Meatballs (1979)

Director:

Ivan Reitman

Writers:

Len Blum (written by) and
Daniel Goldberg (written by) ...

Release Date:

29 June 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

We'll Give You One Hell Of A Holiday

Plot:

Wacky hijinks of counselors and campers at a less-than-average summer camp.

Plot Keywords:

First Of Series | Camp | Summer Camp | Underwear On Flagpole | Basketball

Awards:

3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Bill Murray	...	Tripper Harrison
Harvey Atkin	...	Morty
Kate Lynch	...	Roxanne
Russ Banham	...	Crockett
Kristine DeBell	...	A. L.
Sarah Torgov	...	Candace
Jack Blum	...	Spaz
Keith Knight	...	Larry Finkelstein (Fink)
Cindy Girling	...	Wendy
Todd Hoffman	...	Wheels
Margot Pinvidic	...	Jackie
Matt Craven	...	Hardware (as Matt Cravenn)
Norma Dell'Agnese	...	Brenda
Chris Makepeace	...	Rudy
Michael Kirby	...	Eddy

Also Known As:

Arrête de ramer, t'es sur le sable (Canada: French title)
Summer Camp

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Sonolab)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Norway:12 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Camps White Pine & Towhee, Haliburton, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)

Trivia:

According to one of the featurettes on the DVD, several of the shots in the movie were added after initial filming ended. These included the scenes of Rudy and Tripper at the bus station and of them playing blackjack for peanuts. During the time off, Chris Makepeace had entered puberty and had the beginnings of a mustache. Bill Murray decided that it had to go so he took Makepeace over to a sink, lathered him up with soap and shaved off his mustache. So Chris received his first shave from Bill Murray.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning when the children are getting off the buses after arriving at camp you see a kid wearing a scarf and holding a red jacket on the field. A few shots later you see the same child getting off the bus.

Quotes:

Larry Finkelstein: [talking about Spaz and Jackie] How did you make out?
Spaz: Well, we just kind of talked.
Larry Finkelstein: You had her in the woods and you just talked? You didn't do anything. YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
Spaz: I, um, held her hand when we walked home.
Larry Finkelstein: Held her hand? Spaz, you're on your way! Held her hand. In the woods! And it was dark!
Spaz: Yeah.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "American Dad!: The American Dad After School Special (#2.2)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Meatballs

A must see before entering the season of summer!

Meatballs has been a main staple in my family for over 26 years! We saw this movie when it first came out and have seen it dozens of times since. Bill Murray is at his best and is most touching in the scenes where he reaches out to a lonely pre-teen boy and befriends him, while leading his CIT's into once mischievous scheme after another! The cast of characters are fun and zany and you really come to care about them and the relationships they have with each other. This is not another sleazy, dumb, teen sex-fest. It is funny and sweet and just all-around fun. Anyone who sees this will enjoy themselves. It is a must-see. Watch out for Spaz - he is by far the best character! (Especially during the camp social - while Bill Murray hams it up for the camera - just watch Spaz behind him dancing with the poor girl he picks to dance with!) By far, one of my very favorite comedies of all time!