The Big Blue (1988) Le grand bleu (original title)

Director:

Luc Besson

Writers:

Luc Besson (story)
Luc Besson (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

22 September 1988 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Between what you know and what you wish, lies the secret of... [The Big Blue]

Plot:

Enzo and Jacques have known each other for a long time. Their friendship started in their childhood days in the Mediterranean...

Plot Keywords:

Italy | Diving | Dolphin | Diver | Championship

Awards:

3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Rosanna Arquette	...	Johana Baker
Jean-Marc Barr	...	Jacques Mayol
Jean Reno	...	Enzo Molinari
Paul Shenar	...	Dr. Laurence
Sergio Castellitto	...	Novelli
Jean Bouise	...	Uncle Louis
Marc Duret	...	Roberto
Griffin Dunne	...	Duffy
Andréas Voutsinas	...	Priest (as Andreas Voutsinas)
Valentina Vargas	...	Bonita
Kimberly Beck	...	Sally (as Kimberley Beck)
Patrick Fontana	...	Alfredo
Alessandra Vazzoler	...	La Mamma (Enzo's Mother)
Geoffrey Carey	...	Supervisor (as Geoffroy Carey)
Bruce Guerre-Berthelot	...	Young Jacques
Gregory Forstner	...	Young Enzo
Claude Besson	...	Jacques' Father
Marika Gevaudan	...	Angelica
Jan Rouiller	...	Noireuter
Pierre Semmler	...	Franck (as Peter Semler)
Jacques Lévy	...	Doctor (as Jacques Levy)
Eric Do	...	Japanese Diver
André Germe	...	Philippino Diver (as Andre Germe)
Ronald Teuhi	...	Tahitian Diver
Rosario Campese	...	Waiter
Franco Diogene	...	Receptionist
Tredessa Dalton	...	Carol
Constantin Alexandrov	...	Dolphin Trainer
Pierre-Alain de Garrigues	...	Superintendent
Claude Robin	...	Taxi Driver
Paul Herman	...	Taxi Driver in U.S.A
Nicolas Maltos	...	Diving Coordinator on Platform
Marc Planceon	...	Paramedic
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luc Besson	...	Blond Diver (uncredited)
Valentina Castellani	...	Lady in elevator (uncredited)
Christian Gazio	...	Plongeur coinçé (uncredited)
Chico Scimone	...	Andre Bonnet (uncredited)

Directed by
Luc Besson

Writing credits
Luc Besson		(story)
Luc Besson		(screenplay) &
Robert Garland		(screenplay) and
Marilyn Goldin		(screenplay) &
Jacques Mayol		(screenplay) &
Marc Perrier		(screenplay)

Produced by
Monty Diamond	....	line producer: New York
Patrice Ledoux	....	producer
Claude Besson	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Luc Besson	....	co-producer (uncredited)
Bernard Grenet	....	line producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bill Conti		(US version)
Eric Serra		(European version)

Cinematography by
Carlo Varini

Film Editing by
Olivier Mauffroy

Casting by
Nathalie Cheron
Lissa Pillu

Production Design by
Dan Weil

Set Decoration by
Patrick Barthelemy

Costume Design by
Blandine Boyer
Magali Guidasci
Malika Khelfa
Mimi Lempicka
Brigitte Nierhaus
Martine Rapin
Patricia Saalburg

Makeup Department
Michèle Constantinides	....	assistant makeup artist (as Michele Constantinides)
Catherine Crassac	....	hair stylist
Geneviève Peyralade	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Nikos Giannopoulos	....	production manager
Bernard Grenet	....	production manager
Didier Hoarau	....	assistant unit manager
Michel Jullien	....	assistant unit manager
Marc Maurette	....	production manager
Patrick Millet	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stéphane Breton	....	third assistant director
Jérôme Chalou	....	first assistant director
Bertrand Fèvre	....	second assistant director
Anne Guillard	....	third assistant director
Patrick Halpine	....	first assistant director
Yann Michel	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Michel Conche	....	property master
Alain Darthou	....	construction manager
Christian Gazio	....	carpenter
Julie Sfez	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Pierre Befve	....	sound engineer
François Groult	....	sound mixer
François Gédigier	....	sound editor
Gérard Lamps	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Gerard Lamps)

Special Effects by
Alain Guillé	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Frederic Moreau	....	optical effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Luc Besson	....	camera operator: underwater unit
Patrick Camboulive	....	still photographer
Irène Champendal	....	first assistant camera (as Irene Champendal)
Stefan Czapsky	....	gaffer: New York
Jean-François Drigeard	....	electrician
François Gentit	....	second assistant camera
Vincent Jeannot	....	first assistant camera
Jean-Pierre Mas	....	key grip
Jacques Monge	....	steadicam operator
Christian Pétron	....	camera operator: underwater unit (as Christian Petron)
Jean-Claude Reux	....	head gaffer

