The Big Blue (1988)
Le grand bleu (original title)Reference View | Change View
- PG
- 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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Aleksandrov Konstantin | ... |
Dolphin Trainer
(as Constantin Alexandrov)
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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
| Claude Besson | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
| Luc Besson | ... | co-producer (uncredited) |
| Monty Diamond | ... | line producer: New York |
| Bernard Grenet | ... | line producer (uncredited) |
| Patrice Ledoux | ... | producer |
Music by
| Éric Serra | ||
Cinematography by
| Carlo Varini | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Olivier Mauffroy | ||
Editorial Department
| Nicolette Barr | ... | assistant editor |
| Sophie Bester | ... | assistant editor |
| Fanchon Brulé | ... | assistant editor |
| Élisabeth Couque | ... | assistant editor |
| Yvan Lucas | ... | color timer |
| Bénédicte Mallet | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Nathalie Cheron | ||
| Lissa Pillu | ||
Production Design by
| Dan Weil | ||
Set Decoration by
| Patrick Barthelemy | ||
| Carol Nast | ||
Costume Design by
| Blandine Boyer | ||
| Blanche Cardinale | ||
| 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 |
| Victor DeNicola | ... | hair stylist |
| David Forrest | ... | makeup artist |
| Geneviève Peyralade | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Franco Ballati | ... | production manager |
| Judith Lyn Brown | ... | production manager |
| 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 |
| Gary Marcus | ... | first assistant director |
| Yann Michel | ... | first assistant director |
| Gina Randazzo | ... | second assistant director |
| Hronis Theoharis | ... | third assistant director |
Art Department
| Tom Allen | ... | property master |
| Michel Conche | ... | property master |
| Alain Darthou | ... | construction manager |
| Jean-Louis Darthou | ... | assistant production designer |
| Pascale Fernández | ... | assistant production designer |
| Christian Gazio | ... | carpenter |
| Avra Georgiou | ... | assistant production designer |
| Susie Goulder | ... | set dresser |
| Richard Guille | ... | assistant production designer |
| Franck Miniconi | ... | assistant production designer |
| Cyrille Perron | ... | scenic artist: head painter |
| Giuseppe Ponturo | ... | assistant set designer |
| Bob Rosenthal | ... | assistant production designer |
| Julie Sfez | ... | set dresser |
| Nicos Skouras | ... | assistant production designer |
| Victor J. Zolfo | ... | leadman |
Sound Department
| Pierre Befve | ... | sound engineer |
| Pierre Excoffier | ... | sound assistant |
| Stéphanie Granel | ... | sound editor |
| Patrice Grisolet | ... | supervising sound editor |
| François Groult | ... | sound mixer |
| François Gédigier | ... | sound editor |
| Gérard Lamps | ... | re-recording mixer (as Gerard Lamps) |
| Jean-Louis Lebras | ... | re-recording assistant |
| Alain Lévy | ... | foley editor |
| Jacques Lévy | ... | re-recording supervisor |
| Jérôme Lévy | ... | foley artist |
| Annie Marciniak | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Marion Monestier | ... | sound editor |
| Brenda Ray | ... | boom operator |
| Jacques Thomas-Gérard | ... | adr mixer / re-recording engineer |
Special Effects by
| Alain Guillé | ... | special effects |
Visual Effects by
| Frederic Moreau | ... | optical effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Francisco Angulo | ... | electrician |
| Jacques Barbazange | ... | grip |
| Luc Besson | ... | camera operator: underwater unit |
| Patrick Camboulive | ... | still photographer |
| Irène Champendal | ... | first assistant camera (as Irene Champendal) |
| Myra-Lee Cohen | ... | second assistant camera |
| Stefan Czapsky | ... | gaffer: New York |
| Mario d'Orio | ... | grip |
| Jean-François Drigeard | ... | electrician |
| Christophe Dural | ... | electrician |
| Gilles Floquet | ... | grip |
| François Gentit | ... | second assistant camera |
| Guy Guermouh | ... | generator operator |
| Denis Hahn | ... | key grip |
| Vincent Jeannot | ... | first assistant camera |
| Jean-Pierre Mas | ... | key grip |
| Jacques Monge | ... | steadicam operator |
| Michael Papadapolous | ... | electrician |
| Eliberto Prado | ... | grip |
| Eugenio Prado | ... | electrician |
| Christian Pétron | ... | camera operator: underwater unit (as Christian Petron) |
| Jean-Claude Reux | ... | head gaffer |
| Pascal Rose | ... | electrician |
| Larry Steinberg | ... | grip |
| Roberto Tello | ... | grip |
| Michael Trim | ... | key electrician |
| Bryan Unger | ... | grip |
| Giovanni Varini | ... | electrician |
| Antoine Vaton | ... | grip |
Casting Department
| Flaviana Ferri | ... | extras casting: Italy |
| Celestia Fox | ... | casting: England |
| Pat Orseth | ... | casting: USA |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Elizabeth Hickox | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
Location Management
| Fred Bouchaour | ... | location manager |
| Nikos Giannopoulos | ... | location manager |
| K.C. Schulberg | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Dominik Borde | ... | music recording |
| William Flageollet | ... | music mixer |
| Isabelle Martin | ... | music recording |
| Éric Serra | ... | music arranger (as Eric Serra) / music performer (as Eric Serra) |
| Jack Eskew | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Elisabeth Chochoy | ... | continuity |
Transportation Department
| John Leonidas | ... | transportation captain |
