The Big Blue - actors, characters and roles
All actors and their roles in the film "The Big Blue"
Le Grand Bleu (1988)
Timing:
2:48 (168 min)
7.447/10
1553
1553
7.792/10
42062
42062
7.5/10
59000
59000
Actors and characters
Alessandra Vazzoler
Character La Mamma
Patrick Fontana
Character Alfredo
Geoffrey Carey
Character Supervisor
Jan Rouiller
Character Noireuter
Pierre Semmler
Character Franck
Pierre-Alain de Garrigues
Character Superintendent
Claude Besson
Character Jacques' Father
Bruce Guerre-Berthelot
Character Young Jacques
Gregory Forstner
Character Young Enzo
Eric Do
Character Japanese Diver
Jacques Lévy
Character Doctor
Constantin Alexandrov
Character Dolphin Trainer
Valentina Castellani
Character Lady in Elevator (uncredited)
Christian Gazio
Character Wedged Diver (uncredited)
What's left behind the scenes
- "The Big Blue" became one of the most successful French films of the 80s. The film's theatrical run lasted a whole year, and during that time it was seen by 9.2 million French viewers.
- The film was based on the real rivalry and friendship between record-breaking divers, Frenchman Jacques Mayol (1927-2001) and Italian Enzo Maiorca (1931-2016). The latter received a slightly altered name, Enzo Molinari, in the film. Unlike the film, they were four years apart in age and never competed face to face.
- Jacques Mayol worked closely with the filmmakers, acting as a technical consultant.
- The majority of the film's shooting took place in the Cyclades archipelago in Greece (Amorgos Island).
- The underwater filming proved particularly grueling – fifteen dives each day. All scenes were filmed without the use of stunt doubles.
- Underwater filming with dolphins was done in the Virgin Islands. The dolphins themselves were flown in from a dolphinarium located on Grassi Key off the coast of Florida.
- Director Luc Besson appears in a cameo as one of the divers.
- The role in the film was the last for renowned American actor Paul Shenar. He died of AIDS at the age of 53 on October 11, 1989.
- Luc Besson struggled for a long time to find the ideal actor for the role of Jacques Mayol. His initial choice was Christopher Lambert, who preferred to star in Michael Cimino's crime drama “The Sicilian” (1987). Next on the list was Mickey Rourke, who declined the offer due to a fear of deep-sea diving. Gérard Lanvin and Mel Gibson also turned down the role. Ultimately, the key role went to Jean-Marc Barr, who was completely unknown at the time.
- For the American theatrical release, the film underwent significant re-editing. Its ending was completely changed, and Eric Serra’s critically acclaimed soundtrack was replaced with a version by Bill Conti specifically written for the American release.
- The original French version had a runtime of 132 minutes. The initial American version was 119 minutes long and received a “PG-13” rating. After re-editing, it was reduced to 118 minutes, achieving an even milder “PG” rating. The version shown in other European countries was also 118 minutes long. The longest director's cut ran 168 minutes and received a strict “R” rating in the United States.
- Luc Besson himself is one of the underwater cinematographers.
- Luc Besson wanted to show the beauty of freediving in his film. And the most spectacular element of freediving is the dive itself. He asked the great diver Enzo Maiorca, who was consulting on the film, which fins he considered the most beautiful, and Maiorca replied that the choice was actually limited. At that time, the most beautiful fins were also the best. These were the first detachable fins with a long, effective blade featuring longitudinal channels that kept the water flow on the blade during the stroke. To this day, these fins are the most recognizable in the world – the Elit model from Hugue Dessault.
- The film is dedicated to Luc Besson's daughter, who became seriously ill during his work on the film.
- The original French version had a runtime of 132 minutes. The initial American version was 119 minutes long and received a “PG-13” rating. After re-editing, it was reduced to 118 minutes, achieving an even milder “PG” rating. The version shown in other European countries was also 118 minutes long. The most complete director’s cut ran 168 minutes and received a strict “R” rating in the US.
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