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 | twin | identical twins | nurse | small town | 

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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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

10 June 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sopa de gemelas

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$40,150,487

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners III

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Principal photography on this picture commenced during August 1987.

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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

Roon Dimmick: Hey, I like your kimono! D'ya get that in 'Nam?
Chuck: Ah no, Fire Island.

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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

Version of Kraft Theatre: The Comedy of Errors (1949)

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Soundtracks

I'm in the Mood for Love
Written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields

User Reviews

A real admirer of this really funny film

I saw this movie again last night and I laughed at it all over again.It is so much more funnier than so many comedies today, I think its unfair, the lack of repect it gets.the idea is obviously very silly and was probably used before back in the 50's but that does'nt take from the film at all.The two main actresses play two very different characters (each!!), and the fact that you see all four as completely different people show how brilliantly Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin have pulled it off.Lily Tomlin seems to have loads of fun with her outrageous country girl character.Its just ridiculous and unbelieveably funny at the same time.The plot is well thought out and it is clever the idea they have for the way the girls managed to end up staying in the same hotel at the same time.Better Midler is fantastic aswell, both as a superb**ch and a a little miss fancy from the country.Look, just don't put too much thought into this movie just watch it and suspend reality for a while.Let yourself get into the confusion and the mad situations the characters get themselves into and it'll just be sheer fun all the way.In the scene where the country Rose came into the Morromax offices for the first time, I nearly laughes myself silly.