The Big Easy (1986)

A corrupt lieutenant in the homicide division is threatened by the righteous DA while trying to solve a string of mysterious murders.

Director:

Jim McBride

Writer:

Daniel Petrie Jr. (screenplay by)

Stars:

Dennis Quaid, Ellen Barkin, Ned Beatty

4 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dennis Quaid	...	Remy McSwain
Ellen Barkin	...	Anne Osborne
Ned Beatty	...	Jack Kellom
John Goodman	...	Det. Andre DeSoto
Lisa Jane Persky	...	McCabe
Ebbe Roe Smith	...	Ed Dodge
Tom O'Brien	...	Bobby McSwain
Charles Ludlam	...	Lamar Parmentel
Grace Zabriskie	...	Mama
Marc Lawrence	...	Vinnie 'The Cannon' DiMotti
Solomon Burke	...	Daddy Mention
Gailard Sartain	...	Chef Paul
Jim Chimento	...	Freddie Angelo
Edward Saint Pe'	...	Patrolman (as Edward St. Pe)
Robert Lesser	...	'Silky' Foster

Storyline

Set in New Orleans. Remy McSwain, lieutenant in Homicide finds that he has two problems, the first of a series of gang killings and Ann Osborne, a beautiful attorney from the D.A.'s police corruption task force in his office. He begins a relationship with her as the killings continue only to have charges filed against him for accepting bribes as he stumbles on a police corruption Sting. While this is happening, the criminals insist that none of the crime gangs are behind the killings.

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Plot Keywords:

seduction | lust | cleavage | new orleans louisiana | neo noir | 

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Taglines:

Police action at its best

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 August 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Big Ea$y

Filming Locations:

Moss St. by Cabrini High School, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$17,685,307

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kings Road Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Byrne acted as a music consultant, but received no credit on the finished film.

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Goofs

When Ann, Remy, and his four family members meet in the PD garage to serve the search warrant, all four of the uniformed officers are wearing their hats as they begin to enter the station. But, when the shot changes to the interior, none of the officers has a hat at all.

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Quotes

Mama: I know all about you, Lamar. You da man who got de Governor acquitted.

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Alternate Versions

While the UK theatrical release ends with the boat exploding, a fade out and cutting to Remy and Anne dancing around on their wedding night, the UK video release has an extra scene which features Anne talking Remy out of resigning and Remy proposing marriage.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Big Easy/The Fourth Protocol/No Way Out/Tampopo (1987)

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Soundtracks

YOU USED TO CALL ME
Performed by Dewey Balfa & Dennis Quaid
Composed by Clifton Chenier

User Reviews

Good thriller with great chemistry.

The Big Easy is a fairly straightforward thriller about police corruption - a little predictable, but with occasional clever touches - but the apparent chemistry between Quaid and Barkin is outstanding, making this one of the steamiest movies I've ever seen (much hotter than 9 1/2 weeks, and with the benefit of a plot and sympathetic characters). Accents aside (I'm only an occasional visitor to New Orleans, and not qualified to judge), the other performances are also excellent, especially Beatty and Goodman as corrupt cops, and there are also some gut-bustingly funny moments and a wonderful soundtrack. The film may not do justice to modern New Orleans, but then, what movie ever did?