266:
trafficking together and both had a grievance against a drug dealer living in Spain, but, due to the importance of this particular dealer, neither wanted to be the one responsible for his death due to potential reprimands. As such, it was decided that a bare-knuckle fight would take place, with the loser having to complete the assassination and be responsible for any potential criminal underworld reprimands or punishments.
246:
fight dirty too in order to survive. Danny instructs
Frankie to take his dog back to Beth and say hello to his children for him, but whilst doing so Frankie sees Beth going out with another man, Gordon. Unable to leave the dog with Beth, Frankie throws the dog in the river and lies to Danny about the incident. That night the dog finds his way back to Danny. Furious at Frankie, Danny leaves the hotel.
807:
38:
237:
Whilst visiting the local pub, Danny meets his old friend
Frankie. Frankie has deliberately visited the pub with Mr Mason, who is implied to be involved in organised crime, in an attempt to show off Danny's ability to fight. Mason orders his foot soldier Billy to purposely start a fight with Danny to
273:
Danny races back to his house to find it now empty. On the street, Danny weeps on his knees as Mason drives up. As Mason approaches Danny, Beth, her children and most of the village crowd the street, standing in solidarity with Danny. As Mason makes threats to Danny, Beth repeats them for all of the
257:
Danny is taken to the fight, which takes place in an abandoned ship-yard. Danny's opponent is a man called Cutty Dawson, who is blind in one eye. The rules are made clear - the last man standing wins. The pair engage in a long and brutal slog, with Dawson engaging in dirty tactics. Unable to keep up
245:
Arriving in
Glasgow, Danny brings his dog along and stays in a hotel with Frankie, beginning training the next day. Danny states that he will fight with honour and not lower himself by training to fight dirty. His trainer tells him his opponent will fight dirty and that Danny will inevitably have to
233:
In the mid-eighties, Danny
Scoular marries Beth. Several years later, the couple have two children and Danny is a striking miner, who is sentenced to six months in prison for assaulting a police officer during a protest. Upon his release, the mine in his Scottish village has closed and he is banned
269:
Danny makes his way back to his village to discover Beth and his children have returned but Beth will not allow Danny or his 'blood-money' in the house. Danny, with nowhere else to go, visits his former coal mine. He spots
Frankie nearby, who has been slashed across his face as punishment, and who
261:
Whilst at Mason's home recuperating, he is offered cocaine by Mason's daughter. Dawson's brother arrives and attempts to enter the house but is prevented. Dawson's brother reveals that Danny has now completely blinded Dawson in the fight and tells Danny where to find him. Danny confronts Mason for
241:
Danny begins training with
Frankie. Whilst out training, Danny sees that Beth has taken their children on a bus out of the village to stay in Glasgow with her parents. In an attempt to get Beth back, Danny goes for a job interview to prove he can hold down a steady job but after exchanging insults
265:
Danny forces
Frankie to drive him to the hospital where Dawson is staying. Frankie tells him that unless he gives the money back immediately both of them will be murdered. At Dawson's hospital bedside, Danny asks what the purpose of the fight was. Dawson reveals that Mason and Colvin were in drug
224:
Set in a once prosperous mining community, now a ghost town, an unemployed miner who was imprisoned for his part in the miner's strike is released from jail, and in order to make some money agrees to take part in a boxing fight. However, he discovers the real implications of the fight, and finds
253:
The next morning, Mason and
Frankie wait for Danny to turn up to the gym, unsure whether he will. When Danny does appear, he challenges everyone in the gym to a fight, and after a partner is found, Danny is punched to the floor. In an attempt to motivate him, Danny is taken to Mason's childhood
254:
neighbourhood and introduced to the children playing in the rubble who have become drug addicts. Mason reveals that Danny's opponent in the bare-knuckle fight will be fighting on behalf of Cam Colvin, a drug trafficker, and that if Danny wins the fight it will put Colvin out of business.
