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Big Business (1988)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
10 June 1988 (USA) moreTagline:
Mixed up at birth, two sets of twins finally meet their match.Plot:
In the 1940s in the small town of Jupiter Hollow, two sets of identical twins are born in the same hospital on the same night... more | add synopsisAwards:
1 win moreNewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Christmas Box-office: Family Pics Do Big Business: "Marley & Me", "Bedtime Stories" Hot; Pitt And Cruise Flicks Perform Well (From CinemaRetro. 27 December 2008, 3:29 PM, PST)
Weekend Box Office Report: October 10 to 12: Little Dogs, Big Business
(From ioncinema. 12 October 2008)
User Comments:
Terribly underrated moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Bette Midler | ... | Sadie Ratliff / Sadie Shelton | |
| Lily Tomlin | ... | Rose Ratliff / Rose Shelton | |
| Fred Ward | ... | Roone Dimmick | |
| Edward Herrmann | ... | Graham Sherbourne | |
| Michele Placido | ... | Fabio Alberici | |
| Daniel Gerroll | ... | Chuck | |
| Barry Primus | ... | Michael | |
| Michael Gross | ... | Dr. Jay Marshall | |
| Deborah Rush | ... | Binky Shelton | |
| Nicolas Coster | ... | Hunt Shelton | |
| Patricia Gaul | ... | Iona Ratliff | |
| J.C. Quinn | ... | Garth Ratliff | |
| Norma MacMillan | ... | Nanny Lewis | |
| Joe Grifasi | ... | Desk Clerk | |
| John Vickery | ... | Hotel Manager |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
97 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Sound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Peru:PT | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:LFun Stuff
Trivia:
Jim Abrahams said he staged one of the boardroom scenes based on an experience he had when a large agency used many employees to get him to sign with them. moreGoofs:
Continuity: When Sadie Ratliff spills the syrup on her white jacket, the syrup stain changes throughout the scene. moreQuotes:
Sadie Shelton: I don't see how is it that you, my own sister, can stuff your face and nothing happens and I subsist on 60 calories a day or else blow up like a Macy's stage float! moreSoundtrack:
REILLY THEME moreFAQ
List: The mirror gagmore
more
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Terribly underrated, this little comic jewel may rank with 'Clue' and 'Noises Off!' as one of the greatest film farces ever. Repeat viewings reveal an attention to detail one wouldn't expect from a big-budget comedy of this period, and most of the jokes work very well indeed. As others have pointed out, the film resists the temptation to stereotype its characters, and the script is wonderfully quotable. If the resolution seems a little silly, well, what did you expect?
As for the performances, I know Pauline Kael said this was Midler's movie, but for my money there's no question that Lily Tomlin's the star of the show, especially as country Rose. Her delivery of such simple lines as 'Boy, are you bossy' and 'I am gonna kick yer ass' are priceless. Highly recommended; it gets funnier every time. 8.5 out of 10.