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'''''The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh''''' is an American sports/fantasy comedy film that was released in 1979. The movie was directed by [[Gilbert Moses]] and co-produced by [[David Dashev]] and [[Gary Stromberg]]. It was produced by [[Lorimar Productions|Lorimar]] and distributed by [[United Artists]].
'''''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 Productions|Lorimar]] and distributed by [[United Artists]].


It was filmed on location in [[Pittsburgh]] and at Pittsburgh's [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]], as well as 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 movie 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 has a cameo by longtime [[Pittsburgh Mayor]] [[Richard Caliguiri]] as himself, hosting the fictional team at a rally and shaking hands with Erving.
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 Fish That Saved Pittsburgh'' tells the story of a struggling professional [[basketball]] team, the [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]] Pythons, whose continuous losing streak and lack of talent has made them the laughing stock of Pittsburgh. Several players ask to be traded to other teams, partly due to the bad publicity and the presence of the difficult but highly paid star player, Moses Guthrie ([[Julius Erving]]).
The [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]] Pythons are a struggling professional [[basketball]] team whose continuous losing streak and lack of talent has made them the laughingstock 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/waterboy Tyrone Millman ([[James Bond III]]) turns to astrology to improve the team's fortunes. He brings his idea to astrologer Mona Mondieu ([[Stockard Channing]]), and they come up with the perfect concept: a team composed entirely of players born under the astrological sign of [[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]], the star sign of Moses Guthrie. 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 Moses and Tyrone's sister ([[Margaret Avery]]) think that Tyrone's idea is absurd, they ultimately embrace the concept. The plan succeeds wildly due to 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.


==Production notes==
==Production==
Singer/actress [[Cher]] was originally cast as Mona Mondieu, but she backed out at the last minute.
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 Awards|Tony Award]] for her role as Glinda in ''[[The Wiz]]'' on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] also under the direction of [[Gilbert Moses]], whom she later married.
⚫
Singer/actress [[Dee Dee Bridgewater]], who played Brandy, previously won a Tony Award for her role as Glinda in ''[[The Wiz]]'' on Broadway also under the direction of [[Gilbert Moses]]. The two later married. The Spinners recorded two songs for the movie.<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]] both appear in the film; they married in 1984.


⚫
[[The Spinners (American R&B 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, Dr. J's character name Moses was not in fact chosen in deference to teammate Moses Malone, as they were not yet teammates at the time of filming and would not be until four years later.<ref>https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/today-philly-sports-history-fish-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>https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/today-philly-sports-history-fish-saved-pittsburgh-1979</ref>


==Novelization==
==Novelization==
A [[novelization]] was released in 1979, written by Richard Woodley, based upon an early draft of the screenplay by Jaison Starkes and Edmond Stevens. As a consequence the novel differed in several respects from the finished film. In the film, the Pisces were seen winning every game, but the novel mentions the team losing two games. Another scene involved a group of people in wheelchairs causing havoc at one game; that scene was shown during the film's preview trailer but was later scrapped.
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.


==DVD releases==
==Home video==
In 2010, [[Warner Bros. Home Video]] made the film available 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 Bros. 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>


==Cast==
==Cast==

Revision as of 04:10, 13 April 2022

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
Directed byGilbert Moses
Written byDavid Dashev (story)
Gary Stromberg (story)
Jaison Starkes
Edmond Stevens
Produced byDavid Dashev
Don Phillips
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

The Pittsburgh Pythons are a struggling professional basketball team whose continuous losing streak and lack of talent has made them the laughingstock 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.

Production

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

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 video

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

Cast

As themselves

Basketball teams

Los Angeles:

New York:

Boston:

Detroit:

References

  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. ^ https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/today-philly-sports-history-fish-saved-pittsburgh-1979
  3. ^ "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" (Warner Archive Collection)
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