The Big Night
“Love! Hate! Murder!”
Synopsis
A young man zigzags through the sordid vortex of downtown Los Angeles while seeking vengeance on the man that beat his father.
Top Cast
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John Drew Barrymore
George La Main (as John Barrymore Jr.)
Preston Foster
Andy La Main
Joan Lorring
Marion Rostina
Howard St. John
Al Judge
Dorothy Comingore
Julie Rostina
Philip Bourneuf
Dr. James Cooper
Howland Chamberlain
Flanagan
Myron Healey
Kennealy
Emile Meyer
Peckinpaugh (as Emil Meyer)
Mauri Lynn
Singer, Terry Angeleus
Robert Aldrich
Ringsider at Fight
Edna Smith
Release History & Theatrical Window
Boston, Massachusetts
Festival / Special Debut
December 7, 1951
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Joseph Losey
- Screenplay & Story
- Hugo Butler, Ring Lardner Jr., Joseph Losey, Stanley Ellin
- Original Score
- Lyn Murray
- Original Title
- The Big Night
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 15m
- Production Studios
- Philip A. Waxman Productions Inc.
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Joseph Losey
Hugo Butler, Ring Lardner Jr., Joseph Losey, Stanley Ellin
Lyn Murray
Hal Mohr
Edward Mann
Philip A. Waxman
Department Leadership Roster
Hal Mohr
Director of Photography
Hugo Butler
Screenplay
Lyn Murray
Original Music Composer
Philip A. Waxman
Producer
Joseph Losey
Director
Ring Lardner Jr.
Screenplay
Joseph Losey
Screenplay
Stanley Ellin
Screenplay
Edward Mann
Editor
Joe King
Costume Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Big Night.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Big Night.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Big Night
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Big Night about?
A young man zigzags through the sordid vortex of downtown Los Angeles while seeking vengeance on the man that beat his father.
Who directed The Big Night?
The Big Night was directed by Joseph Losey.
Who stars in The Big Night?
The principal cast of The Big Night includes John Drew Barrymore, Preston Foster, Joan Lorring, Howard St. John, Dorothy Comingore.
When was The Big Night released and how long is it?
The Big Night was released in 1951 with a total runtime of 1h 15m.
Who composed the musical score for The Big Night?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Big Night was composed by Lyn Murray.
Is The Big Night based on a book or true story?
The Big Night is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Stanley Ellin".