262:
his money. Mason opens a safe to reveal a huge quantity of money inside. After Danny asks what Dawson will get money-wise, Mason begins to taunt Danny and throw money at him which leads Danny to lose his temper and knock Mason out. Danny decides to take all of the money in the safe.
439:
described the film as "one of
Britain's finest existential thrillers in ages...There are minor flaws, but as a portrait of one man's desperate struggle to survive against all odds, the film is tough, taut and intelligently critical of the man's world it depicts."
238:
test his fighting skills. Danny wins the fight. He returns home to Beth, having been paid a large sum of money by Mason to engage in a bare-knuckle fight in several weeks' time. Beth is uneasy about this and fears for Danny's safety.
249:
Whilst visiting a club, Danny sees Beth with Gordon. Distraught and angry, he leaves the club, pursued by an equally angry
Frankie. Whilst arguing, Danny tells Frankie the fight is off. That night, Beth and Gordon have sex.
258:
with Dawson, Danny is forced to listen to his trainer and fight dirty, targeting Dawson's eyes before smashing his head numerous times on the concrete floor and kicking him in the face. Danny is declared the winner.
274:
village to hear. Knowing that any subsequent retaliations against Danny could implicate him, Mason and his foot-soldiers leave. The village crowd around the Scoular family as they embrace and are reunited.
242:
with the manager Danny returns to training for the fight. As he is to leave the village for Glasgow, most of the village residents gather the streets to see him off and wish him luck.
472:
270:
has led Mason and his foot soldiers to the location. Danny hands the money back to Mason, who reveals that he has already visited Danny's wife and children.
538:
290:. while filming the main cast stayed in spare rooms of families in Douglas and Coalburn. Both Billy and Liam stayed at Springhill Crescent in Douglas.
844:
888:
893:
722:
898:
430:
556:
493:
744:
878:
837:
903:
20:
883:
524:"Crossing the Line (1991) - David Leland | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie"
908:
715:
868:
776:
830:
752:
873:
473:"Back to the Future: The Fall and Rise of the British Film Industry in the 1980s - An Information Briefing"
497:
708:
623:"The Big Man – review | cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online"
863:
435:
390:
209:
234:
from mining regardless, having to rely on Beth to bring in a wage in order to support the family.
660:
330:
213:
401:
684:
426:
814:
784:
695:
689:
205:
102:
604:
564:
501:
768:
449:
384:
360:
312:
306:
201:
197:
89:
79:
61:
857:
622:
366:
342:
324:
112:
523:
732:
372:
354:
348:
189:
51:
433:, but to little avail: the picture is "pumped-up" yet irredeemably dull." whereas
37:
700:
586:
452:
and grossed £24,727 in its opening week. It went on to gross £268,000 in the UK.
421:
300:
193:
74:
336:
318:
84:
640:
378:
494:"Explore film & TV > Films, TV and people > The Big Man (1990)"
283:
678:
806:
539:"William McIlvanney: Flower of Scotland and a Big Man in every sense"
287:
704:
425:
wrote "the script turns cartwheels to gain resonance from
225:
himself caught up with the Glaswegian gangland society.
818:
167:
159:
151:
141:
118:
108:
98:
67:
57:
47:
30:
188:) is a 1990 British sports drama film directed by
813:This article about a sports-related film is a
658:"'Weekend' boosts Gallic b.o.; 'Heart' weak".
838:
716:
397:Villager ((Wee boy running)) Douglas Curivan
8:
845:
831:
723:
709:
701:
587:"Filming of The Big Man, 1990 in Coalburn"
36:
27:
461:
404:as marauding villager/ Original Big Man
467:
465:
7:
803:
801:
204:. The film's score was composed by
817:. You can help Knowledge (XXG) by
14:
805:
664:. 10 September 1990. p. 36.
889:Films scored by Ennio Morricone
605:"The Big Man Filming Locations"
894:Films directed by David Leland
1:
526:– via www.allmovie.com.
