The Big Kahuna

1999 1h 30m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 379

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Three salesmen working for a firm that makes industrial lubricants are waiting in the company's "hospitality suite" at a manufacturers' convention for a "big kahuna" named Dick Fuller to show up, in hopes they can persuade him to place an order that could salvage the company's flagging sales.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Kevin Spacey
Larry Mann
Danny DeVito
Phil Cooper
Peter Facinelli
Bob Walker
Paul Dawson
Bellboy
Christopher Donahue
Bartender (uncredited)
Ron Komora
The Big Kahuna (uncredited)
Frank L. Messina
Business Man (uncredited)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Swanbeck
Writers: Roger Rueff, Jolynn LaCasse
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 53% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

27 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Swanbeck, shot by Anastas N. Michos. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Christopher Young. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peggy Davis shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Kevin Spacey and Danny DeVito and Peter Facinelli carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0189584 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Swanbeck directs. Anastas N. Michos behind the camera. Christopher Young scores. Peggy Davis cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Earned back only 53% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
327 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Directed by John Swanbeck, shot by Anastas N. Michos. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Christopher Young. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Peggy Davis shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Kevin Spacey and Danny DeVito and Peter Facinelli carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0189584 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.