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| country = [[United States]]
| country = [[United States]]
| language = English
| language = English
| gross =
| gross =
}}
}}


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The film was shot on location in [[Pittsburgh]] and at Pittsburgh's [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]], as well as in suburban [[Moon Township, Pennsylvania]].
The film was shot on location in [[Pittsburgh]] and at Pittsburgh's [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]], as well as in suburban [[Moon Township, Pennsylvania]].


The film has attracted a cult following, most notably for its disco-inspired setting and soundtrack, as well as the appearances of many NBA stars (including lead actor [[Julius Erving]]) and early roles for [[Debbie Allen]], [[Stockard Channing]] and [[Harry Shearer]]. The film also contains a [[Cameo appearance|cameo]] by longtime Pittsburgh mayor [[Richard Caliguiri]].
The film has attracted a cult following, most notably for its disco-inspired setting and soundtrack, as well as the appearances of many NBA stars (including lead actor [[Julius Erving]]) and early roles for [[Debbie Allen]], [[Stockard Channing]] and [[Harry Shearer]]. The film also contains a [[Cameo appearance|cameo]] by longtime Pittsburgh mayor [[Richard Caliguiri]].


==Plot==
==Plot==
The [[Pittsburgh]] Pythons are a struggling professional [[basketball]] team whose continuous losing streak and lack of talent has made them the laughing stock of the city. Several players ask to be traded to other teams because of the bad publicity and the presence of difficult but highly paid star player Moses Guthrie.
The [[Pittsburgh]] Pythons are a struggling professional [[basketball]] team whose continuous losing streak and lack of talent has made them the laughing stock of the city. Several players ask to be traded to other teams because of the bad publicity and the presence of difficult but highly paid star player Moses Guthrie.


Believing that the team needs a miracle, ballboy Tyrone Millman turns to astrology to improve the team's fortunes. He brings his idea to astrologer Mona Mondieu, and they devise the perfect concept: a team composed entirely of players born under Guthrie's astrological sign of [[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]]. The team is reborn as the Pittsburgh Pisces.
Believing that the team needs a miracle, ballboy Tyrone Millman turns to [[astrology]] to improve the team's fortunes. He brings his idea to astrologer Mona Mondieu, and they devise the perfect concept: a team composed entirely of players born under Guthrie's astrological sign of [[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]]. The team is reborn as the Pittsburgh Pisces.


Although Tyrone's sister and Guthrie think that the idea is absurd, they ultimately embrace the concept. The plan succeeds because of the new team's eccentric skills, teamwork and Mona's astrological readings, culminating in a championship opportunity.
Although Tyrone's sister and Guthrie think that the idea is absurd, they ultimately embrace the concept. The plan succeeds because of the new team's eccentric skills, teamwork and Mona's astrological readings, culminating in a championship opportunity.


==Cast==
==Cast==
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* Malek Abdul Mansour as Bullet Haines
* Malek Abdul Mansour as Bullet Haines
* [[Richard Foronjy]] as Mike
* [[Richard Foronjy]] as Mike
* [[Clayton Hill]] as Security Guard
* [[Clayton Hill (actor)|Clayton Hill]] as Security Guard
* [[Eric Mercury]] as Rudy and League Commissioner
* [[Eric Mercury]] as Rudy and League Commissioner
* [[Branscombe Richmond]] as Winston Running Hawk
* [[Branscombe Richmond]] as Winston Running Hawk
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* [[The Sylvers]]
* [[The Sylvers]]
* [[The Spinners (American group)|The Spinners]] (as Deacon Smith and featured Singers)
* [[The Spinners (American group)|The Spinners]] (as Deacon Smith and featured Singers)
* [[Gene Steratore, Sr.]] as Referee
* Gene Steratore, Sr. as Referee
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


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* [[Kevin Stacom]]
* [[Kevin Stacom]]
* [[Curtis Rowe]]
* [[Curtis Rowe]]
Detroit:
Detroit:
* [[Leon Douglas]]
* [[Leon Douglas]]
* [[Chris Ford|Christopher J. Ford]]
* [[Chris Ford|Christopher J. Ford]]
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* [[John Shumate]]
* [[John Shumate]]
* [[Eric Money]]
* [[Eric Money]]
* [[Kevin Porter (basketball)|Kevin Porter]]
* [[Kevin Porter (basketball, born 1950)|Kevin Porter]]
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


