Big Business (1988)

Two couples of sisters from New York and from the countryside discover that they are connected in an incredible way.

Director:

Jim Abrahams

Writers:

Dori Pierson, Marc Reid Rubel (as Marc Rubel)

Stars:

Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin, Fred Ward

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bette Midler	...	Sadie Shelton / Sadie Ratliff
Lily Tomlin	...	Rose Shelton / Rose Ratliff
Fred Ward	...	Roone Dimmick
Edward Herrmann	...	Graham Sherbourne
Michele Placido	...	Fabio Alberici
Daniel Gerroll	...	Chuck
Barry Primus	...	Michael
Michael Gross	...	Dr. Jay Marshall
Deborah Rush	...	Binky Shelton
Nicolas Coster	...	Hunt Shelton
Patricia Gaul	...	Iona Ratliff
J.C. Quinn	...	Garth Ratliff
Norma MacMillan	...	Nanny Lewis
Joe Grifasi	...	Desk Clerk
John Vickery	...	Hotel Manager

Storyline

In the 1940s in the small town of Jupiter Hollow, two sets of identical twins are born in the same hospital on the same night. One set to a poor local family and the other to a rich family just passing through. The dizzy nurse on duty accidentally mixes the twins unbeknown to the parents. Our story flashes forward to the 1980s where the mismatched sets of twins are about to cross paths following a big business deal to closedown the Jupiter Hollow factory.

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Plot Keywords:

neo screwball comedy | f rated | strong female character | strong female lead | private hospital | 

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Taglines:

Mixed up at birth, two sets of twins finally meet their match.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Second and final [to date, August 2013] of two films that director Jim Abrahams has made with actress-comedian Bette Midler. The first had been Ruthless People (1986) made and first released about a couple of years earlier.

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Goofs

When Sadie is standing in the crowd listening to music her wig is starting to fall off.

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Quotes

Sadie Ratliff: Isn't it exciting?
Rose Ratliff: Oh yeah, the noise, the smog, the crowds, the muggers, sex fiends, white slavers, politicians, it's a pistol. I got about as much use for it as a toad has for spit curls!

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Crazy Credits

Seen about two-thirds of the way through the credits: Don't Go, It's Almost Over

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Connections

References The Stepford Wives (1975)

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Soundtracks

Pennies from Heaven
Written by Johnny Burke (as J. Burke) and Arthur Johnston (as A. Johnson)

User Reviews

Some very funny moments

Mistaken identity comedy has always been something that really cracks me up. (TV's "Three's Company" comes to mind) Plots that revolve around scenes with two people thinking two completely different things is just FUNNY. "Big Business" has a couple of truly hysterical scenes (The one in the elevator nearly killed me). Maybe it helps to be in the mood, but either way, it's an enjoyable little movie with some great performances.

Forget the fact that this situation would never happen. Just have a laugh.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

10 June 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Big Business

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,112,577, 12 June 1988

Gross USA:

$40,150,487

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$40,150,487

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners III

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1