Back to School (1986)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Alan Metter

Writers:

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

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
Edie McClurg	...	Marge Sweetwater
Sarah Abrell	...	Sorority Girl
Dana Allison	...	Young Woman
Boris Aplon	...	Tony Meloni
Nora Boland	...	Agnes
Kimberlin Brown	...	Girl in Dorm Hallway
Lisa Denton	...	Lisa
Bob Drew	...	Contractor
Holly Hayes	...	Girl in the Crowd
Jason Hervey	...	Young Thornton
Leslie Scarborough	...	Coed #1 (as Leslie Huntly)
James Ingersoll	...	Judge
Michael McGrady	...	Player #1
Santos Morales	...	Bartender
Beth Peters	...	Mrs. Stuyvesant
Phil Rubenstein	...	Executive #1
Timothy Stack	...	Trendy Man
Steve Sweeney	...	Security Guard
Stacey Toten	...	Hot Tub Girl
John William Young	...	Executive #2 (as John Young)
Brad Zutaut	...	Petey
Josh Saylor	...	Student in Diane's Class
William Grauer	...	Drunken Student
Kristen Aldrich	...	Girl in Diane's Class
Becky LeBeau	...	Bubbles the Hot Tub Girl (as Beck LeBeau)
Tricia Hill	...	Lisa's Friend
Jill D. Merin	...	Girl at Dorm Party
John William James	...	Man in Stands (as John James)
Eric Alver	...	Student at Fraternity Party
Theresa Lyons	...	Cashier
Dallas Winkler	...	Rodettes
Lisa Montgomery	...	Rodettes (as Lisa Le Cover)
Kimberlee Carlson	...	Rodettes
Curtis Stone	...	Twist & Shout Band Member
Michael Reid	...	Twist & Shout Band Member
Cactus Moser	...	Twist & Shout Band Member
Brian O'Dougherty	...	Twist & Shout Band Member
Davey Faragher	...	Twist & Shout Band Member
Cliffie Stone	...	Twist & Shout Band Member
Danny Elfman	...	Oingo Boingo Band Member
Leon Schneiderman	...	Oingo Boingo Band Member
Steve Bartek	...	Oingo Boingo Band Member (as Steven Bartek)
Dale Turner	...	Oingo Boingo Band Member
Johnny 'Vatos' Hernandez	...	Oingo Boingo Band Member (as John Hernandez)
John Avila	...	Oingo Boingo Band Member
Sam Phipps	...	Oingo Boingo Band Member
Mike Bacich	...	Oingo Boingo Band Member
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
J. Cynthia Brooks	...	Girl in jacuzzi (uncredited)
Shannon Dunn	...	Girl (uncredited)
Randi Randolph	...	Hot Tub Girl #2 (uncredited)
Tracy Wolfgram Walker	...	Student (uncredited)
Scott Wilder	...	Football Player #2 (uncredited)

Directed by
Alan Metter

Writing credits
Rodney Dangerfield		(story) &
Greg Fields		(story) &
Dennis Snee		(story)
Steven Kampmann		(screenplay) &
William Porter		(screenplay) (as Will Porter) and
Peter Torokvei		(screenplay) &
Harold Ramis		(screenplay)
Rich Eustis		uncredited

Produced by
Estelle Endler	....	executive producer
Michael Endler	....	executive producer
Harold Ramis	....	executive producer
Chuck Russell	....	producer

Original Music by
Danny Elfman
Peter D. Kaye

Cinematography by
Thomas E. Ackerman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Rawlins

Casting by
Caro Jones
Melissa Skoff

Production Design by
David L. Snyder

Set Decoration by
Linda DeScenna		(as Linda De Scenna)

Costume Design by
Durinda Wood

Makeup Department
Hallie D'Amore	....	head makeup artist
Donna Barrett Gilbert	....	key hair stylist
Janna Phillips	....	assistant makeup artist (as Janna Barbara Phillips)

Production Management
Chuck Russell	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dustin Bernard	....	second second assistant director
Robert P. Cohen	....	first assistant director
Steve Cohen	....	second assistant director
Michael Looney	....	second assistant director: second unit
David Rawlins	....	second unit director
Jerry Sobul	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Jerald B. Sobul)

