Love at Large (1990)

A down and out private detective (Berenger) is asked by a beautiful woman (Archer) to follow her lover (Young) because she thinks he may be planning to kill her. Due to her poor description... See full summary »

Director:

Alan Rudolph

Writer:

Alan Rudolph

Stars:

Tom Berenger, Elizabeth Perkins, Anne Archer

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Berenger	...	Harry Dobbs
Elizabeth Perkins	...	Stella Wynkowski
Anne Archer	...	Miss Dolan
Kate Capshaw	...	Mrs. Ellen McGraw
Annette O'Toole	...	Mrs. King
Ted Levine	...	Frederick King / James McGraw
Ann Magnuson	...	Doris
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Art the Farmhand
Ruby Dee	...	Corrine Dart
Barry Miller	...	Marty
Neil Young	...	Rick
Meegan Lee Ochs	...	Bellhop
Gailard Sartain	...	Taxi Driver
Robert Gould	...	Tavern Bartender
Dirk Blocker	...	Hiram Culver, Used-Car Salesman

Storyline

A down and out private detective (Berenger) is asked by a beautiful woman (Archer) to follow her lover (Young) because she thinks he may be planning to kill her. Due to her poor description she's in danger. He ends up following the wrong man, but discovers the wrong man has some sleazy secrets himself. Meanwhile another detective (Perkins) has been hired to follow Berenger, and they eventually decide to work together to find out what is really going on.

---

Plot Keywords:

private detective | train | mistaken identity | detective agency | used car dealer | 

---

Taglines:

Love is the only lead worth following.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 March 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ahava B'Ma'akav

Filming Locations:

Bend, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$1,436,308 (USA)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During filming of the lunch scene, Which was done at the Rock Creek Tavern West of Portland, Oregon. Tom Berenger was to eat a burger. After several takes with Berenger trying to take bite of the burger he could not keep a straight face because the burger was made by craft services and was terrible. The cook from the Rock Creek Tavern heard of the situation and made a "real" burger that Berenger could sink his teeth into. After that, filming wrapped for the day.

---

Quotes

Harry Dobbs: Ever want kids, Stella?
Stella Wynkowski: Kids, uh?
Harry Dobbs: Yeah, little people that run around with your face.

---

Soundtracks

"Tomahwk"
Traditional
Performed by Tarwater

User Reviews

This "Love" Scores Large

This is a love story in the format of a comedy. Or, more appropriately, a love quest story. Like the Detective saga it parodies, the characters are on a search for absolution. But in Rudolph's screwball world where, for instance, every car is at least 20 years old and carries the model name "classic", all of this light madness works toward one, central theme: love is almost impossible to find, but, oh, so much fun to search for.

All the characters that are in long-term relationships are either breaking up, cheating on each other, or completely self-deluded. The other characters are in perpetual seek mode, from Miss Dolan who flirts and swoons wherever her whimsical heart takes her, to Stella, who studies "The Love Manual" and bitterly says things like, "the one who is in love always waits. It's the lover's signature."

Ultimately, this makes for light, entertaining fare. There aren't many bellylaughs, but there is a continual glow and a delightful, endearing glee about the film. Director Rudolph's cinematic sense is so keen that everything seems larger than it is, and more meaningful.