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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Primo, Tony Shalhoub's name in this movie, translates as "First". Secondo, Stanley Tucci's character, translates as "Second". This relates to their birth order in this movie. It is briefly referenced in the Cadillac scene, when Secondo meets Bob the car salesman (Campbell Scott). (Additionally, Shalhoub's character in The Impostors (1998) was named Voltri, "First Mate", a possible reference to Primo.)

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Goofs

When Pascal plays the piano at the end of the big night, his fingers don't correspond to the music that is heard.

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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

Featured in Binging with Babish: Il Timpano from Big Night (2016)

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Soundtracks

Tic Ti, Tic Ta
Written by Gaetano Lama (as Lama) and Francesco Feola (as Feola)
Performed by Claudio Villa

User Reviews

Eat first!

This movie is fantastic. You feel like you are on the Jersey shore and can smell the sauce being cooked. Even Minnie Driver is great! Eat something first because the food consumed and prepared during the movie will have you drooling.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

20 September 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Big Night

Filming Locations:

32 Broad Street, Keyport, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,100,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$185,749, 22 September 1996

Gross USA:

$12,008,376

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,008,376

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rysher Entertainment, Timpano Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1