The Big Blue (1988)
Le grand bleu (original title)Reference View | Change View
- R
- 2h 48min
- Adventure, Drama
- 19 Aug 1988 (USA)
- Movie
The rivalry between Enzo and Jacques, two childhood friends and now world-renowned free divers, becomes a beautiful and perilous journey into oneself and the unknown.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 3 wins & 6 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Rosanna Arquette | ... |
Johana
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| Jean-Marc Barr | ... |
Jacques Mayol
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| Jean Reno | ... |
Enzo Molinari
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| Paul Shenar | ... |
Dr. Laurence
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| Sergio Castellitto | ... |
Novelli
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| Jean Bouise | ... |
Uncle Louis
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| Marc Duret | ... |
Roberto
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| Griffin Dunne | ... |
Duffy
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| Andréas Voutsinas | ... |
Priest
(as Andreas Voutsinas)
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| Valentina Vargas | ... |
Bonita
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| Kimberly Beck | ... |
Sally
(as Kimberley Beck)
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Patrick Fontana | ... |
Alfredo
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Alessandra Vazzoler | ... |
La Mamma
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Geoffrey Carey | ... |
Supervisor
(as Geoffroy Carey)
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Bruce Guerre-Berthelot | ... |
Young Jacques
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Gregory Forstner | ... |
Young Enzo
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Claude Besson | ... |
Jacques' Father
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Marika Gevaudan | ... |
Angelica
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Jan Rouiller | ... |
Noireuter
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Pierre Semmler | ... |
Franck
(as Peter Semler)
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Jacques Lévy | ... |
Doctor
(as Jacques Levy)
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Eric Do | ... |
Japanese Diver
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André Germe | ... |
Philippino Diver
(as Andre Germe)
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Ronald Teuhi | ... |
Tahitian Diver
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Rosario Campese | ... |
Waiter
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Franco Diogene | ... |
Receptionist
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Tredessa Dalton | ... |
Carol
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Constantin Alexandrov | ... |
Dolphin Trainer
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Pierre-Alain de Garrigues | ... |
Superintendent
(as Pierre-Alain De Garrigues)
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Claude Robin | ... |
Taxi Driver
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| Paul Herman | ... |
Taxi Driver in U.S.A
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Nicolas Maltos | ... |
Diving Coordinator on Platform
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Marc Planceon | ... |
Paramedic
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Luc Besson | ... |
Blond Diver (uncredited)
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| Valentina Castellani | ... |
Lady in elevator (uncredited)
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Christian Gazio | ... |
Plongeur coinçé (uncredited)
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Chico Scimone | ... |
Andre Bonnet (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Luc Besson | ||
Written by
| Luc Besson | ... | (story) |
| Luc Besson | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Robert Garland | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Marilyn Goldin | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Jacques Mayol | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Marc Perrier | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Monty Diamond | ... | line producer: New York |
| Patrice Ledoux | ... | producer |
| Claude Besson | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
| Luc Besson | ... | co-producer (uncredited) |
| Bernard Grenet | ... | line producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Bill Conti | ||
| Éric Serra | ... | (original music) (as Eric Serra) |
Cinematography by
| Carlo Varini | ... | director of photography |
Film Editing by
| Olivier Mauffroy | ||
Editorial Department
| Yvan Lucas | ... | color timer |
Casting By
| Nathalie Cheron | ||
| Lissa Pillu | ||
Production Design by
| Dan Weil | ||
Set Decoration by
| Patrick Barthelemy | ||
Costume Design by
| Blandine Boyer | ||
| Magali Guidasci | ||
| Malika Khelfa | ||
| Mimi Lempicka | ||
| Brigitte Nierhaus | ||
| Martine Rapin | ||
| Patricia Saalburg | ||
Makeup Department
| Michèle Constantinides | ... | assistant makeup artist (as Michele Constantinides) |
| Catherine Crassac | ... | hair stylist |
| Geneviève Peyralade | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Nikos Giannopoulos | ... | production manager |
| Bernard Grenet | ... | production manager |
| Didier Hoarau | ... | assistant unit manager |
| Michel Jullien | ... | assistant unit manager |
| Marc Maurette | ... | production manager |
| Patrick Millet | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Stéphane Breton | ... | third assistant director |
| Jérôme Chalou | ... | first assistant director |
| Bertrand Fèvre | ... | second assistant director |
| Anne Guillard | ... | third assistant director |
| Patrick Halpine | ... | first assistant director |
| Yann Michel | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Michel Conche | ... | property master |
| Alain Darthou | ... | construction manager |
| Christian Gazio | ... | carpenter |
| Cyrille Perron | ... | scenic artist: head painter |
| Julie Sfez | ... | set dresser |
Sound Department
| Pierre Befve | ... | sound engineer |
| François Groult | ... | sound mixer |
| François Gédigier | ... | sound editor |
| Gérard Lamps | ... | re-recording mixer (as Gerard Lamps) |
| Jacques Thomas-Gérard | ... | adr mixer |
Special Effects by
| Alain Guillé | ... | special effects |
Visual Effects by
| Frederic Moreau | ... | optical effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Luc Besson | ... | camera operator: underwater unit |
| Patrick Camboulive | ... | still photographer |
| Irène Champendal | ... | first assistant camera (as Irene Champendal) |
