BIG TROUBLE

US, 1985, 93 minutes, Colour.
Alan Arkin, Peter Falk, Beverly D'Angelo, Charles Durning, Robert Stack.
Directed by John Cassavetes.

Big Trouble is a comedy spoof written by Andrew Bergman (Blazing Saddles, The In-Laws?, So Fine, The Freshman). There were production difficulties during filming, Bergman was removed as director and John Cassavetes (friend of star Peter Falk) replaced him. Bergman removed his name from the credits, substituting a pseudonym, Warren Bogle.

The film is not exactly a John Cassavetes film, generally long, serious explorations of human nature and interactions. Rather, this is a spoof of the 1944 classic, Double Indemnity, written and directed by Billy Wilder. The film takes the core as the plot - but then moves on to farcical variations of the caper film. The film re-teams Alan Arkin and Peter Falk (from The In-Laws) and has a good supporting cast with Beverley D'Angelo as Falk's wife, Charles Durning as an executive, Robert Stack as the president of the company.

The film is farcical in tone, has verbal wit - but, somehow or other, it doesn't quite jell.

1.Entertaining comedy spoof? The signs of troubled production?

2.The American city, lifestyles, families and homes, business? The background of terrorism?

3.The title and its irony? The spoof of Double Indemnity, the twists of the plot, greed, crime, the touches of screwball comedy and farce, terrorism? The nice ending?

4.The plausibility of the plot, the cartoon-like characters and situations? Verbal and visual humour? Slapstick?

5.Alan Arkin as Leonard: in himself, his work, his wife and her mounting hysteria, the interaction with the children, their music talents, singing harmony? His hopes for Yale? His insurance work, at the office, the president? Persuading people? The loan, the president advising him about his money? His diligence in accounting? Getting on edge?

6.The portrait of the family, the character of Leonard's wife, dealing with the children, with himself, with the crises? The children - blithely oblivious? Musical talent?

7.The president, his Yale connections, his tough stances? O'Mara and his advice, assessments, pleasant, trying to be helpful?

8.Blanche and her charm, comic style? Her relationship with Steve? His illness? Leonard's visit, her seductive style, the plot, the possibility of a mercy killing? The plan, devising the detail, on the train (and the comic delay with Paul Dooley and his discussions)? Leonard off the train, the body? The perfect crime? Blanche and her claims, the lawyer - and Leonard recognising him?

9.The revelation of the plot, Leonard caught up in it, the explanations, Steve being pleasant about the whole plan, trying to get another corpse, the body-stealing, the plan for the autopsy, the premature burial, the farce with the corpse? The president and his surprise, O'Mara, the discovery of what was happening, the kidnapping of O'Mara?

10.O'Mara as a pleasant man, nice, concerned about Leonard, the kidnapping, the indignity?

11.The plan for the burglary, the president's house, Leonard arriving, the plan with Steve, the party, the surprise, their being ousted?

12.The plan to rob the safe, the arrival of the terrorists, the farcical confusion, the police? Leonard and Steve and their heroism? O'Mara helping? Winslow's gratitude and his offering the money? The nice ending at the Yale recital?

12.American style humour, farce? The film considered a misfire?