The Big Blue (1988)
- Starring:
- Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno, (more)
- Director(s):
- Luc Besson
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
View All Versions to rent and buy
Synopsis of The Big Blue
Two men answer the call of the ocean in this romantic fantasy-adventure. Jacques (Jean-Marc Barr) and Enzo (Jean Reno) are a pair of friends who have been close since childhood, and who share a passion for the dangerous sport of free diving. Professional diver Jacques opted to follow in the footsteps of his father, who died at sea when Jacques was a boy; to the bewilderment of scientists, Jacques harbors a remarkable ability to adjust his heart rate and breathing pattern in the water, so that his vital signs more closely resemble that of dolphins than men (he even considers a school of dolphins as his extended family). As Enzo persuades a reluctant Jacques to compete against him in a free diving contest -- determining who can dive deeper and longer without scuba gear -- Jacques meets Johanna (Rosanna Arquette), a beautiful insurance investigator from America, and he finds that he must choose between his love for her and his love of the sea. Le Grand Bleu ran 132 minutes in its original French version, but it was trimmed to 118 for American release, with the original score by Eric Serra replaced by music from Bill Conti. While the film did middling business in the U.S., it was a huge success in Europe, and director Luc Besson released an expanded 168-minute version in 1998. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 168 mins
Complete Cast of The Big Blue
- Jean-Marc Barr - Jacques Mayol
- Rosanna Arquette - Johanna
- Griffin Dunne - Duffy
- Jean Bouise - Uncle Louis
- Andréas Voutsinas - Priest
- Kimberly Beck - Sally
- Bruce Guerre-Berthelot - Young Jacques
- Claude Besson - Jacques' Father
- Constantin Alexandrov - Dolphin Trainer
- Ronald Teuhi - Tahitian Diver
- Jan Rouiller - Noireuter
- Nicolas Maltos - Diving Coordinator on Platform
- Andre Germe - Filipino Diver
- Rosario Campese - Waiter
- Paul Herman - Taxi Driver in US
- Patrick Fontana - Alfredo
- Franco Diogene - Receptionist
- Jean Reno - Enzo Molinari
- Paul Shenar - Dr.Laurence
- Sergio Castellitto - Novelli
- Marc Duret - Roberto
- Valentina Vargas - Bonita
- Alessandra Vazzoler - Mamma, Enzo's Mother
- Gregory Forstner - Young Enzo
- Geoffrey Carey - Supervisor
- Tredessa Dalton - Carol
- Peter Semler - Frank
- Marc Planceon - Paramedic
- Marika Gevaudan - Angelica
- Eric Do - Japanese Diver
- Claude Robin - Taxi Driver
- Jacques Levy - Doctor
- Pierre-Alain DeGarrigues - Superintendent
- Director(s):
- Luc Besson
- Writer(s):
- Jacques Mayol, Marc Perrier, Luc Besson
- Producer(s):
- Patrice Ledoux
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Adult Situations, Adult Language, Questionable for Children)
- Categories:
- Action / Adventure
- 1988 - French Academy of Cinema - Best Sound
- 1988 - French Academy of Cinema - Best Music
- 1988 - French Academy of Cinema - Best Sound
- 1988 - French Academy of Cinema - Best Sound
- Looking for special editions of The Big Blue?
- See All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