Casting Department
Pat Orseth	....	casting: USA

Editorial Department
Yvan Lucas	....	color timer

Music Department
William Flageollet	....	music mixer
Eric Serra	....	music arranger

Other crew
Abdul Malik Abbott	....	production assistant
Marc Biehler	....	diving coordinator
Christopher Carson	....	production assistant
Elisabeth Chochoy	....	continuity
Nikos Giannopoulos	....	location manager
Quincy Z. Gunderson	....	production assistant
François Laurent	....	optical engineer
Jacques Mayol	....	technical consultant
Monique Pautas	....	production accountant
Patrizia Pierangeli	....	dialogue coach
Marcel Rousseau	....	technical engineer
K.C. Schulberg	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Gaumont (presents)
• Les Films du Loup (executive production)

Distributors

• Gaumont (1988) (France) (theatrical)
• Fox (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Fox Pathé Europa (2000) (France) (DVD)
• Columbia Pictures of Canada (1988) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Fox (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical) (director's cut)
• Lucernafilm - Beta (1991) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Weintraub Entertainment Group (1988) (USA) (theatrical) (cut version)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (Germany)
• CBS / Fox Video (1990) (Greece) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox Video (1989) (Belgium) (video)
• CBS/Fox (1989) (France) (VHS)
• Columbia Pictures
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Filmauro Distribuzione
• Filmauro
• Fox Video (1992) (Belgium) (VHS)
• Fox Video (1992) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (France) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (France) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (director's cut)
• SF Home Entertainment (2003) (Sweden) (DVD) (director's cut)
• SF Home Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (director's cut)
• SF Home Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (director's cut)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2000) (USA) (re-release)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD) (director's cut)

Other Companies

• Banker's Trust New York Corporation  thanks
• Creation Express  costume design
• Editions de la Marguerite  music publishing
• Hotel Capo-Taormina  accomodations
• Hotel San-Domenico  accomodations
• The Dolphin Research Center  thanks
• U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Economic Development and Agriculture  thanks
• U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning & Natural Resources  thanks
• U.S. Virgin Islands Film Promotion Office  thanks

Also Known As:

"Le grand bleu" - France (original title)

Runtime:

168 min (director's cut) | France:132 min (original cut) | USA:118 min (edited version)

Country:

France | USA | Italy

Language:

English | French | Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Denmark:11 (director's cut) | Finland:S | France:U | Norway:10 (1989) | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (original rating) | USA:PG (original release) (edited for re-rating) | USA:R (director's cut) | West Germany:12 | Iceland:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) (edited US version) | Canada:G (Quebec) (edited US version) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) (edited US version) | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Agia Anna, Amorgos, Small Cyclades, Greece

Company:

Gaumont

Trivia:

Paul Shenar's last film.

Goofs:

Continuity: Jacques takes off his sneakers, then jumps into the pool with his sneakers on (although in the director's Cut we see him replace his shoes).

Quotes:

Jacques:I don't understand. Please explain to me.
Enzo:What do you want to know?
Jacques:Everything!
Enzo:About what?
Jacques:About everything!
Enzo:Mama mia.

Movie Connections:

References Diva (1981)

Soundtrack:

MY LADY BLUE

a synonym for the ocean

THE movie that made Besson go down in history. A key-movie that divided the French public between the ones who saw on it, only a tedious documentary about the ocean and the others who acclaimed this passionating movie. As far as I'm concerned, I rank in the second category. "Le grand bleu", it's simply a periphrase with a tinge of euphemism to design the ocean, a universe that always inspired to men fear but also fascination. The two main characters, Jacques Maillol and Enzo Molinari are fascinated by the sea but for different reasons. If Reno devotes all his energies to diving so as to access to success and glory, the sea is more than this for Jacques. He was born with it, he swears by it (so much that he neglects Johanna's love) and the sea will lead him to death. A place of athletic competition, an ideal place for rest and entertaining where dolphins are his real and sole friends, finally the eternal heaven, the ocean epitomizes all this to Jacques. "le grand bleu" also ranks among the movies that you must watch rather than telling it. Of course, there isn't almost any plot, dialogs are short and rare but pictures are gorgeous enough to create an entrancing climate supported by Eric Serra's mesmerizing music. The movie's technical qualities can only arouse admiration: a shiny photography that perfectly reflects the color of the sea, the blue and a fluid making sometimes clever: Jacques' childhood is made in black and white. Besides, the movie enabled to discover two outstanding actors: Jean-Marc Barr and Jean Reno but oddly if Reno became one of the most popular French actors, it wasn't the case with Barr. In spite of a promising debut, he has never be able to make a movie that could have got back him in the saddle. Maybe was he so elated at the bottom of the sea, in heaven where everything is fine...