Big Night (1996)

New Jersey, 1950s. Two brothers run an Italian restaurant. Business is not going well as a rival Italian restaurant is out-competing them. In a final effort to save the restaurant, the brothers plan to put on an evening of incredible food.

Directors:

Campbell Scott, Stanley Tucci

Writers:

Stanley Tucci, Joseph Tropiano

Stars:

Tony Shalhoub, Stanley Tucci, Marc Anthony

9 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marc Anthony	...	Cristiano
Tony Shalhoub	...	Primo
Stanley Tucci	...	Secondo
Larry Block	...	Man in Restaurant
Caroline Aaron	...	Woman in Restaurant
Andre Belgrader	...	Stash (as Andrei Belgrader)
Minnie Driver	...	Phyllis
Peter McRobbie	...	Loan Officer
Isabella Rossellini	...	Gabriella
Liev Schreiber	...	Leo
Pasquale Cajano	...	Alberto N. Pisani
Christine Tucci	...	Woman Singer
Gene Canfield	...	Charlie
Ian Holm	...	Pascal
Allison Janney	...	Ann

Storyline

Primo and Secondo are two brothers who have emigrated from Italy to open an Italian restaurant in America. Primo is the irascible and gifted chef, brilliant in his culinary genius, but determined not to squander his talent on making the routine dishes that customers expect. Secondo is the smooth front-man, trying to keep the restaurant financially afloat, despite few patrons other than a poor artist who pays with his paintings. The owner of the nearby Pascal's restaurant, enormously successful (despite its mediocre fare), offers a solution - he will call his friend, a big-time jazz musician, to play a special benefit at their restaurant. Primo begins to prepare his masterpiece, a feast of a lifetime, for the brothers' big night...

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Plot Keywords:

feast | italian restaurant | timpano | business competitor | failing business | 

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Taglines:

In love and life, one big night can change everything.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

20 September 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Big Night - italialainen ilta

Filming Locations:

32 Broad Street, Keyport, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,100,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$185,942, 22 September 1996, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$11,881,039, 21 February 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rysher Entertainment,Timpano Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot over a period of thirty-five days.

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Goofs

When Bob is talking to Secondo in the Cadillac, his lollipop is alternately in/out of his mouth between shots.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Primo: [offers a taste asking opinion in Italian]
Secondo: What?
Primo: More Salt?
Secondo: No.
[continues chopping]
Primo: Not too fine, eh? Sometimes you cut it too fine, then all you taste is the garlic!

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #28.176 (2012)

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Soundtracks

Love of My Life (O Sole Mio)
Performed by Louis Prima and Keely Smith
with Sam Butera and the Witnesses

User Reviews

Great actors' movie

Two brothers Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and Secondo (Stanley Tucci) own a floundering Italian restaurant. The customers are philistines who frustrate the authentic cooking of Primo. Secondo knows the restaurant is failing and the bank will foreclose at the end of the month. They can't compete with the americanized showman competitor Pascal (Ian Holm). Pascal offers to send famous singer Louis Prima as a customer, and the brothers decide to make a big night.

Stanley Tucci is the driving force for the movie in front of and behind the camera. It's brilliant actors letting other brilliant actors do great work. The characters jump off the screen with their humanity. The brothers' relationship is absolutely fabulous. It is the most delicious of movie making.