The Big Fix (1978)

An ex-'60s radical now working as a private eye is hired by an old flame to investigate a political smear campaign. The case becomes more dangerous as it unfolds.

Director:

Jeremy Kagan (as Jeremy Paul Kagan)

Writers:

Roger L. Simon (screenplay), Roger L. Simon (novel)

Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Anspach, Bonnie Bedelia

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Moses Wine
Susan Anspach	...	Lila
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Suzanne
John Lithgow	...	Sam Sebastian
Ofelia Medina	...	Alora
Nicolas Coster	...	Spitzler
F. Murray Abraham	...	Eppis
Fritz Weaver	...	Oscar Procari Sr.
Jorge Cervera Jr.	...	Jorge
Michael Hershewe	...	Jacob
Rita Karin	...	Aunt Sonya
Ron Rifkin	...	Randy
Larry Bishop	...	Wilson
Andrew Bloch	...	Michael Linker
Sidney Clute	...	Mr. Johnson

Storyline

In Los Angeles, Moses Wine, who was part of the counter-culture of the late 1960s at UC-Berkeley, still has those radical feelings but no longer does anything about them. His wife Suzanne, who has transformed from a 1960s hippie to a 1970s new-ageist, divorced him when his law school background didn't materialize into the upper middle class liberal life she was expecting, she having sole custody of their two young sons, with Moses having visitation rights. Moses fell into work as a private investigator of the gumshoe variety, which usually doesn't cover his monthly child support payments. After not seeing her for ten years, Moses is contacted by Lila Shea, an old girlfriend from Berkeley, to do some investigative work on behalf of her boss, Sam Sebastian, the Southern California coordinator for the gubernatorial campaign of Congressman Miles Hawthorne. Lila felt Moses would be well suited to the job because of running within "the" crowd at Berkeley, even if only knowing the main ...

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Plot Keywords:

beer | margarita | marijuana | bourbon whiskey | ex boyfriend ex girlfriend relationship | 

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Taglines:

A Dramedy.

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Genres:

Comedy | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard Dreyfuss broke his wrist just before shooting was to begin. Rather than delay shooting they worked his cast into the script.

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Quotes

Howard Eppis: Do you know why being a revolutionary doesn't work in this country? Being a revolutionary in America is like being a spoil sport at an orgy. All these goodies being passed around and you feel like a shit when you say no.

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Alternate Versions

ABC edited 12 minutes from this film for its 1984 network television premiere.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Richard Dreyfuss/Jimmy Buffett, Gary Tigerman (1978)

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Soundtracks

L'Internationale
(uncredited)
Written by Eugène Pottier and Pierre De Geyter
Performed by Richard Dreyfuss

User Reviews

Dreyfuss is good but the movie isn't.

I am a fan of the 1970s semi-genre of throw-back style detective movies. My favorites are Robert Benton's "The Late Show" and Robert Altman's "The Long Goodbye". "The Big Fix" doesn't come close to those films. It's watchable but only barely. Richard Dreyfuss does a nice job but the story is weak and uninteresting. Dreyfuss' character is strong but he's surrounded by a bunch of bland or unnecessary supporting characters. "The Big Fix" does have a few nice moments but not enough to make it worth while. Dishonorable mention: the annoying Aunt.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

6 October 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Big Fix

Filming Locations:

Hall of Justice - 211 W. Temple Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,800,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$13,062,708

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$13,062,708

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1