Big Night Movie Review 1995

Set in '50s New Jersey, film provides an Old World/New World look at Italian brothers Primo (Shalhoub) and Secondo (Tucci) Pilaggi and their elegant but failing restaurant. Primo is the perfectionist chef who hates compromise while Secondo wants to Americanize the place in an effort to make it a success. (He knows the customer is always right even if they can't appreciate Primo's exquisitely authentic Italian dishes). In order to get attention, Secondo arranges a special night in honor of jazz great Louis Prima, with Primo out to cook the feast of a lifetime--if they can pull it off. Another food film guaranteed to make you hungry.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 109 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Comedy Drama, Brothers & Sisters, Edibles, Period Piece: 1950s, New York, New York

Screenplay

Stanley Tucci, Joseph Tropiano

Cast

Tony Shalhoub, Stanley Tucci, Ian Holm, Minnie Driver, Campbell Scott, Isabella Rossellini, Marc Anthony, Allison Janney

Cinematography

Ken Kelsch

Director

Stanley Tucci, Campbell Scott

Producer

Jonathan Filley, Keith Samples, Rysher Entertainment

Awards

Ind. Spirit 1997: First Screenplay; Natl. Soc. Film Critics 1996: Support. Actor (Shalhoub); Sundance 1996: Screenplay.