How a heist comedy became a global hit and a fatal laughing matter
In short: A Fish Called Wanda remains a masterclass in brainy comedy, blending diamond heists with eccentric romance. Beyond its critical acclaim and Academy Award success, the film left a strange legacy, including a protest from a stuttering advocacy group and a bizarre report of a viewer laughing himself to death.
Released in 1988, A Fish Called Wanda emerged from a long-gestating collaboration between John Cleese and director Charles Crichton. The two had promised to work together since 1969, eventually spending two and a half years writing the script. Cleese, who co-directed the film because studio executives were concerned about the 78-year-old Crichton’s age, cast himself as Archie Leach—a nod to Cary Grant’s birth name—to fulfill a personal ambition of embodying the legendary actor. The production wrapped in 70 days, concluding in September 1987.
The film’s success was substantial, grossing over $188 million worldwide. It earned Kevin Kline an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, while Cleese and Crichton received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Its influence extended beyond the box office, with critics noting that it helped establish the commercial viability of British eccentricity. However, the film’s reception was not without controversy. In 1989, the Orange County chapter of the National Stuttering Project picketed the film’s studio, protesting the depiction of the character Ken Pile.
Perhaps most famously, the film was linked to the death of a Danish audiologist, Ole Bentzen, who died during a screening. While newspapers sensationalized the event as a death by laughter, the official cause was heart fibrillation, potentially exacerbated by an elevated heart rate from prolonged amusement. Cleese considered using the incident for publicity but ultimately rejected the idea as being in poor taste. Despite such oddities, the film remains a fixture on lists of the funniest movies ever made, with a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A Fish Called Wanda
- Also: Wikidata — A Fish Called Wanda · CC0
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