The Commitments (1991)
- Starring:
- Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne, (more)
- Director(s):
- Alan Parker
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Music & Performing Arts
Member Rating
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
"The Irish are the blacks of Europe, Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland, and the North Siders are the blacks of Dublin ... so say it loud -- I'm black and I'm proud!" Or so Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) tells his slightly puzzled friends as he tries to assemble a rhythm & blues show band in a working class community in Dublin in Alan Parker's film The Commitments. Jimmy is a would-be music business wheeler and dealer, and he's decided what Dublin needs is a top-shelf soul band. However, top-shelf soul musicians are hard to find in Dublin, so he has to make do with what he can find. However, after a long round of auditions, Jimmy makes two inspired discoveries: Deco (Andrew Strong), an abrasive and alcoholic streetcar conductor who nevertheless has a voice like the risen ghost of Otis Redding, and Joey "The Lips" Fagan (Johnny Murphy), a horn player who knows soul music backwards and forwards and claims to have played with everyone from Wilson Pickett to Elvis Presley. Before long, the band -- called the Commitments -- is packing them in at local clubs. But do they have what it takes to make the big time? Based on the novel by Roddy Doyle, who also co-wrote the screenplay, The Commitments is sparked by fine performances by its young cast and enthusiastic performances of a number of '60s soul classics; the cast, who play their own instruments, reassembled the band for a concert tour after the film became a hit. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 117 mins
Complete Cast:
- Robert Arkins - Jimmy Rabbitte
- Angeline Ball - Imelda Quirke
- Dave Finnegan - Mickah Wallace
- Andrew Strong - Deco Cuffe
- Felim Gormley - Dean Fay
- Kenneth McCluskey - Derek Scully
- Bernard Keelan - Avante-Garde-A-Clue Band Member
- Andrea Corr - Sharon Rabbitte
- Sean Hughes - Dave from Eejit Records
- Owen O'Gorman - Duffy's Sidekick
- Conor Malone - Protest Song Singer
- Pat Leavy - Unemployment Official
- Ronan Hardiman - Dance Hall Manager
- Emily Dawson - Punk Girl Singer
- Derek Duggan - Photographer
- Josylen Lyons - Deco's Fan
- Anne Kent - Mrs. Rabbitte
- Phelim Drew - Roddy the Reporter
- Eamon O'Connor - Only De Lonely Singer
- Sheila Flitton - Church Cleaner
- Kristel Harris - Coconuts Trio Member
- Maria Place - Coconuts Trio Member
- Aoife Lawless - Imelda's Sister
- Winston Dennis - Man in Limousine
- Liam Carney - Duffy
- Philomena Kavanagh - Rabbitte's Neighbor
- Ger Ryan - Pawnbroker
- Alan Parker - Eejit Record Producer
- Rynagh O'Grady - Bernie's Mother
- Dick Massey - Billy Mooney
- Michael Bolger - Community Center Kid
- Peter Rowen - Shy Skateboard Auditioner
- Mick Nolan - Imelda's Father
- Jody Campbell - Cajun Trio Member
- Michael Aherne - Steven Clifford
- Maria Doyle Kennedy - Natalie Murphy
- Johnny Murphy - Joey "The Lips" Fagan
- Bronagh Gallagher - Bernie McGloughlin
- Glen Hansard - Outspan Foster
- Colm Meaney - Mr. Rabbitte
- Dave Kane - Coconuts Trio Member
- Jim Corr - Avante-Garde-A-Clue Band Member
- Gerard Cassoni - Darren Rabbitte
- Paddy O'Connor - Rock Salmon Man
- Colm Mac Con Iomaire - Fiddler Auditioner
- Derek Herbert - Duffy's Sidekick
- Ruth Fairclough - Linda Rabbitte
- Michael O'Reilly - Greg
- Mikel Murfi - Music Journalist
- Eanna Mac Liam - Failed Drug Buyer
- Patrick Foy - Cajun Trio Member
- Lance Daly - Kid with Harmonica
- Larry Hogan - Avante-Garde-A-Clue Band Member
- Bob Navan - Regency Pub Barman
- Lindsay Fairclough - Tracey Rabbitte
- Paul Bushnell - Avante-Garde-A-Clue Band Member
- Brian Mac Aodha - Uileann Pipe Player
- Jezz Bell - Heavy Metal Singer
- Alan Murray - Cajun Trio Member
- John Cronin - Kid with Horse
- Philip Bredin - Ray
- Eileen Reid - Imelda's Mother
- Mark O'Regan - Father Molloy
- Blaise Smith - Pool Hall Manager
- Canice William - Smiths' Song Singer
- Tricia Smith - Les Miserables Singer
- Maura O'Malley - Joey's Mother
- Director(s):
- Alan Parker
- Writer(s):
- Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais, Roddy Doyle
- Producer(s):
- Lynda Myles, David Wimbury, Roger Randall-Cutler
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Profanity, Adult Situations, Watch With Your Teen, Questionable for Children)
- Categories:
- Music & Performing Arts
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- 1992 - The Commitments - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Adapted Screenplay
- 1992 - The Commitments - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Adapted Screenplay
- 1991 - The Commitments - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - David Lean Award
- 1991 - The Commitments - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Picture
