Up in Smoke (1978)

Director:

Lou Adler
(more)

Writers:

Tommy Chong (writer)
Cheech Marin (writer)

Release Date:

15 September 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

It will make you feel VERY funny!

Plot:

Two stoners unknowingly smuggle a van - made entirely of marijuana - from Mexico to L.A., with incompetent Sgt. Stedenko on their trail.

Plot Keywords:

Van | Marijuana | Mexico | Dope | Hitch Hiker

Cast

Cheech Marin	...	Pedro De Pacas
Tommy Chong	...	Anthony 'Man' Stoner
Strother Martin	...	Arnold Stoner
Edie Adams	...	Mrs. Tempest Stoner
Harold Fong	...	Chauffeur
Richard Novo	...	Richard
Jane Moder	...	Jail Bait
Pam Bille	...	Jail Bait
Arthur Roberts	...	Arresting Officer
Marian Beeler	...	Judge Gladys Dykes
Donald Hotton	...	Bailiff
John Ian Jacobs	...	Prosecuting Attorney
Christopher Joy	...	Curtis
Ray Vitte	...	James (Bass Player)
Michael Caldwell	...	Duane (Guitar)
José Pulido	...	Juan (1st Trumpet)
Ruben Guevara	...	Tom (2nd Trumpet)
Miguel Murillo	...	Ollie (3rd Trumpet)
Gary Mule Deer	...	Freak with Basketball
Tom Skerritt	...	Strawberry
June Fairchild	...	The Ajax Lady
Stacy Keach	...	Sgt. Stedenko (Narc)
Mills Watson	...	Harry (Narc)
Karl Johnson	...	Clyde - Narc
Rick Beckner	...	Murphy (Narc)
Cheryl Smith	...	Laughing Lady (as Rainbeaux Smith)
Angelina Estrada	...	Aunt Bolita
Ernie Fuentes	...	Upholstery Shop Foreman
Val Avery	...	Upholstery Factory Boss (Hood)
Ben Marino	...	Benny (Hood)
Akemi Kikumura	...	Toyota Kawasaki
Joe Creaghe	...	Border Guard
Roy Stocking	...	Border Guard
Marcia Wolf	...	Sister Vogue (as Marcia I. Wolf)
Andi Nachman	...	Sister Mary Secretary (Nun)
Betty McGuire	...	Sister Mary Quacker (Nun)
Cheryl Jeffrey	...	Sister Mary Arabian (Nun)
Gayna Shernen	...	Sister Mary Mary (Nun)
June Creeghe	...	Sister Mary Yuma (Nun)
Patty Proudfoot	...	Sister Mary Indian (Nun)
Zane Buzby	...	Jade East
Wally Ann Wharton	...	Debbie (as Ann Wharton)
Louisa Moritz	...	Officer Gloria Whitey
Otto Felix	...	Stoned Motorcycle Cop
Rodney Bingenheimer	...	Himself
Kurt Kaufman	...	Roxy Doorman
Wayne Hazelhurst	...	Tow Truck Driver
David Nelson	...	Roxy Doorman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Police officer (scenes deleted)
Ellen Barkin	...	Woman playing guitar (uncredited)

Directed by
Lou Adler
Tommy Chong		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Tommy Chong		writer
Cheech Marin		writer

Produced by
Lou Adler	....	producer
John Beug	....	associate producer
Lou Lombardo	....	producer

Original Music by
Danny Kortchmar		(as Danny 'Kootch' Korchmar)
Lee Oskar
Waddy Wachtel

Cinematography by
Gene Polito

Film Editing by
Scott Conrad

Casting by
Monica Lauer

Art Direction by
Leon Ericksen

Makeup Department
Wes Dawn	....	makeup artist
Lola 'Skip' McNalley	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Mike Moder	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William S. Beasley	....	second assistant director
Mike Moder	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Tony De Cristo	....	set construction
Sidney H. Greenwood	....	property master
Wayne Hazelhurst	....	set construction
Jerry Kobold	....	assistant property master
Sherman Labby	....	production illustrator

Sound Department
Pat Mitchell	....	sound mixer
John Wilkinson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Duncan McEwan	....	sound loader (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sidney Ray Baldwin	....	still photographer
Jules Brenner	....	director of photography: additional photography
Michael Kenner	....	grip
Bill Lindner	....	best boy
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	electrician
Lon Massey III	....	gaffer
Leo J. Napolitano	....	assistant camera
Gaylin P. Schultz	....	key grip
Bernie Schwartz	....	dolly grip
Michael Simpson	....	assistant camera
Jack Willoughby	....	director of photography: additional photography

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ernest Misko	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Lori J. Kranze	....	assistant editor
Barry B. Leirer	....	assistant editor
Lou Lombardo	....	supervising editor

Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Cheryl Jeffrey	....	secretary to the director
Charlotte Richardson	....	researcher
Meryle Selinger	....	auditor

Thanks
Dennis Tufano	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Knott Limited (special effects)

Other Companies

• Berlin Brats  group cast members
• Mayflower Recording  sound effects editing
• Production Systems Inc.  location equipment provided by
• The Dills  group cast members
• The Whores  group cast members

Also Known As:

Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke
Cheech and Chong: Up in Smoke

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1978) | Finland:K-18 (2001) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Sweden:15 | Australia:R | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | France:-16 | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Near the end of the movie, Cheech says "We're gonna be bigger than Ruben & The Jets." This could be a reference to a doo-wop parody album recorded by Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention called "Cruising with Ruben & The Jets." Reportedly, the cover of the album confused many DJ's, and they thought Ruben & The Jets was the name of the band. Most likely, though, it was a reference to the (real) doo-wop band by the same name who formed after Zappa's album was released. They asked for his permission to use his fictitious band name, and not only did he agree, he produced the first album. Ruben and the Jets' singer, Ruben Guevara, appears in the film as Tom, one of the horn players in Cheech & Chong's band.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning, when Cheech picks up Chong, the driver’s side window appears and disappears between cuts.

Quotes:

Sgt. Stedenko: Now just how well do you know that freak with the basketball?
Unknown: Which basketball?
Sgt. Stedenko: Which basketball?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Bang Boom Bang - Ein todsicheres Ding (1999)

Soundtrack:

Earache My Eye

THE definitive stoner flick

First of the Cheech and Chong movies is probably the best overall, with the duo involved in a plot to drive a van constructed entirely of pot across the Mexican border into the US and featuring Cheech singing "Earache my Eye". Lots of laughs (especially for the "inspired" viewers), but definitely not for everyone. The whole movie revolves around drug use, so not a movie for young children, obviously. However, if you don't mind this, you'll probably laugh your you-know-what off.