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Bert Rigby, You're a Fool

  • 1989
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
350
YOUR RATING
Bert Rigby, You're a Fool (1989)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:33
1 Video
18 Photos
ComedyMusical

While his mining colleagues are on yet another strike, Bert Rigby decides to try his luck in show business.While his mining colleagues are on yet another strike, Bert Rigby decides to try his luck in show business.While his mining colleagues are on yet another strike, Bert Rigby decides to try his luck in show business.

  • Director
    • Carl Reiner
  • Writer
    • Carl Reiner
  • Stars
    • Robert Lindsay
    • Robbie Coltrane
    • Cathryn Bradshaw
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    350
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Carl Reiner
    • Writer
      • Carl Reiner
    • Stars
      • Robert Lindsay
      • Robbie Coltrane
      • Cathryn Bradshaw
    • 8User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Bert Rigby, You're a Fool
    Trailer 1:33
    Bert Rigby, You're a Fool

    Photos18

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    Top cast84

    Edit
    Robert Lindsay
    Robert Lindsay
    • Bert Rigby
    Robbie Coltrane
    Robbie Coltrane
    • Sid Trample
    Cathryn Bradshaw
    Cathryn Bradshaw
    • Laurel Pennington
    Jackie Gayle
    Jackie Gayle
    • I.I. Perlestein
    Bruno Kirby
    Bruno Kirby
    • Kyle DeForest
    Corbin Bernsen
    Corbin Bernsen
    • Jim Shirley
    Anne Bancroft
    Anne Bancroft
    • Meredith Perlestein
    Carmen Du Sautoy
    Carmen Du Sautoy
    • Tess Trample
    Liz Smith
    Liz Smith
    • Mrs. Rigby
    Lila Kaye
    Lila Kaye
    • Mrs. Pennington
    Diana Weston
    Diana Weston
    • Young Mrs. Rigby
    Santos Morales
    • Jesus
    Mike Grady
    Mike Grady
    • Mick O'Grady
    Fanny Carby
    • Aunt Aggie
    George Wallace
    George Wallace
    • Bartender
    Gela Nash
    • Mona
    Israel Juarbe
    • Bell Hop
    Julie Ow
    Julie Ow
    • Cashier
    • Director
      • Carl Reiner
    • Writer
      • Carl Reiner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    5.8350
    1
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    10

    Featured reviews

    CitizenWolfieSmith

    Great Musical with Robert Lindsay

    There's is nothing much really to say but a excellent film. It is a must see. It is about Bert Rigby(Robert Lindsay-G.B.H, My Family, Hornblower and Citizen Smith) who wants to tap and sing his way to the top. There is 1st class performances all the way through this musical film. It also stars Robbie Coltrane as Sid Trample, Bert's Manager until they have a argument. Famous songs from Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly etc. Some songs that appear in this musical are: Dream A Little Dream Of Me, Putting On A Ritz, The Continental, Isn't It Romantic and many many more. To Bert Rigby life is a huge movie. He says: 'In the morning I play football and at night I play the Ritz) His dream is to re-open a Ritz Entertainment Theatre. All the songs are excellent and all the performances. Well done to all the cast! In my opinion it gets 10 out of 10.
    8lee_eisenberg

    he may be a fool, but the movie isn't

    In 1969, Carl Reiner released "The Comic", in which Dick Van Dyke played a silent-era entertainer whose career gets ruined by sound. Reiner puts a different spin on the idea in "Bert Rigby, You're a Fool". This one casts Robert Lindsay as the title character, a striking miner in a small town in England. The town isn't what it once was, but Rigby has always loved the old-time entertainers. When he gets the chance to be a Hollywood star, he naturally takes it, but things don't go quite as expected...or do they? It was very interesting how they mixed wry British humor with occasional musical numbers (and some straightforward slapstick). I would never expect that in a movie, but they pull it off perfectly. Also, in the scenes with Anne Bancroft, it was good to see how they didn't bleach people's teeth completely white back then. A very good movie. I guess that we can always trust Carl Reiner to turn out something good.

    Also starring Robbie Coltrane (that's right: Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies!), Bruno Kirby and Corbin Berenson.
    sundialpictures-01657

    A Criminally Underrated Comic Gem

    I absolutely love movies that take me on a zany comic adventure and this one definitely fits the bill. A thoroughly enjoyable journey full of song and dance with the charismatic Robert Lindsay as your tour guide. An irresistible treat from beginning to end. I'm shocked that it received such a lukewarm response when it first opened and am baffled at how it goes unnoticed today. More people need to be introduced to this delightful little flick.
    9dglink

    A Showcase for Robert Lindsay

    For those of us who saw Robert Lindsay on Broadway in "Me and My Girl," his dazzling turn in this film is no surprise. The only surprise is the failure to see his career as a song and dance man take off as it should have. Without Lindsay or with someone of lesser talents, "Bert Rigby" would be a rather thin piece of work, mildly amusing, pleasant, and forgettable. However, every moment that Lindsay is on the screen, which is fortunately most of the time, the film is captivating and is a loving tribute to classic Hollywood musicals. The star's highlight is a tour-de-force mini reprise of the film "Singin' in the Rain" with seltzer bottle and umbrella for the title tune. Lindsay's dancing and physical comedy throughout are outstanding and make this a must-see for his fans and for those who want to see a major musical comedy talent that somehow slipped away.
    Brad K.

    Surprisingly Funny.

    I was flipping through the channels on TV one night and stumbled onto this movie at the beginning. It looked kind of stupid, but I decided to give it a shot. I'm glad I did. This movie is funny throughout. Robert Lindsay (Divorcing Jack) stars as Bert Rigby a man trying to get his big break in show business. He always seems to get an opportunity, but have it not work out. The movie is kind of a fantasy comedy, with a lot of musical numbers. It is funny, Lindsay is great in the lead. Anne Bancroft (Home for the Holidays) gives a very funny supporting performance. Corbin Berenson (Major League) gives a good performance as a big Hollywood star. I recommend it.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Was booked for a week-long engagement at Dublin's Adelphi cinema in late 1989. However, after four days there were fewer than 20 paying customers, so the manager withdrew the film and let the theater go dark for the remaining three days, to save heating and projection costs.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Chances Are/Paperhouse/The 'Burbs/Bert Rigby, You're a Fool/High Hopes (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Isnt It Romantic?
      Lyrics by Lorenz Hart

      Music by Richard Rodgers

      Performed by Robert Lindsay

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 24, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Singende Kumpel haben's schwer
    • Filming locations
      • Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, UK(Cycling and early scenes.)
    • Production companies
      • Clear Productions
      • Lorimar Film Entertainment
      • Lorimar Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $75,868
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $40,498
      • Feb 26, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $75,868
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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