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[[The Spinners (American group)|The Spinners]] recorded two songs for the film.<ref>Billboard - Nov 10, 1979 Vol. 91, No. 45 "The Spinners recently reteamed with producer Thorn Bell to do two songs for his upcoming film score to "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh." The group sings "Do It Cause No One Does It Better," a mid-tempo tune which may be a single, and ."</ref> Actress/choreographer [[Debbie Allen]] and athlete [[Norm Nixon]], who married in 1984, both appear in the film.
[[The Spinners (American group)|The Spinners]] recorded two songs for the film.<ref>Billboard - Nov 10, 1979 Vol. 91, No. 45 "The Spinners recently reteamed with producer Thorn Bell to do two songs for his upcoming film score to "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh." The group sings "Do It Cause No One Does It Better," a mid-tempo tune which may be a single, and ."</ref> Actress/choreographer [[Debbie Allen]] and athlete [[Norm Nixon]], who married in 1984, both appear in the film.


Despite popular belief, Julius Erving's character's name of Moses was not chosen in reference to teammate [[Moses Malone]], as Erving and Malone would not become teammates until four years later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/today-philly-sports-history-fish-saved-pittsburgh-1979|title=Today in Philly Sports History: The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, 1979}}</ref>
Despite popular belief, Julius Erving's character's name of Moses was not chosen in reference to teammate [[Moses Malone]], as Erving and Malone would not become teammates until four years later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/today-philly-sports-history-fish-saved-pittsburgh-1979|title=Today in Philly Sports History: The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, 1979|date=6 January 2009 }}</ref>


==Novelization==
==Novelization==
A [[novelization]] written by [[Richard Woolley (filmmaker)|Richard Woodley]], based upon an early draft of the screenplay by Jaison Starkes and Edmond Stevens, was released in 1979. The novel differs in several respects from the film. In the film, the Pisces win every game, but in the novel, the team loses twice. The novel describes a group of people in wheelchairs causing havoc at a Pisces game, a scene that appears in the film's preview trailer but not in the final release.
A [[novelization]] written by [[Richard Woolley (filmmaker)|Richard Woodley]], based upon an early draft of the screenplay by Jaison Starkes and Edmond Stevens, was released in 1979. The novel differs in several respects from the film. In the film, the Pisces win every game, but in the novel, the team loses twice. The novel describes a group of people in [[wheelchair]]s causing havoc at a Pisces game, a scene that appears in the film's preview trailer but not in the final release.


==Home media==
==Home media==
In 2010, [[Warner Home Video]] released the film on DVD and digital download as part of its [[Warner Archive Collection]].<ref>[http://www.wbshop.com/Fish-that-Saved-Pittsburgh-The/1000180063,default,pd.html?cgid= "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh"] (Warner Archive Collection)</ref>
In 2010, [[Warner Home Video]] released the film on DVD and digital download as part of its [[Warner Archive Collection]].<ref>[http://www.wbshop.com/Fish-that-Saved-Pittsburgh-The/1000180063,default,pd.html?cgid= "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh"] (Warner Archive Collection)</ref>

In addition, the film is also made available for streaming online on [[Plex, Inc.|Plex]], [[The Roku Channel]], and [[Tubi]].


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|id=0079154|title=The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0079154|title=The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh}}
* {{tcmdb title|75020|The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh}}
* {{TCMDb title|75020|The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh}}
* {{amg movie|43275}}
* {{AFI film|56767}}
* {{AFI film|56767}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|fish_that_saved_pittsburgh}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|fish_that_saved_pittsburgh}}
* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2001/movies/reviews/fish_pittsburgh/ Frank Deford review for Sports Illustrated]
* [https://archive.today/20130119102228/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2001/movies/reviews/fish_pittsburgh/ Frank Deford review for Sports Illustrated]
* [http://thefishthatsavedpittsburgh.com/ Unofficial Website - TheFishThatSavedPittsburgh.com]
* [http://thefishthatsavedpittsburgh.com/ Unofficial Website - TheFishThatSavedPittsburgh.com]


