Shakes is good at his job as party clown - when he's sober and shows up. Five druggy clowns frame him for the murder of his boss.Shakes is good at his job as party clown - when he's sober and shows up. Five druggy clowns frame him for the murder of his boss.Shakes is good at his job as party clown - when he's sober and shows up. Five druggy clowns frame him for the murder of his boss.
- Awards
- 1 nomination total
Robin Williams
- Mime Class Instructor
- (as Marty Fromage)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
This movie was written, stars, and was directed by BCG. It is dark, there are drugs, alcohol, and inner demons. But all this is dealt with and lived by people who live 24/7 as clowns and mimes. They have clown bars etc. BCG two other semi well known movies are worlds greatest dad ( robin Williams (plays a mime here)) and God bless america (bill Murray's brother (plays a milkman here)). Those 2 movies are very dark comedies, and this is as well. I think a lot of people didnt get that because of the silly clown premise. It's dark, it's over the top, it's silly, a little raunchy,I think it's great overall. It needs a little 7 star love from others.
P s. See spongebob square pants (tom kenny) as a coked out psycho disco clown in this movie as well.
P s. See spongebob square pants (tom kenny) as a coked out psycho disco clown in this movie as well.
Among my friends and myself it has become tradition to rent Shakes the Clown and watch it around New Years Eve. I'm not saying this is the best movie of all time. In fact, it is so appalingly bad that we have to see it once a year. Shakes is a screwed up mix between a serious film about alcoholism and a cheap comedy film full of dick jokes. Nothing more needs to be said, other than Robin Williams makes a great mime.
This movie has it all--booze, drugs, murder, sex, clowns and hatred for mimes.
From the first scene in the bathroom, this movie enthralls.
Golthwait is a misunderstood genius...despite "Hot to Trot."
Check your brain at the door and SEE THIS MOVIE NOW!
From the first scene in the bathroom, this movie enthralls.
Golthwait is a misunderstood genius...despite "Hot to Trot."
Check your brain at the door and SEE THIS MOVIE NOW!
I've tried to get my friends to watch this movie with me, but they just can't get over the fact that there are CLOWNS everywhere! GROW UP! "Shakes the Clown" is a truly love-it-or-hate-it movie, with each side taking their stand solidly. Put me in the love column. The fact that everything is played dead serious despite the fact that they're clowns is what keeps this movie from just being stupid. Tom Kenny is PERFECTLY cast as Binky, the best comic villain I have ever seen. Most comic villains are either so bad they're cool, or so bad you can't bear to watch them. Mr. Kenny achieves a perfect balance of being totally unappealing, yet you want to keep watching to see him get it in the end. The best villains feel their actions are completely justified, and Binky is no different. His actions are completely self-preserving and in his mind justifiable. Shouts should also be given out to Adam Sandler and Julie Brown. While Adam often resorts to the easy laugh in his starring vehicles, he's perfect as the insecure clown with no confidence with his ability with the opposite sex. You can easily see why P.T. Anderson chose him to star in "Punch Drunk Love". People have a tendency to hate Julie Brown, and I can understand why, but I've always been a fan of hers. Her role as the put-upon barmaid/girlfriend of Shakes would have been annoying in any other movie, but given the circumstances involved, I find her absolutely adorable. The characters of HoHo, Boots, Stenchy, Owen Cheese, the two cops, the rodeo clowns, etc. are all perfectly cast. Especially memorable is the late Sydney Lassick as Peppy, the forcibly retired host of the TV show that Binky takes over. It's a crying shame that more people don't like this movie, as it would have given Bobcat more opportunities to do films HIS way. Why didn't this film make EW's top 50 cult movies? Until people get over their phobia of clowns, this flick is never going to get the respect it truly deserves, and that is a crying shame. 10/10
Henry Rollins broke humanity down, once, into "People who get Devo, and people who don't." You can do the same for this movie... there are people who get it, and people who don't, and you will never, ever convince someone that doesn't get this film that it's enjoyable. Just give up. If they can't see the humor in "Oh great, now I have to kill you too. Another red letter day for Binky..."
Did you know
- TriviaPeppy's make-up was patterned after John Wayne Gacy.
- GoofsWhen Shakes confronts Binky at the clown bar, the clown with the bright green hair loses his bright green chest hair.
- Quotes
Female Clown Barfly: As soon as that camera is off, he gonna fuck that little dog.
- Crazy creditsNo identification with or similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or drunk or to actual events is intended or should be inferred.
- SoundtracksPregnant and Sad
Music by Steve Hunter
Lyrics by Bobcat Goldthwait (as Bob Goldthwait)
Performed by Tanya Scarlett
© 1991 Deacon Songs (ASCAP), Wicked Cheezy Music (ASCAP) and Illegal Film Music (ASCAP)
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- The Clown
- Filming locations
- Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA(Studio and additional locations)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,400,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $115,103
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $35,589
- Mar 15, 1992
- Gross worldwide
- $115,103
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