the American version was heavily edited and had a score by Bill Conti...

the Director's Cut has the Eric Sierra score...

which one has the 'pan flute' type sounds playing over those long 'copter shots zooming over the ocean... i'm hoping that is the Directors' Cut...

I haven't bought the Director's Cut but I am considering it... and from what i see around the 'net everyone praises the original (not Conti) score more...

but i look on Amazon and see things about the Sierra score being "disco kvitch"?...

can anyone help me on this?...

just buy the boxset from korea. it is r0 and has both versions in the box, plus it has the OST and the director's cut is in DTS. that is of course, if it is not OOP

where would i be able to get that version?...

also no one else on this?...

someone here knows all about this surely...

the Director's Cut being over $20 i just want to make sure before buying....

Unfortunately that Korean "Ultimate" edition is OOP. I believe the theatrical cut on DISC 2 was in a 4:3 aspect ratio anyway.

About the score...

I've always favored Bill Conti's score for The Big Blue, and it definitely contains the pan flute theme you speak of. Infact that very theme, both the opening and closing tracks, are my favorite of the entire score. The Eric Serra score is no slouch, but I just find Conti's much more fitting and beautiful. It's a shame that it has to accompany the shorter version of the film.

But what good is it if you don't hear it yourself? Well here's a little surprise for any interested parties, and that is the full Bill Conti score which is not available ANYWHERE.

At the link below:

-Scroll down to the January 3rd, 2007 entry.
-Click on "The Big Blue" image to proceed to the download
-Click proceed and then on FREE (it's rapidshare so its a pain to get the actual download started - well worth it for this rare soundtrack though)
-Unzip big_blue.zip and enjoy!

Click here!!

Here are the track listings if you want to rename the files:

1. Main Theme
2. Call Of The Deep
3. Danger Below
4. Caribbean
5. Plans
6. A Tender Moment
7. Love In The Moonlight
8. Don't Worry
9. Interlude
10. Sadness
11. Love Theme
12. Fun In The Sun
13. The Dive
14. Under The Sea
15. The Next Day
16. Playful Love
17. Serious Love
18. Love On The Piano
19. Choral Love
20. Back To The Sea
21. Last Dive
22. Finale

Thanks for that download. I have the director's cut, which is great, but I have never liked Eric Serra's score as much. Truly a wonderful movie as well. Awesome!

Gonvik thanks for the link to I am a huge flim-score collector (700 plus).

No problem! Glad to see others are interested in this score as I was. (and that's quite a collection you got there cranberries fan!)

Just re-watched The Big Blue last night as a matter-of-fact. Great movie time and time again, but oh how I wish the U.S. edit would be available (on dvd) just for the score alone.

i KNEW someone would know this...

thanks man...

i had a feeling the Conti score was the one i liked... the 'pan flute'...

i really liked the film...

i still see so many praising the Serra score...

confusing... i'll probably get the Director's cut...

Thanks for the link Gonvik. I too am a film score fan.

I listened to the Conti score and must admit I like them both - for different reasons though, but I haven't seen the U.S. release of the film (with the Conti score) only the Director's Cut.

I see that the studio was responsible for recutting the film (U.S. release) and adding the Conti score. As a film purist I hate when a studio does this - it goes against the Director's vision.


A few months ago I found the 2 disc import version of Le Grand Bleu - Version Integrale (Serra) at a local swap meet for a few $$$.

Hey who think that this flim is very underrated?
I for one think it is I love this movie alot!

Definitely outside of France it is. When people mention Luc Besson's films they praise Leon, La Femme Nikita, and The Fifth Element but leave out The Big Blue. I suppose it's just not their cup of tea. It made a bundle in it's country of origin though. I think I read it was the biggest money maker in the late 80's and played for about a year in theaters in France. Very impressive.

I enjoy it immensely though. I just let myself go for 3 hours and soak myself in the beautiful sights and sounds of it.

Yes, I have both versions. The American one on VHS and the Director's Cut on DVD. Unfortunately, I think the score you are looking for is the hard to find Conti (American) score. Don't listen to what some may tell you about Sierra's score being that much better. (It isn't.) The Director's cut is a superior movie to the American cut, but the scores are both good, abeit in their different ways. Sierra's score sounds like Euro techno (even though it fits), so if you don't like that, stay away.