Stockard Channing
    • Mona Mondieu
    Flip Wilson
    Flip Wilson
    • Coach 'Jock' Delaney
    Marv Albert
    Marv Albert
    • Marv Albert
    • (as Marvin Albert)
    Debbie Allen
    Debbie Allen
    • Ola
    • (as Debra Allen)
    George von Benko
    • P.A. Announcer
    Dee Dee Bridgewater
    Dee Dee Bridgewater
    • Brandy
    Darrell Brown
    • Junior Ashland
    • Director
      • Gilbert Moses
    • Writers
      • Jaison Starkes
      • Edmond Stevens
      • Gary Stromberg
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews23

    5.41.3K
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    Featured reviews

    8patigerjet

    A sports tale of magic and belief

    I haven't seen this movie in almost 2 decades. I saw it as a young adolescent growing up in Pennsylvania. Nonetheless its still one of my favorites. I can't tell ya why....its simply a story of magic and a boy who has smartz and more importantly a belief in others and all. I'll wait for the DVD to see it again....even if i have to wait a couple more decades.
    7rams_lakers

    I liked it

    The movie is goofy and campy with a bad script but I liked it. When I first saw this on TV I was picking out all the NBA stars from the various teams. This was filmed the year before Magic joined the Lakers who still had a few of their old castoffs like Hudson and Ford. A young Mychal Thompson knocks "Set Shot" into the scorers table.

    Another commented on the short shorts players wore. Yes, this is how they wore them in those days. Unlike these ugly long skirts Michael Jordan brought into the league that players now wear.

    The thing that bugs me most about this and other movies where a sport is being played is why the hell is the play-by-play guy heard throughout the arena????? I HATE when they do this. The sports stadium announcer only announces lineups, fouls, and substitutions - HE DOES NOT ANNOUNCE PLAYER ANALYSIS, STRATEGIES OR PERSONAL POINTS OF VIEW TO THE CROWD OVER THE LOUDSPEAKERS!!!!
    7thejoint

    Simple (guilty?) Pleasure

    Not the greatest movie ever made and I love it. There is something easy, cheesy, and sweet about this mostly typical root-for-the-underdog story.

    Watch the movie, with some friends if possible, and be willing and able to talk, laugh, eat, intake, and maybe dance along with it. perfect for a rainy weekend, college dorm, missed flight kinda day.

    The Fish also makes for a good combo movie day with: carwash, caddyshack, badnews bears, and if you wanna see it like I did the first time, rent "Love at First Bite" and watch them back to back, now there's a freaky 70s time capsule.

    I think this movie is fun and just a great exit into silliness with a simple heartwarming chunk of cheese. What also added to my enjoyment of the films is that I watched this movie first as a seven year old, in Brooklyn in the now non-existent Duffield theater, (or was it the Metropolitian, eh- they're both gone now anyway) and that the great Dr. J (who was Jordan, Kobe, and LeBron before such types existed) made his motion picture debut in it and was the closest thing to serious in the film. Which to me worked well because this flick needed a straight man and he was it.

    I would say the film itself deserves credit for being a picture postcard of the late seventies, over blown with the not quite released 60s psychedelia that never really left through the 70s decade, and full of garish, tackiness, thats fun to watch and laugh at. Its a bonus if you are interested in the period or lived it and haven't seen how over the top Hollywood presented everything.
    ladyval

    i thought it was cute...

    I really didn't know what to expect but this movie was cheesy fun. I'm a 70's child so it was cool to relive some of that. Of course I bought this because Branscombe was in it. You can see how young he was. Loved the entrance he made...
    scatcats

    Simply my favorite movie...

    I know there are some great films out there to pick a favorite from, but something about this little goofy 70's film seems to stay with me. I tell my friends to just enjoy the movie and not to expect too much. You have to remember, there's not a lot going on here, just basketball, astrology, and a root for the underdog, feel good storyline. We all know it was for Dr. J anyway. If nothing else, the music is truly old school rhythm, blues and soul. Anyone know where to find the actual soundtrack?

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    Related interests

    Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes in White Men Can't Jump (1992)
    Basketball
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in Moneyball (2011)
    Sport

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In one tryout scene, a young boy dribbles multiple basketballs. It's Sean Miller, a Pittsburgh native who later became the University of Arizona's head coach.
    • Goofs
      When racing to get to the game, Mona drives by the Kappel's jewelry store on Liberty Avenue near the corner with Fifth Avenue twice.
    • Quotes

      Moses Guthrie: I'm a Pisces, man. We need a little stroke from time to time.

    • Alternate versions
      ABC edited 8 minutes from this film for its 1982 network television premiere.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: French Postcards/The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh/The Marriage of Maria Braun/The Rose/Best Boy (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      A Theme For L.A.'s Team
      Music by Thom Bell

      Performed by The Thom Bell Orchestra featuring Doc Severinsen

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    FAQ17

    • How long is The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 4, 1981 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hur jag torskade i Pittsburgh
    • Filming locations
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production company
      • Lorimar Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,281,246
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $12,922
      • Nov 4, 1979
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,281,246
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 42m(102 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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