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[[Category:1970s American films]]
[[Category:1970s American films]]
[[Category:Films about astrology]]
[[Category:Films about astrology]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language sports comedy films]]

Latest revision as of 09:02, 22 December 2024

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
Directed byGilbert Moses
Screenplay byJaison Starkes
Edmond Stevens
Story byDavid Dashev
Gary Stromberg
Produced byDavid Dashev
Gary Stromberg
StarringJulius Erving
Jonathan Winters
Meadowlark Lemon
Jack Kehoe
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Margaret Avery
James Bond III
Michael V. Gazzo
Peter Isacksen
Nicholas Pryor
M. Emmet Walsh
Stockard Channing
Flip Wilson
CinematographyFrank Stanley
Edited byFrank Mazzola
Peter Zinner
Music byThom Bell
Production
company
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • November 6, 1979 (1979-11-06)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh is a 1979 American sports/fantasy comedy film directed by Gilbert Moses and coproduced by David Dashev and Gary Stromberg. It was produced by Lorimar and distributed by United Artists.

The film was shot on location in Pittsburgh and at Pittsburgh's Civic Arena, as well as in suburban Moon Township, Pennsylvania.

The film has attracted a cult following, most notably for its disco-inspired setting and soundtrack, as well as the appearances of many NBA stars (including lead actor Julius Erving) and early roles for Debbie Allen, Stockard Channing and Harry Shearer. The film also contains a cameo by longtime Pittsburgh mayor Richard Caliguiri.

Plot

[edit]

The Pittsburgh Pythons are a struggling professional basketball team whose continuous losing streak and lack of talent has made them the laughing stock of the city. Several players ask to be traded to other teams because of the bad publicity and the presence of difficult but highly paid star player Moses Guthrie.

Believing that the team needs a miracle, ballboy Tyrone Millman turns to astrology to improve the team's fortunes. He brings his idea to astrologer Mona Mondieu, and they devise the perfect concept: a team composed entirely of players born under Guthrie's astrological sign of Pisces. The team is reborn as the Pittsburgh Pisces.

Although Tyrone's sister and Guthrie think that the idea is absurd, they ultimately embrace the concept. The plan succeeds because of the new team's eccentric skills, teamwork and Mona's astrological readings, culminating in a championship opportunity.

Cast

[edit]

As themselves

[edit]

Basketball teams

[edit]

Los Angeles:

New York:

Boston:

Detroit:

Production

[edit]

Singer/actress Cher was originally cast as Mona Mondieu, but she withdrew at the last minute. Singer/actress Dee Dee Bridgewater, who plays Brandy, previously won a Tony Award for her role as Glinda in The Wiz on Broadway also under the direction of Gilbert Moses, whom she later married.

The Spinners recorded two songs for the film.[1] Actress/choreographer Debbie Allen and athlete Norm Nixon, who married in 1984, both appear in the film.

Despite popular belief, Julius Erving's character's name of Moses was not chosen in reference to teammate Moses Malone, as Erving and Malone would not become teammates until four years later.[2]

Novelization

[edit]

A novelization written by Richard Woodley, based upon an early draft of the screenplay by Jaison Starkes and Edmond Stevens, was released in 1979. The novel differs in several respects from the film. In the film, the Pisces win every game, but in the novel, the team loses twice. The novel describes a group of people in wheelchairs causing havoc at a Pisces game, a scene that appears in the film's preview trailer but not in the final release.

Home media

[edit]

In 2010, Warner Home Video released the film on DVD and digital download as part of its Warner Archive Collection.[3]

In addition, the film is also made available for streaming online on Plex, The Roku Channel, and Tubi.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Billboard - Nov 10, 1979 Vol. 91, No. 45 "The Spinners recently reteamed with producer Thorn Bell to do two songs for his upcoming film score to "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh." The group sings "Do It Cause No One Does It Better," a mid-tempo tune which may be a single, and ."
  2. ^ "Today in Philly Sports History: The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, 1979". 6 January 2009.
  3. ^ "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" (Warner Archive Collection)
[edit]
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