Back to School (1986)

Director:

Alan Metter

Writers:

Rodney Dangerfield (story) &
Greg Fields (story) ...

Release Date:

13 June 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

Registration starts Friday, June 13, at theaters everywhere.

Plot:

To help his discouraged son get through college, a funloving and obnoxious rich businessman decides to enter the school as a student himself.

Plot Keywords:

College | Party | Millionaire | Reference To Wonder Woman | Dangerous Dive

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Rodney Dangerfield	...	Thornton Melon
Sally Kellerman	...	Dr. Diane Turner
Burt Young	...	Lou
Keith Gordon	...	Jason Melon
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Derek
Paxton Whitehead	...	Dr. Phillip Barbay
Terry Farrell	...	Valerie Desmond
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Coach Turnbull
Adrienne Barbeau	...	Vanessa
William Zabka	...	Chas
Ned Beatty	...	Dean David Martin
Severn Darden	...	Dr. Borozini
Sam Kinison	...	Professor Terguson
Robert Picardo	...	Giorgio
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.	...	Himself

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (prologue) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Netherlands:MG6 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #27622) | New Zealand:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-10 | Iceland:L | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Paper Clip Productions

Trivia:

Alice Cooper's song "The Great American Success Story" was apparently intended to be the theme song. Its lyrics summarize the plot and include "he don't get no respect", and the chorus contains the title phrase. The song was not used in the film, and there is no mention of the connection in the liner notes of the album.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the final dive meet Coach Turnbull is wearing a striped knit tie, while he is at the judges table explaining that Thornton is an eligible member of the dive team, the stripes on the knot of his tie change.

Quotes:

Thornton Melon: Listen, Sherlock. While you were tucked away up here working on your ethics, I was out there busting my hump in the REAL world. And the reason guys like you got a place to teach is 'cause guys like me donate buildings.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Legends: Rodney Dangerfield (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Respect

good natured with a lot of laughs.

I love Rodney Dangerfield. Always have. His one-liners, and all-around smartass attitude have made him a living legend and he never fails to crack me up. Back to School is a great example of what he can do and I never get tired of watching it. Keith Gordon is great as his son and Robert Downey Jr. is pretty hysterical as his best bud. The ever-reliable Burt Young is a lot of fun as Dangerfield's limo-driver/best friend and he does his duty at supplying the laughs.

It's a shame that more people haven't seen this. I believe that it's one of Rodney's best. It's got a great premise, an outstanding cast, and the laughs are nonstop.