Big (1988)

Director:

Penny Marshall

Writers:

Gary Ross (written by) &
Anne Spielberg (written by)

Release Date:

3 June 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Have you ever had a really big secret?

Plot:

When a boy wishes to be big at a magic wish machine, he wakes up the next morning and finds himself in an adult body literally overnight.

Plot Keywords:

Wish | Job | Friend | Best Friend | Toy

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 11 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Dec. 31

3:00 PM

HBO

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Josh Baskin
Elizabeth Perkins	...	Susan
Robert Loggia	...	MacMillan
John Heard	...	Paul
Jared Rushton	...	Billy
David Moscow	...	Young Josh
Jon Lovitz	...	Scotty Brennen
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Mrs. Baskin
Josh Clark	...	Mr. Baskin
Kimberlee M. Davis	...	Cynthia Benson
Oliver Block	...	Freddie Benson
Erika Katz	...	Cynthia's Friend
Allan Wasserman	...	Gym Teacher
Mark Ballou	...	Derek
Gary Howard Klar	...	Ticket Taker (as Gary Klar)

Runtime:

104 min | 130 min (extended edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DuArt) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Stereo (Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Sound)

Certification:

Australia:M (TV rating) | West Germany:6 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | UK:12 (2007, uncut; re-rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Peru:PT | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | UK:PG (cut) | Norway:10 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

435 Greenmount Avenue, Cliffside Park, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Gracie Films

Trivia:

The football jersey Susan is wearing to bed is a NY Jets Jersey with #99 on it. At that time Mark Gastineau wore #99 for the Jets.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Josh and MacMillan are on the giant piano, the crowd behind them changes a lot between shots, e.g. a young girl in the background is seen to sit on her dad's lap twice. Also, the boy in the sweater disappears, then reappears in time to applaud at the end of the song.

Quotes:

Young Josh: I wish I were big.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Desert Saints (2000)

Soundtrack:

THE WAY WE WERE

Growing up as a lesson of life

This movie is great. I mean, really. That's what every boy dreams of - becoming an adult overnight! It's absolutely gorgeous to see Tom Hanks' performance - that's real acting, it requires a lot to play this part as genuinely and cordial as he did. The message is so clear and so honest. The nostalgic edge is of such profound significance to the story. It's about the differences between being a kid and being an adult. It's about two very different perceptions of the same world that surrounds us. It's just us and how we make the best out of every day of our lives, and all it needs is to see the world through the eyes of a kid. A kid perceives all the things differently, with much more native and modest simplicity - the keystone to imagination and magic, the keystone to cherish the daily miracles in our lives. This movie has a deep and very pervasive message. It has so much charm and vitality mingled with nostalgia and witchcraft. One of those movies I enjoyed watching when I was a kid. Recommended.