A Fish Called Wanda

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This week, Nicky has chosen to talk about A FISH CALLED WANDA (1988).

Written by John Cleese, and directed by John Cleese and Charles Chrichton, A FISH CALLED WANDA is a comic caper that tells the story of a slick diamond heist that falls apart when the double crossing starts. With a corruptible lawyer, an elderly dog owner, and farcical lols aplenty, has this romp stood the test of time?

Nicky’s been a fan for decades. Can she convince Phil to feel the joy of the comedy or are some bits just too damn problematic now? Listen to the chat and find out.

This conversation was recorded in January 2026, before the death of Tom Georgeson.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/AFishCalledWanda - TV tropes

https://notlefthandedfilmguide.co.uk/2020/06/27/a-fish-called-wanda/ from 2020, the Not Left Handed Film Guide to the film.

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/07/the-oral-history-of-a-fish-called-wanda?srsltid=AfmBOoqWHEVDTQmGmpAH3zXFa-zUuKSvfAUexxI5KzQphAGV6Vd-DaTT –The oral history of A Fish Called Wanda in Vanity Fair.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-fish-called-wanda-1988 - Roger Ebert’s review

https://michaelpalincentreforstammering.org – Michael Palin Centre for Stammering

#films #podcast #movies #afishcalledwanda #comedyfilms

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