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Back to School (1986)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
13 June 1986 (USA)
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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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win
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NewsDesk:
(25 articles)
Exclusive Interview with Dexter Director Keith Gordon
(From shocktillyoudrop. 28 November 2009)
Party Favors: Seeing Red
(From Quick Stop. 18 November 2009, 1:51 AM, PST)
(From shocktillyoudrop. 28 November 2009)
Party Favors: Seeing Red
(From Quick Stop. 18 November 2009, 1:51 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Prime Rodney Dangerfield With Strong Supporting Cast
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | 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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
96 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Black and White (prologue) |
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The original music score for the movie was composed by band leader Danny Elfman of Oingo Boingo. The band was featured performing their song "Dead Man's Party" at Thornton Melon's dorm party.
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Oingo Boingo performs at the party, the music is obviously the pre-recorded studio version of the song.
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Quotes:
Executive #2:
The toy division has come up with a new doll idea to go along with our children's clothing line. We call them Melon Patch Kids. Now, the competition exploits the notion that their dolls are orphans. The Melon Patch Kids are not orphans... they're abandoned! We think it's a winner.
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Movie Connections:
Featured in Rodney Dangerfield: Opening Night at Rodney's Place (1989) (TV)
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Soundtrack:
Dead Man's Party
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FAQ
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This in many ways is the best Dangerfield film. Harold Ramis is genius in working in a lot of Dangerfield quips into the script. The movie flows well, and the supporting cast is appropriate & stronger than any of Rodney's other films.
Sally Kellerman is in her best form since M*A*S*H as the English Professor who is Rodney's love interest. Robert Downey Jr. is cast perfectly as a character who resembles him in real life - a drugged out pacifist who protests campus life & all about it without knowing what message he is really sending. The actors who play straight men for Rodney from Dean Martin to the Business Professor are perfectly cast.
The late Sam Kinneson is perfect in his small role in this as the History Professor. Wish he could have done more work like this. If there any extra scenes of him cut in this film, it would be great if they could be restored.
Harold Ramis, who also did work ranging from GHOSTBUSTERS (trendy) to GROUND HOG DAY (classic), touches show in the script. He works Rodney's character in perfect & the plot shows some of the imagination that makes Bill Murrays classic comedy so great. He allows Rodney to be himself, but frames his character so well that he is a perfect a fit as the clothing store Mellon runs.
Special kudos to Mellon's son, as he plays straight very well to his dad. Weakest of the cast is the girlfriend, but she is not given quite enough script to work with here so she makes do with what she has. At least she does OK with it.
All the characters show a lot of class & this film is a fine comedy from start to finish.