This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Director:

Rob Reiner

Writers:

Christopher Guest (written by) &
Michael McKean (written by) ...

Release Date:

2 March 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

Does for rock and roll what "The Sound of Music" did for hills

Plot:

Spinal Tap, the world's loudest band, is chronicled by hack documentarian Marti DeBergi on what proves to be a fateful tour.

Plot Keywords:

Band | Heavy Metal | Satire | Spoof | Stonehenge

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Rob Reiner	...	Marty DiBergi
Kimberly Stringer	...	Heavy Metal Fan
Chazz Dominguez	...	Heavy Metal Fan
Shari Hall	...	Heavy Metal Fan
R.J. Parnell	...	Mick Shrimpton
David Kaff	...	Viv Savage
Tony Hendra	...	Ian Faith
Michael McKean	...	David St. Hubbins
Christopher Guest	...	Nigel Tufnel
Harry Shearer	...	Derek Smalls
Bruno Kirby	...	Tommy Pischedda
Jean Cromie	...	Ethereal Fan
Patrick Maher	...	New York M.C.
Ed Begley Jr.	...	John 'Stumpy' Pepys
Danny Kortchmar	...	Ronnie Pudding

Also Known As:

This is Spinal Tap®: A Rockumentary by Martin Di Bergi (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.70 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 (TV rating) | Australia:M | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-7 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-8 (original rating) | France:U | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Spinal Tap Prod.

Trivia:

There is a deleted subplot in the movie which explains the cold sores on the band members' lips: the band takes on an opening act for the tour and the lead singer, a slutty girl, sleeps with each bandmember, giving each one herpes in turn.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During "Rock and Roll Creation", when Derek is trapped inside the pod, a roadie is supposedly hammering on it at one point but clearly not making contact at all.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Marty DiBergi: Hello; my name is Marty DiBergi. I'm a filmmaker. I make a lot of commercials. That little dog that chases the covered wagon underneath the sink? That was mine. In 1966, I went down to Greenwich Village, New York City to a rock club called Electric Banana. Don't look for it; it's not there anymore. But that night, I heard a band that for me redefined the word "rock and roll". I remember being knocked out by their...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Comic Relief: The Invasion of the Comic Tomatoes (1993) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Cups And Cakes

Hello Cleaveland! Still one of the funniest films ever and even better on DVD

Spinal Tap seemed funny the first time I saw it, but I never got all the jokes. Now though, I saw it through and through and I loved it even more (especially on DVD where the extras are hilarious). Nearly every gag in the movie is dead pan funny, from the cover of "Smell the Glove" (just the description will make you laugh) to all the others including the three piece guitar solo, the animal costumes ("this is what you'll look like as a crab" is the funniest line of the 80's next to "Frank, they're not here for you, Weird Al is on the plane" in Naked Gun), the backstage food, (of course) the amp that goes to 11 and the 18 inch stonehenge. Satire at one of it's best, and it's excellent. Cameos include Bruno Kirby, Billy Crystal, Dana Carvey, Paul Schaffer and Anjelica Houston. Other best line: you can not do free flow jazz odyssey in front of a festival crowd! A+