Family Business (film)
Encyclopedia
Family Business is a 1989 film directed by Sidney Lumet
with a screenplay
by Vincent Patrick
, based on his novel. It stars Sean Connery
, Dustin Hoffman
and Matthew Broderick
.
) is a widower, a tough guy and proud of his past as a career criminal (now semi-retired). He raised his son Vito (Dustin Hoffman
) to follow in his footsteps, but Vito went straight once he had a son of his own, Adam.
Over the years, Vito became ashamed of his family's criminal past. He went into a legitimate business and has tried to raise his son right, which in his mind means keeping young Adam (Matthew Broderick
) away from his deadbeat grandfather. Little does Vito know that this strategy has backfired; the mystery surrounding Jessie has caused Adam to idolize him.
Now that Adam is grown, he is in college with a scientific grant and has a bright future. So when he unveils a scheme for a burglary, Vito is shocked and disappointed. He warns his son not to pursue this crime and even slaps his face to drive home the point. This pushes Adam even closer to his grandfather, who can't wait to take a shot at a million-dollar payday.
Vito is distressed, but not uninterested. The more he hears about the scheme, the more tempted he becomes to have three generations of McMullens embark on one great criminal adventure. And, in the process, he can watch out for Adam along the way.
The plan to steal valuable scientific research from a lab backfires horribly when Adam dashes back into the building to retrieve an important ledger, setting off an alarm on his way out. Vito and Jessie can only watch helplessly from afar as Adam is captured by the police.
The only way for Vito to get his son's sentence reduced or suspended is to inform on his own father. Vito's wife instructs him to do exactly that -- and, if necessary, go to jail himself as well.
Vito and Jessie hire an expensive lawyer. Discovering that the vials contained nothing but water and that the scientific research they stole had been faked, Jessie tracks down Adam's accomplice from the lab and makes him pay.
A judge finds all three McMullens to be at fault, but after generously placing both Vito and his son on probation, he throws the book at Jessie, tantamount to a life sentence.
Adam visits his grandfather devotedly in jail while banning Vito from his life. Vito's explanations that he did what he did for Adam's own good fall on deaf ears.
Jessie dies in prison, Vito arriving minutes too late to say a last goodbye. He agrees with Adam that the most fun they have had as a family was the robbery. Together they give Jessie a grand sendoff.
Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumet was an American director, producer and screenwriter with over 50 films to his credit. He was nominated for the Academy Award as Best Director for 12 Angry Men , Dog Day Afternoon , Network and The Verdict...
with a screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
by Vincent Patrick
Vincent Patrick
Vincent Patrick is the author of the cult crime novels The Pope of Greenwich Village and Family Business. He adapted both novels for the screen. The Pope of Greenwich Village, starring Mickey Rourke, was released in 1984...
, based on his novel. It stars Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
, Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters....
and Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
.
Plot synopsis
Jessie McMullen (Sean ConnerySean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
) is a widower, a tough guy and proud of his past as a career criminal (now semi-retired). He raised his son Vito (Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters....
) to follow in his footsteps, but Vito went straight once he had a son of his own, Adam.
Over the years, Vito became ashamed of his family's criminal past. He went into a legitimate business and has tried to raise his son right, which in his mind means keeping young Adam (Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
) away from his deadbeat grandfather. Little does Vito know that this strategy has backfired; the mystery surrounding Jessie has caused Adam to idolize him.
Now that Adam is grown, he is in college with a scientific grant and has a bright future. So when he unveils a scheme for a burglary, Vito is shocked and disappointed. He warns his son not to pursue this crime and even slaps his face to drive home the point. This pushes Adam even closer to his grandfather, who can't wait to take a shot at a million-dollar payday.
Vito is distressed, but not uninterested. The more he hears about the scheme, the more tempted he becomes to have three generations of McMullens embark on one great criminal adventure. And, in the process, he can watch out for Adam along the way.
The plan to steal valuable scientific research from a lab backfires horribly when Adam dashes back into the building to retrieve an important ledger, setting off an alarm on his way out. Vito and Jessie can only watch helplessly from afar as Adam is captured by the police.
The only way for Vito to get his son's sentence reduced or suspended is to inform on his own father. Vito's wife instructs him to do exactly that -- and, if necessary, go to jail himself as well.
Vito and Jessie hire an expensive lawyer. Discovering that the vials contained nothing but water and that the scientific research they stole had been faked, Jessie tracks down Adam's accomplice from the lab and makes him pay.
A judge finds all three McMullens to be at fault, but after generously placing both Vito and his son on probation, he throws the book at Jessie, tantamount to a life sentence.
Adam visits his grandfather devotedly in jail while banning Vito from his life. Vito's explanations that he did what he did for Adam's own good fall on deaf ears.
Jessie dies in prison, Vito arriving minutes too late to say a last goodbye. He agrees with Adam that the most fun they have had as a family was the robbery. Together they give Jessie a grand sendoff.
Cast
- Sean ConnerySean ConnerySir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
- Jessie McMullen - Dustin HoffmanDustin HoffmanDustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters....
- Vito McMullen - Matthew BroderickMatthew BroderickMatthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
- Adam McMullen - Rosanna DeSotoRosanna DeSotoRosanna DeSoto is a Mexican-American actress who has performed in films and television. She is best known for her role in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country as Azetbur, the daughter of Klingon Chancellor Gorkon....
- Elaine McMullen (as Rosana DeSoto) - Janet Carroll - Margie (Jessie's girl)
- Victoria JacksonVictoria JacksonVictoria Jackson is an American comedian, actress, satirist and singer best known as a cast member of the NBC television sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1992....
- Christine (Adam's girl) - Bill McCutcheonBill McCutcheonJames William McCutcheon was an American character actor known for his roles in film, television, and theatre, several of which won him Emmy and Tony awards....
- Danny Doheny (bar owner) - Deborah RushDeborah RushDeborah Rush is an American actress.Rush has worked in television, film and on Broadway. In 1984, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for Michael Frayn's comedy Noises Off. She also acted in Stephen Adly Guirgis' The Last Days of Judas Iscariot...
- Michele Dempsey (Adam's lawyer)