The piano scene in Big. A perfect pairing of sound & vision

The absolutely charming moment that turned Tom Hanks into a superstar.

Josh wished to be bigger and one day woke up as Tom Hanks, still a 12 year old boy but in a 30 year old body. Finding himself in New York City he takes a job in the MacMillan toy company until he can figure out how to be 12 again. One day in FAO Schwarz, New York's (at the time) biggest toy shop he runs into Mr MacMillan and impresses him with his enthuasiasm about toys. They walk and talk and then they discover an unusual musical instrument.



2 minutes 42 seconds of pure joy. Josh's interest and excitement taking hold. Mr MacMillan's initial embarrassment turning into curiosity before Josh's infectious exuberance takes a hold of him when he realises they both share common ground. Once he steps into the first bars of Heart & Soul you know it's going to be good and before long all pretence of being an adult flies out the window when they both lash into chopsticks. Josh started the film wishing he was big and now ironically Mr MacMillan, the most powerful character in the film is here, half way through the story, reliving his childhood.

Best of all it's a moment that actually moves the story forward too when MacMillan realises Josh has a unique insight into the world of toys and gives him a promotion. A promotion that gives him a taste for money, freedom and adulthood and before long he's forgetting that he's still a child. Becoming an adult ruins us all, let's face it. Plus how much fun is it to see Robert Loggia cutting loose on the piano. He's best known for his tough guy roles in Scarface and The Sopranos and his creepy Mr Eddie in David Lynch's Lost Highway so it's always a joy to see someone like him play against type. 

Director Penny Marshall died last month leaving behind a list of film credits anyone would be proud of. But this is the moment she will always be remembered for. A little piece of magic in a film called Big. Cheers Penny.

Previous pairings

Miller's CrossingThe Blues Brothers
Straight Outta Compton
The Princess Bride
American Honey
Snake In The Eagle's Shadow
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
The Untouchables
Airplane!
Dazed And Confused  
Kickboxer                                  
Grosse Point Blank
Mean Streets
Watership Down
Casablanca
Zodiac
Jackie Brown
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Deliverance
The Omen
Copland
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
The Mission
Before Sunset
Carlito's Way
A Knight's Tale
Platoon
Before Sunrise
Rushmore
An American Werewolf In London
Dazed And Confused
Boogie Nights
Raging Bull
Almost Famous
Once Upon A Time In The West
Goodfellas

Last Of The Mohicans