| Stefan Czapsky | ... | gaffer: New York |
| Jean-François Drigeard | ... | electrician |
| François Gentit | ... | second assistant camera |
| Vincent Jeannot | ... | first assistant camera |
| Jean-Pierre Mas | ... | key grip |
| Jacques Monge | ... | steadicam operator |
| Christian Pétron | ... | camera operator: underwater unit (as Christian Petron) |
| Jean-Claude Reux | ... | head gaffer |
Casting Department
| Pat Orseth | ... | casting: USA |
Location Management
| Nikos Giannopoulos | ... | location manager |
| K.C. Schulberg | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| William Flageollet | ... | music mixer |
| Éric Serra | ... | music arranger (as Eric Serra) / music performer (as Eric Serra) |
Other crew
| Abdul Malik Abbott | ... | production assistant |
| Marc Biehler | ... | diving coordinator |
| Christopher Carson | ... | production assistant |
| Elisabeth Chochoy | ... | continuity |
| Quincy Z. Gunderson | ... | production assistant |
| François Laurent | ... | optical engineer |
| Andrzej Malinowski | ... | painter/poster artist |
| Jacques Mayol | ... | technical consultant |
| Monique Pautas | ... | production accountant |
| Patricia Pierangeli | ... | dialogue coach (as Patrizia Pierangeli) |
| Marcel Rousseau | ... | technical engineer |
Production Companies
- Gaumont (presents)
- Les Films du Loup (executive production)
Distributors
- Gaumont (1988) (France) (theatrical)
- Fox (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Fox Pathé Europa (2000) (France) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Germany (1988) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures of Canada (1988) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Finnkino (1988) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Fox (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical) (director's cut)
- Lucernafilm - Beta (1991) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
- Neo Films (2017) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- New Star (2013) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Spentzos Films (1988) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Weintraub Entertainment Group (1988) (United States) (theatrical) (cut version)
- CBS / Fox Video (1990) (Greece) (VHS)
- CBS / Fox Video (1989) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox Video (1989) (Belgium) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- Columbia Pictures Corporation (United States)
- Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (Canada) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- Concorde Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
- Divisa Home Video (2016) (Spain) (DVD)
- Divisa Home Video (2017) (Spain) (DVD)
- Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2010) (Netherlands) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- FS Film (2009) (Finland) (Blu-ray) (DVD) (7-disc The Luc Besson Collection)
- FS Film (2010) (Finland) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Filmauro (Italy)
- Fox Video (1992) (Belgium) (VHS)
- Fox Video (1992) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Nelonen (2012) (Finland) (tv)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (France) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (France) (Blu-ray) (DVD) (director's cut)
- SF Home Entertainment (2003) (Sweden) (DVD) (director's cut)
- SF Home Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (Blu-ray) (DVD) (director's cut)
- SF Home Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (director's cut)
- Samuel Goldwyn Films (2000) (United States) (re-release)
- Showtime Video (1989) (Finland) (VHS)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD) (director's cut)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1993) (Finland) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Banker's Trust New York Corporation (thanks)
- Creation Express (costume design)
- Editions de la Marguerite (music publishing)
- Hotel Capo-Taormina (accomodations)
- Hotel San-Domenico (accomodations)
- The Dolphin Research Center (thanks)
- U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Economic Development and Agriculture (thanks)
- U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning & Natural Resources (thanks)
- U.S. Virgin Islands Film Promotion Office (thanks)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Enzo and Jacques have known each other for a long time. Their friendship started in their childhood days in the Mediterranean. They were not real friends in these days, but there was something they both loved and used to do the whole day long: diving. One day Jacques' father, who was a diver too, died in the Mediterranean sea. After that incident Enzo and Jacques lost contact. After several years, Enzo and Jacques had grown up, Johanna, a young clerk in an insurance office, has to go to Peru. There she meets Jacques who is being studied by a group of scientists. He dives for some minutes into ice-cold water and the scientists monitor his physical state that is more like a dolphin than human. Johanna can not believe what she sees and gets very interested in Jacques but she's unable to get acquainted with him. Some weeks later back in her office, she finds out that Jacques will be competing in a diving championship that takes place in Taormina, Sicily. In order to see Jacques again she makes up a story so the firm sends her to Italy for business purposes. In Taormina there is also Enzo, the reigning diving world champion. He knows that only Jacques can challenge and probably beat him. This time Johanna and Jacques get closer, but Jacques, being more a dolphin than man, cannot really commit and his rivalry with Enzo pushes both men into dangerous territory...
Written by Reiner Rosin |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Between what you know and what you wish, lies the secret of... [The Big Blue] See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | FRF80,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The most financially successful French film of the 1980s. See more » |
| Goofs | Jacques takes off his sneakers, then jumps into the pool with his sneakers on (although in the director's Cut we see him replace his shoes). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Best Man for the Job: The Making of 'The Professional' (1994). See more » |
| Soundtracks | MY LADY BLUE See more » |
| Quotes |
Johanna:
What's it feel like when you dive? Jacques: It's a feeling of slipping without falling. The hardest thing is when you're at the bottom. Johanna: Why? Jacques: 'Cause you have to find a good reason to come back up... and I have a hard time finding one. See more » |