Up in Smoke (1978)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

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 | Mexico | Marijuana | Guitarist | Smuggling

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
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: After Cheech picks up Chong at the beginning, Cheech's ring disappears and reappears and Tommy Chong's bandana shifts position on his head between shots.

Quotes:

[stoned cop walks up to the van, where Pedro and Man have been trying to switch who's driving]
Cop: What do you guys want?
Pedro: Nothing.
Cop: Hey, do you mind if I have a, bite of your hot dog?
Pedro: Huh? No man, here, take the whole thing.
[the cop takes a huge bite]
Pedro: Want some fritos?
Cop: [through a mouthful of hot dog] no, this is fine! Thank you! Hey, you fellas have a nice day, okay?
Man Stoner: Hey man, what was that dude's trip? I mean what was he on, man?
Pedro: Man, I don't know but I wish we had some of it!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Drug Years" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Lost Due To Incompetence

Unless you hate cannabis-comedies, you should enjoy it.

This movie isn't so bad. I've heard from plenty of people that it's stupid, has no plot and is a waste of time. The no plot part I can't defend, because it's mostly Cheech & Chong either smoking weed, or looking for weed. It's no Oscar-winning movie but it's still pretty funny.

I usually enjoy drug-comedies because it's so funny to watch people acting high, because they're acting goofy. And that's funny. Everyone who likes modern drug-comedies ("How High", "Friday" etc.) enjoyed this movie. So if you enjoy the modern stoner movies, no reason you won't love the original.

*** out of *****.

Rated R for drug humor, profanity and sexuality.