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THE WHOLE SHEBANG
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Canada - United States
2001 / 35 mm / Color / 97 min.
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When an explosion kills Frank Bazinni, heir apparent to the Bazinni family fireworks plant in New Jersey, Papa Bazinni is desperate for another family member to take over the business so that it won't fall into the hands of their hated rivals, the Zitos. He finds a suitable candidate in Naples -- nephew Giovanni Bazinni, an honest and meek young man who makes his living playing the violin in local restaurants. Giovanni isn't especially interested in making fireworks in America but he is willing to learn -- anything to take his mind off Maria, the woman of his dreams who had recently dumped him in favour of a richer suitor. Giovanni doesn't take long to learn the business and he becomes a great comfort to Frank's beautiful young widow Val. Giovanni has been attracted to Val since he first joined the Bazinni household in America, but he is too shy and proper to express his sentiments openly. Instead he bides his time hoping that she will see through the mercenary-cum-amorous overtures being proffered by Joey Zito under the supervision of the scheming Zito matriarch. In the meantime, Giovanni begins acquiring the fireworks knack and soon has his uncle dreaming of a Bazinni return to the international fireworks competition in Naples. Another death in the family and a surprising denouement in the Joey Zito's courtship of Val suddenly places Giovanni in the unaccustomed position of holding his fate in his own hands.
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Script: Jeff Rothberg, George Zaloom.
Phot.: Jacek Laskus.
Ed.: J. Kathleen Gibson.
Mus.: Evan Lurie.
Cast: Stanley Tucci, Bridget Fonda, Giancarlo Giannini, Talia Shire, Anna Maria Alberghetti, John Cassini, Jo Champa, Luisa Cianni.
Prod.: Nick Gillott, Muse Entertainment Enterprises, Montr�al (Canada) / Paul E. Harvey, David Kirkpatrick, Original Voices (�tats-Unis).
Canadian Distributor: Christal Films.
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George Zaloom
Brooklyn-born, New Jersey-raised George Zaloom went west to study at the University of Southern California film school and stayed in Los Angeles to found ZM Productions with classmate Les Mayfield, a company specializing in behind-the-scenes films. He has produced close to 100 TV specials, including the Emmy-nominated All in the Family 20th Reunion and the Emmy-winning Images of Life. Among his other productions are HEARTS OF DARKNESS: A FILMMAKER'S APOCALYPSE (1991) and FRANK CAPRA: AN AMERICAN LEGEND (1998). THE WHOLE SHEBANG marks his directorial debut. |
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