899:1990s English-language films
21:The Big Man (disambiguation)
591:www.coalburnheritage.org.uk
925:
800:
42:Promotional release poster
18:
739:
35:
16:1990 film by David Leland
127:31 August 1990
448:The film opened at the
282:Filmed at locations in
609:British Film Locations
498:British Film Institute
480:British Film Institute
307:Joanne Whalley-Kilmer
80:Joanne Whalley-Kilmer
879:British boxing films
557:"The Big Man (1990)"
212:of the same name by
19:For other uses, see
904:1990s British films
482:. 2005. p. 19.
884:Mining in Scotland
777:Concert for George
745:Wish You Were Here
731:Films directed by
645:Time Out Worldwide
415:Critical reception
214:William McIlvanney
909:Sports film stubs
826:
825:
795:
794:
327:as Margaret Mason
208:. It is based on
185:Crossing the Line
175:
174:
916:
869:1990 drama films
847:
840:
833:
809:
802:
785:Virgin Territory
725:
718:
711:
702:
666:
665:
655:
649:
648:
637:
631:
630:
619:
613:
612:
601:
595:
594:
583:
577:
576:
574:
572:
567:on 10 March 2017
563:. Archived from
553:
547:
546:
534:
528:
527:
520:
514:
513:
511:
509:
504:on 10 March 2017
500:. Archived from
490:
484:
483:
477:
469:
369:as Beth's mother
363:as Beth's father
303:as Danny Scoular
134:
132:
40:
28:
924:
923:
919:
918:
917:
915:
914:
913:
854:
853:
852:
851:
798:
796:
791:
735:
729:
696:Rotten Tomatoes
675:
670:
669:
657:
656:
652:
639:
638:
634:
621:
620:
616:
603:
602:
598:
585:
584:
580:
570:
568:
555:
554:
550:
543:The Irish Times
536:
535:
531:
522:
521:
517:
507:
505:
492:
491:
487:
475:
471:
470:
463:
458:
446:
417:
412:
407:
333:as Tommy Brogan
309:as Beth Scoular
296:
280:
231:
222:
206:Ennio Morricone
144:
137:
130:
128:
121:
103:Ennio Morricone
94:
43:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
922:
920:
912:
911:
906:
901:
896:
891:
886:
881:
876:
874:Scottish films
871:
866:
856:
855:
850:
849:
842:
835:
827:
824:
823:
810:
793:
792:
790:
789:
781:
773:
769:The Land Girls
765:
757:
749:
740:
737:
736:
730:
728:
727:
720:
713:
705:
699:
698:
687:
674:
673:External links
671:
668:
667:
650:
632:
614:
596:
578:
548:
537:Wright, Bert.
