IMDb > This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
This Is Spinal Tap
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This Is Spinal Tap (1984) More at IMDbPro »

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This Is Spinal Tap (1984) -- Spinal Tap, the world's loudest band, is chronicled by hack documentarian Marti DeBergi on what proves to be a fateful tour.
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) -- MyMovies.Net - Trailer (WM9 -
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) -- MyMovies.Net - Trailer (WM9 - 128kbps)
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) -- MyMovies.Net - Trailer (WM9 - 56kbps)

Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   47,013 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Rob Reiner
Writers:
Christopher Guest (written by) &
Michael McKean (written by) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for This Is Spinal Tap on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 March 1984 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Music more
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. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
2 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(64 articles)
Clash of the Titans Trailer Goes to Hell
 (From E! Online - Movies and Television. 10 November 2009, 8:00 PM, PST)

Clash of the Titans Trailer Goes to Hell
 (From E! Online. 10 November 2009, 8:00 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Should be on the Top 100 of all time more (280 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
This is Spinal Tap®: A Rockumentary by Martin Di Bergi (USA) (complete title)
more
Runtime:
82 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.70 : 1 more
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 more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the scene where Derek comes and gets Nigel and David to come hear a song from their past on the radio, the radio announcer's voice is being supplied by Harry Shearer, who played Derek. more
Goofs:
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Before the Jazz Odyssey scene, David and Viv are discussing the amended (and much shortened) set list. David, when running down the list says "Heavy, Hole..." rather than saying "Heavy Hole" as has been stated here before. This can be seen as a mix up between two other Tap songs, "Heavy Duty" and "Hell Hole", but in reality David is referring to the two songs separately, in a sort of shorthand (using only a portion of each title) as he runs down the list of songs they might be able to play. more
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...
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Ten Inch Hero (2007) more
Soundtrack:
Hell Hole more

FAQ

Is this band real?
How many Spinal Tap albums are there?
Is there a sequel to this film?
more
10 out of 11 people found the following comment useful.
Should be on the Top 100 of all time, 4 August 2007
10/10
Author: amitjusc from Brooklyn, NY

I have seen this movie more times than any other movie ever. When I was 12 or 13, my brother rented it and we watched it 3 times in the same day. At first, I hated it because I didn't know any better, and my brother never "helped" me figure out why it was funny. The second time I watched it, I "got it" and have never been the same person ever since.

First off, the entire film is ad-libbed except for the songs and a few lines; which is the reason that people are talking over each other a lot, requiring repeated viewings to catch everything. It is in documentary format, so it all works for this type of film. The songs are hysterical but catchy at the same time, just like real 80's arena rock and hair metal (well some of it). It certainly helps to be a fan of the rock genre to enjoy the film, or you will miss out on some significant references and the basis for each of the band members.

There are no dull moments in this brisk, 82-minute film, and the sheer number of hysterical cameos (including Fran Drescher, Billy Crystal, Bruno Kirby, Howard Hesseman, Paul Shaffer and Anjelica Huston) kicks the film up to 11 as they all put in stellar performances.

This film should be in the Top 100, no question. On my list, it would be in the Top 10. Of course, American History X is currently rated #41, so that tells you something about the IMDb rating system.

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Message Boards

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Accents foret-chantal
Other good mocumentaries? leavemealone3470
I Just Didn't get it.... respecttheadam
Audio commentary change? cycophuk23
Shoes Worn in the Film dallastetarenko
Anyone ever been to Stonehenge? Ghostiejo
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