| Dennis Radesky | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
| Abdul Malik Abbott | ... | production assistant |
| Marc Biehler | ... | diving coordinator |
| Christopher Carson | ... | production assistant |
| Quincy Z. Gunderson | ... | production assistant |
| Lynn Kamern | ... | production coordinator |
| Mary Kelly | ... | production accountant |
| François Laurent | ... | optical engineer |
| Georges Louisos | ... | production coordinator |
| Alba Luzi | ... | assistant accountant |
| Andrzej Malinowski | ... | painter/poster artist |
| Ann F. Markel | ... | assistant production coordinator |
| Jacques Mayol | ... | technical consultant |
| Roland Ory | ... | helicopter pilot |
| Jenny Panoutsopoulos | ... | production assistant (as Jennie Panoutsopoulou) |
| Monique Pautas | ... | production accountant |
| Patricia Pierangeli | ... | dialogue coach (as Patrizia Pierangeli) |
| Dale Pierce-Johnson | ... | production coordinator |
| Marcel Rousseau | ... | technical engineer |
| Cathy Scott | ... | assistant production accountant |
| Roberto Todeschi | ... | assistant production coordinator |
| Dora Valsamaki | ... | production secretary |
Production Companies
- Gaumont (presents)
- Les Films du Loup (executive production)
Distributors
- Gaumont (1988) (France) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures of Canada (1988) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Filmes Castello Lopes (1988) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Finnkino (1988) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Fox Columbia TriStar Films (1988) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Fox Film (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Spentzos Films (1988) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1988) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Weintraub Entertainment Group (1988) (United States) (theatrical) (cut version)
- CBS / Fox Video (1989) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox Home Video (1989) (Australia) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox Video (1989) (Belgium) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox Video (1989) (France) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox (1989) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Showtime Video (1989) (Finland) (VHS)
- Fox Film (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical) (director's cut)
- Lucernafilm - Beta (1991) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
- Neo Films (2017) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- New Star (2013) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Samuel Goldwyn Films (2000) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
- 6ter (2021) (France) (tv)
- ARTE Mediathek (2023) (Germany) (video) (VoD)
- ARTE Médiathèque (2023) (France) (video) (VoD)
- ARTE (2009) (Germany) (tv)
- ARTE (2009) (France) (tv)
- ATV2 (2012) (Austria) (tv)
- Abril Vídeo (1989) (Brazil) (VHS)
- Amazon Instant Video (2010) (Germany) (video) (VoD)
- Arthaus+ (2023) (Germany) (video) (VoD)
- BR Fernsehen (2014) (Germany) (tv)
- Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) (2014) (Germany) (tv)
- CBS Electronics (1990) (Greece) (VHS)
- Ciné+ (2020) (France) (tv)
- Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (Canada) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- Concorde Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
- Das Vierte (2009) (Germany) (tv)
- 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
- Fox Pathé Europa (2000) (France) (DVD)
- Fox Video (1992) (Belgium) (VHS)
- Fox Video (1992) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2022) (United Arab Emirates) (Middle East, North Africa and Iran)
- Kabel Eins Classics (2007) (Germany) (tv)
- Kabel Eins (2004) (Germany) (tv)
- Kabel. 1 (2004) (Germany) (tv)
- Nelonen (2012) (Finland) (tv)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (France) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (France) (Blu-ray) (DVD) (director's cut)
- Pro 7 (2003) (Germany) (tv)
- ProSieben (2003) (Germany) (tv)
- Puls 4 (2008) (Austria) (tv)
- RBB Fernsehen (2015) (Germany) (tv)
- RTL Zwei (2018) (Germany) (tv)
- RTL2 (2018) (Germany) (tv)
- Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB) (2015) (Germany) (tv)
- S1 (2015) (Switzerland) (tv)
- 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)
- SRF 1 (2016) (Switzerland) (tv)
- Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (2016) (Switzerland) (tv)
- Sky 1 +1 (2018) (Germany) (tv)
- Sky 1 (2018) (Germany) (tv)
- Sky Cinema Best Of (2020) (Germany) (tv)
- Sky Cinema Classics (2020) (Germany) (tv)
- Sky Cinema Emotion (2019) (Germany) (tv)
- Sky Cinema Hits (2018) (Germany) (tv)
- Sky Cinema Nostalgie (2018) (Germany) (tv)
- Sky Cinema Special (2020) (Germany) (tv)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD) (director's cut)
- Tele 5 TM-TV (2012) (Germany) (tv)
- Tele 5 (2012) (Germany) (tv)
- VOX (1999) (Germany) (tv)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1993) (Finland) (tv)
- Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (1999) (Germany) (tv)
- iTunes (2010) (Germany) (video) (VoD)
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 | Unlike SCUBA divers, free divers become negatively buoyant below depths of around 15m (varies a bit depending on body type, weight belt, and wet-suit thickness). In the final scene when Jacques lets go of the sled to swim toward the dolphin, he appears neutrally buoyant. In reality, at that depth, he would have had to actively swim toward the surface to avoid passively sinking deeper. 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 » |