529:
515:
485:
460:
459:
457:
454:
450:Odeon West End
445:
442:
416:
413:
411:
408:
406:
405:
395:
394:
388:
385:Maurice Roeves
382:
376:
370:
364:
361:Johnny Beattie
358:
352:
346:
340:
334:
328:
322:
316:
313:Billy Connolly
310:
304:
297:
295:
292:
286:, Glasgow and
279:
276:
230:
227:
221:
218:
210:the 1986 novel
202:Billy Connolly
198:Joanne Whalley
173:
172:
169:
165:
164:
161:
157:
156:
155:United Kingdom
153:
149:
148:
145:
142:
139:
138:
136:
135:
124:
122:
119:
116:
115:
110:
109:Distributed by
106:
105:
100:
96:
95:
93:
92:
90:Billy Connolly
87:
82:
77:
71:
69:
65:
64:
62:Don Macpherson
59:
55:
54:
49:
45:
44:
41:
33:
32:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
921:
910:
907:
905:
902:
900:
897:
895:
892:
890:
887:
885:
882:
880:
877:
875:
872:
870:
867:
865:
862:
861:
859:
848:
843:
841:
836:
834:
829:
828:
822:
820:
816:
811:
808:
804:
799:
787:
786:
782:
779:
778:
774:
771:
770:
766:
763:
762:
758:
755:
754:
750:
747:
746:
742:
741:
738:
734:
726:
721:
719:
714:
712:
707:
706:
703:
697:
693:
692:
688:
686:
682:
681:
677:
676:
672:
663:
662:
654:
651:
646:
642:
641:"The Big Man"
636:
633:
628:
624:
618:
615:
610:
606:
600:
597:
592:
588:
582:
579:
566:
562:
558:
552:
549:
544:
540:
533:
530:
525:
519:
516:
503:
499:
495:
489:
486:
481:
474:
468:
466:
462:
455:
453:
451:
443:
441:
438:
437:
432:
429:'s duel with
428:
424:
423:
414:
409:
403:
400:
399:
398:
392:
391:Denise Nelson
389:
387:as Cam Colvin
386:
383:
380:
377:
374:
371:
368:
367:Amanda Walker
365:
362:
359:
356:
353:
350:
347:
344:
343:Kenny Ireland
341:
338:
335:
332:
329:
326:
325:Juliet Cadzow
323:
321:as Matt Mason
320:
317:
314:
311:
308:
305:
302:
299:
298:
293:
291:
289:
285:
277:
275:
271:
267:
263:
259:
255:
251:
247:
243:
239:
235:
228:
226:
219:
217:
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
186:
181:
180:
171:£268,000 (UK)
170:
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
146:
140:
126:
125:
123:
117:
114:
113:Miramax Films
111:
107:
104:
101:
97:
91:
88:
86:
83:
81:
78:
76:
73:
72:
70:
66:
63:
60:
56:
53:
50:
46:
39:
34:
29:
26:
22:
819:expanding it
812:
797:
783:
775:
767:
760:
759:
753:Checking Out
751:
743:
733:David Leland
690:
679:
659:
653:
644:
635:
626:
617:
608:
599:
590:
581:
569:. Retrieved
565:the original
560:
551:
542:
532:
518:
506:. Retrieved
502:the original
488:
479:
447:
434:
427:Mrs Thatcher
420:
418:
396:
373:Peter Mullan
355:Julie Graham
349:George Rossi
281:
272:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
223:
190:David Leland
184:
183:
178:
177:
176:
143:Running time
120:Release date
52:David Leland
25:
761:The Big Man
691:The Big Man
680:The Big Man
627:Radio Times
422:Radio Times
301:Liam Neeson
194:Liam Neeson
192:. It stars
182:(US title:
179:The Big Man
75:Liam Neeson
58:Produced by
48:Directed by
31:The Big Man
864:1990 films
858:Categories
508:5 November
456:References
444:Box office
431:the miners
402:Alan Baird
393:as Running
357:as Melanie
337:Hugh Grant
331:Tom Watson
319:Ian Bannen
315:as Frankie
278:Production
168:Box office
147:93 minutes
131:1990-08-31
85:Ian Bannen
571:10 August
410:Reception
379:Pat Roach
339:as Gordon
436:Time Out
381:as Billy
375:as Vince
351:as Eddie
284:Coalburn
220:Synopsis
160:Language
99:Music by
68:Starring
661:Variety
345:as Tony
163:English
152:Country
129: (
788:(2007)
780:(2003)
772:(1998)
764:(1990)
756:(1988)
748:(1987)
476:(PDF)
288:Spain
815:stub
685:IMDb
573:2023
510:2020
419:The
294:Cast
229:Plot
200:and
694:at
683:at
561:BFI
860::
643:.
625:.
607:.
589:.
559:.
541:.
496:.
478:.
464:^
216:.
196:,
846:e
839:t
832:v
821:.
724:e
717:t
710:v
647:.
629:.
611:.
593:.
575:.
545:.
512:.
133:)
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.