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Big Night (1996)

 -  Drama  -  20 September 1996 (USA)
7.2
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Ratings: 7.2/10 from 9,150 users   Metascore: 80/100
Reviews: 75 user | 44 critic | 23 from Metacritic.com

A failing Italian restaurant run by two brothers gambles on one special night to try to save the business.

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Title: Big Night (1996)

Big Night (1996) on IMDb 7.2/10

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
Larry Block ...
Man in Restaurant
...
Woman in Restaurant
Andre Belgrader ...
Stash
...
...
Loan Officer
...
Gabriella
...
Leo
Pasquale Cajano ...
Alberto N. Pisani
...
Woman Singer
...
Charlie
...
...
Ann
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Storyline

Primo and Secondo are two brothers who have emigrated from Italy to open an Italian restaurant in America. Primo is the irascible and gifted chef, brilliant in his culinary genius, but determined not to squander his talent on making the routine dishes that customers expect. Secondo is the smooth front-man, trying to keep the restaurant financially afloat, despite few patrons other than a poor artist who pays with his paintings. The owner of the nearby Pascal's restaurant, enormously successful (despite its mediocre fare), offers a solution - he will call his friend, a big-time jazz musician, to play a special benefit at their restaurant. Primo begins to prepare his masterpiece, a feast of a lifetime, for the brothers' big night... Written by Tad Dibbern <DIBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

restaurant | brother | italian | feast | jazz | See more »

Taglines:

In love and life, one big night can change everything.

Genres:

Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

20 September 1996 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

A Grande Inauguração  »

Box Office

Budget:

$4,100,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

ITL 143,875,000 (Italy) (7 March 1997)

Gross:

ITL 763,505,000 (Italy) (11 April 1997)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

|

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot over a period of 35 days. See more »

Goofs

The pianist in Pascal's restaurant is playing an electronic keyboard, the likes of which would not be invented for another twenty years or more. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Primo: [offers a taste asking opinion in Italian]
Secondo: What?
Primo: More Salt?
Secondo: No.
[continues chopping]
Primo: Not too fine, eh? Sometimes you cut it too fine, then all you taste is the garlic!
See more »

Connections

Featured in Zomergasten: Episode #20.5 (2007) See more »

Soundtracks

"Don't Take Your Love from Me"
Written by Henry Nemo
Performed by Keely Smith
See more »

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User Reviews

 
A great "little" film
28 March 2006 | by (san diego) – See all my reviews

After having looked over my reviews on IMDb, I noticed that only one of them was enthusiastic. That should be rectified, since I consider myself a big fan of cinema, and I choose as my second enthusiastic recommendation Big Night. This is one of those films that doesn't have to show off. It's a slice of life sort of thing going on here, with an assortment of people with strengths and faults, but who all value life's simple pleasures, like good food. It's a story about the underdogs , and their hopes and dreams and struggles -- some within reach, some not. It's got a good cast too. They all make it look easy, but they have a charming script and careful direction. I think Billy Wilder would have approved. At turns funny and touching, and the last scene -- several minutes without a word of dialogue -- is pure gold.


23 of 29 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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Recent Posts
Big Night ending... happy or sad? number6village
Post if you love good food... happiscotsman
Absolutely Cr*p kalidor-2
I can't believe I cooked the whole thing roark-12
Car salesman... gay? TheLaughingWolf
Pascal and Gabriella? BrionyTallis
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