Customer Reviews

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh [VHS]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Please do not purchase any copies of Fish, unless Warner Bros. has fixed & re-released this video the right way, the original way it was released on video. Warner bought the video rights from Karl Lorimar video, kept the same box with Lorimar's name on it & released the video edited, the same version Turner puts on his station (Hmmm. Turner=Time Warner) This movie was not released by Lorimar like this, there are a couple of scenes missing and the language(trash talking) is gone. It was a harmless PG movie that unless aired for television, was harmless in its original version, This saddens me that Warner would do this, so if Warner has fixed this problem, then great, TRADE ME! (like Tucker says) I want a copy of the original version, I have recorded the Lorimar version on video and my store bought Warner copy collects dust, I refuse to watch it. So there you have it, I'll stop rambling now..

This is one of the most entertaining basketball movies I have ever seen. Although the implausible plot is silly, the concentration here should be on celebrity viewing, Harlem Globetrotterish antics and humorous eccentric characters. The movie combines astrology with a very-off-the-wall basketball team.
Former NBA players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius Erving appear in this basketball comedy film. Former Harlem Globetrotter "Clown Prince" Meadow George Lemon III ( "Meadowlark" Lemon ) makes a rare film appearance in this totally chaotic but sensationally scintillating movie.
Watch closely for the basketball player nicknamed "Set Shot". He makes brief appearances and is seen sinking free throws with uncanny accuracy. The player "Set Shot" has the number 2,036 on the back of his basketball jersey. This is a little known trivia fact about this movie: the number 2,036 is the former Guinness world record for sinking consecutive practice free throws. It was established long ago by Ted St. Martin of Jacksonville, Florida. Ted currently has greatly increased this record. Ted's present Guinness world record for sinking consecutive exhibition free throws is 5,221. The character nicknamed "Set Shot" in "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" is in honor of my close friend Ted St. Martin. In this movie "Set Shot" is also seen riding in a vehicle by himself with a funky looking portable basketball hoop contraption on the back of the vehicle. The number 2,036 is shown on the vehicle.
I thoroughly enjoyed some of the flashy basketball showmanship in this film. I perform one-person basketball trick shooting comedy shows myself. Consequently, I find this type of basketball movie entertining. I highly recommend you see this wonderful basketball comedic mayhem movie!

I liked this movie! It's about a fictional NBA team that struggles to find a winning "chemistry."

It could be argued the flick was better suited for the small screen: no (then) "big name" actors/actresses; small production values; occasional slapstick dialogue and performances; etc.. Put it all together, though, and the whole proves to be greater than the sum of its parts. I think it's worth viewing.

"The Fish" is one of those "overlooked" family films that more people should see. In addition, it has an uplifting message and charm of its own. Add that to the b-ball scenes, including some "legends" (Abdul-Jabbar, Hawkins, Lanier and more) plus the soundtrack, and it gets a "thumbs-up" from me. The sight of Dr. J's character, soaring and dunking in "slo-mo", at an outdoor court in his street shoes, is priceless!

The soundtrack is a big "supporting character" in the film. It's rare in that the tunes were specifically written for and relate to the movie. (How often do we have soundtracks comprised of cuts tossed in like salad ingredients, but have little to do with the story line?) Many of the jams also have a positive and self-affirming flavor to them. Artists include William Hart of The Delfonics, The Four Tops, Phyllis Hyman, The Sylvers and trumpeter "Doc" Sevrenson (of The Tonight Show) blowing his lungs out in a killer instrumental for the "menacing" Los Angeles team!

If you don't know about this movie, you better "ask" somebody!

can someone please tell me why this movie is not on dvd yet?
this is probally the the best b-ball movie ever made can someone
please help a real fan out and put this movie on dvd
thank you D- MACK

thank you for this movie in dvd. my father and i used to watch this movie over and over again. my father passed two years ago. it's something that we shared in his lifetime and made us laugh. thank you again.

Dr. J. delivers a riveting performance as always ! Plus the half-time show of the championship game features the Sylvers, the greatest band to walk the face of the earth. Buy this video NOW!!!

This is the greatest basketball movie since hoosiers

This is the greatest movie of all time! Dr. J and the other Dr. J--Jonathon Winters?!? Magnificent casting of truly herculean proportions!

My interest in this film was piqued for a couple of reasons. In a recent book called "The 100 Greatest Sports Movies" this one came in at....Number 100. I was on the bus not too long ago and I was within earshot of an African-American gentleman who was discussing with his friend his favorite movies and "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" was mentioned. This isn't the greatest movie in the world nor the funniest. The direction by Gilbert Moses is a little shaggy and the acting in some cases, most notably by the aforementioned Julius Erving, is near non-existent. The film gets by, however, on high spirits and it's buoyancy is infectuous. I was 16 when this film came out in 1979 so there's a little bit of nostalgia going on here. Can't say enough about the polyester, strobe lights, mile-high fros, and uber-micro basketball shorts. This film holds up for me because I was of that time. Maybe the modern basketball fan might appreciate it for the montage of jump shots that Erving makes.

In no way, shape or form is this a great movie, but it is funny and the soundtrack is awesome! There are a "couple" of known actors, but mostly basketball players such as Dr. J, Kareem, Norm Nixon and a few others. Keep an open mind while watching..