The Commitments (film)

Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:01:46 PM Wikipedia source

The Commitments is a 1991 Irish musical comedy-drama film based on the 1987 novel by Roddy Doyle. It was directed by Alan Parker from a screenplay written by Doyle, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Set in the Northside of Dublin, the film tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins), a young music fanatic who assembles a group of working-class youths to form a soul band named "The Commitments". The film is the first in a series known as The Barrytown Trilogy, followed by The Snapper (1993) and The Van (1996). Producers Lynda Myles and Roger Randall-Cutler acquired the film rights to the novel in 1988, and commissioned Doyle, a first-time screenwriter, to write an adaptation. Doyle spent one year working on the script before Myles brought in veteran screenwriters Clement and La Frenais to help complete it. Upon reading the novel, Parker signed on as the film's director in 1989. An international co-production between Ireland, the United States and the United Kingdom, The Commitments was the first film produced by Beacon Pictures, which provided an estimated budget of $12–15 million. The film's young lead actors were mostly inexperienced, and were cast because of their musical backgrounds and resemblance to the characters in the novel. Principal photography took place in Dublin, from late August to October, 1990. The Commitments underperformed at the North American box office, grossing $14.9 million during its theatrical run. Reviewers praised the music, performances and humour, while criticism was occasionally aimed at the pacing and Parker's direction. The film resulted in two soundtrack albums released by MCA Records; the first reached number eight on the Billboard 200 album chart and achieved triple-platinum status, while the second album achieved gold sales status. At the 1992 British Academy Film Awards, the film won four of six BAFTA Awards for Best Film, Best Direction, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Film Editing. The film has since gained cult status.

Infobox

Directed by

Alan Parker

Screenplay by

mw- Dick ClementIan La FrenaisRoddy Doyle

Based on

The Commitments1987 novelby Roddy Doyle

Produced by

Roger Randall-CutlerLynda Myles

Starring

Robert Arkins Michael Aherne Angeline Ball Maria Doyle Dave Finnegan Bronagh Gallagher Félim Gormley Glen Hansard Dick Massey Johnny Murphy Kenneth McCluskey Andrew Strong

Cinematography

Gale Tattersall

Edited by

Gerry Hambling

Productioncompanies

Beacon PicturesThe First Film CompanyDirty Hands Productions

Distributed by

20th Century Fox (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and Austria)Sovereign Pictures (International)

Release dates

6 August 1991 (1991-08-06) (West Hollywood) 14 August 1991 (1991-08-14) (United States) 4 October 1991 (1991-10-04) (United Kingdom & Ireland)

Running time

118 minutes

Countries

IrelandUnited KingdomUnited States

Language

English

Budget

$12–15 million or £5.4 million

Box office

$14.9 million