The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
Directed by	Gilbert Moses
Screenplay by	Jaison Starkes; Edmond Stevens
Story by	David Dashev; Gary Stromberg
Produced by	David Dashev; Gary Stromberg
Starring	Julius 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
Cinematography	Frank Stanley
Edited by	Frank Mazzola; Peter Zinner
Music by	Thom Bell
Production; company	Lorimar Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	November 6, 1979;
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

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 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

Julius Erving as Moses Guthrie
Jonathan Winters as H.S. and Harvey Tilson
Meadowlark Lemon as Rev. Grady Jackson
Jack Kehoe as Setshot
Margaret Avery as Toby Millman
James Bond III as Tyrone Millman
Michael V. Gazzo as Harry the Trainer
Peter Isacksen as Driftwood
Dwayne Mooney as Benny Rae
Daryl Mooney as Kenny Rae
Nicholas Pryor as George Brockington
M. Emmet Walsh as Wally Cantrell
Stockard Channing as Mona Mondieu
Flip Wilson as Coach 'Jock' Delaney
Debbie Allen as Ola
Dee Dee Bridgewater as Brandy
Julius Carry as Malik Jamal Truth
Jerry Chambers as Lucian Tucker
Jessie Lawrence Ferguson as Jackhammer Washington
Malek Abdul Mansour as Bullet Haines
Richard Foronjy as Mike
Clayton Hill as Security Guard
Eric Mercury as Rudy and League Commissioner
Branscombe Richmond as Winston Running Hawk
Joe Seneca as Mr. Sweets
Harry Shearer as Murray Sports

As themselves

Marv Albert
Chick Hearn
The Sylvers
The Spinners (as Deacon Smith and featured Singers)
Gene Steratore, Sr. as Referee

Basketball teams

Los Angeles:

Jerry Tarkanian as coach (also the film's consultant)
Ron Carter
Connie Hawkins
Lou Hudson
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Luther Rackley
Norm Nixon

New York:

Boston:

Detroit:

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 media

In 2010, Warner Home Video (home video arm of Warner Bros., current owners of the Lorimar library) 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.

References

^ 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 ."
^ "Today in Philly Sports History: The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, 1979".
^ "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" (Warner Archive Collection)

External links

[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".

[3] "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" (Warner Archive Collection)

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