Art Department
David Aaron	....	assistant props
Stan Ascough	....	property master: second unit (as Stanley Ascough)
Carlos Burbano	....	greensman
Greg John Callas	....	propmaker foreman (as Greg Callas)
Steve Callas	....	propmaker foreman
Bruce J. Gfeller	....	construction coordinator
Dick Girod	....	paint foreman
Steven Curtis Husch	....	set dresser (as Steve Husch)
Scott L. London	....	assistant property master
Tom McCown	....	set dresser
Ric McElvin	....	leadman
Margie Stone McShirley	....	assistant art director (as Marjorie Stone McShirley)
David Q. Quick	....	property master (as David Quick)
David Russell	....	production illustrator
Edmund Silkaitis	....	set designer
Mike Wells	....	propmaker

Sound Department
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley walker (as Vanessa Ament)
Gary C. Bourgeois	....	sound re-recording mixer: dialogue (as Gary Bourgeois)
Neil Brody	....	sound re-recording mixer
Neil Burrow	....	sound editor
Chris Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Melinda Cooke	....	apprentice sound editor
Gordon Davidson	....	sound editor
Mark Gordon	....	sound editor (as Mark S. Gordon)
Hilda Hodges	....	foley walker
Fred Judkins	....	supervising sound editor
James J. Klinger	....	sound editor
James Matheny	....	sound editor (as Jim Matheny)
Tom C. McCarthy	....	supervising sound editor (as Tom McCarthy)
Bill Nelson	....	sound mixer (as William Nelson)
Mychal Smith	....	cable person
Jules Strasser	....	boom operator
Don S. Walden	....	sound editor
Burton Weinstein	....	adr editor

Special Effects by
Michael Lantieri	....	special effects supervisor
Tim Moran	....	assistant special effects (as Timothy J. Moran)

Visual Effects by
Rocco Gioffre	....	matte artist

Stunts
Pete Antico	....	stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (as Gregory Barnett)
Todd Bryant	....	stunts
Dana Burgess	....	stunt diver: Tandem
Hal Burton	....	stunts (as Harold Burton)
Justin De Rosa	....	stunts (as Justin De Rosa)
David Draves	....	stunt diver
Tom Elliott	....	stunts
Gary Epper	....	stunts
Richard Epper	....	stunts
Allan Graf	....	stunts
Carlos A. Herzer	....	stunts
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts
Hugh Hooker	....	stunts
Gary Hymes	....	stunts
Mark Lindout	....	stunt diver
Jim Mantrell	....	stunt diver: A.E. #1
Anderson Martin	....	stunts
Abbe Masel	....	stunt diver: Tandem
Don McGovern	....	stunts (as Don Charles McGovern)
John Meier	....	stunts (as John C. Meier)
William Oliver	....	stunts
Noon Orsatti	....	stunts
Mike Ostavich	....	stunt diver
Manny Perry	....	stunts
Chuck Picerni Jr.	....	stunts (as Charles Picerni Jr.)
Steve Picerni	....	stunts (as Steven Picerni)
Carol Rees	....	stunts
Cyndi Lee Rice	....	stunts
Michael Runyard	....	stunts
Spike Silver	....	stunts
Dan Walter	....	stunt diver: A.E. #2
Dean Wein	....	stunts
Scott Wilder	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunt coordinator
Bruce Comtois	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jamie Anderson	....	camera operator: second unit (as James Anderson)
Laurin Benson	....	grip
Michael W. Blymyer	....	lighting technician (as Michael W. Blymer)
Dan Delgado	....	best boy electric
Jeff Goldenberg	....	second assistant camera
Allan Gornick Jr.	....	underwater camera operator: second unit (as Alan Gornick Jr.)
Allan Gornick Jr.	....	underwater cinematographer
Danny Jimenez	....	dolly grip: second unit (as Daniel Jimenez)
Lee Jimenez	....	grip
Manny Jimenez	....	best boy grip (as Manuel Jimenez)
Douglas Knapp	....	camera operator (as Douglas H. Knapp)
Michael Laws	....	lighting technician (as Michael J. Laws)
Jeffrey S. Leader	....	first assistant camera: second unit
To Lee	....	second assistant camera
Michael Liakos	....	grip: second unit
Frederick Moore	....	director of photography: second unit
David L. Parrish	....	first assistant camera (as David Parrish)
Mark Pearson	....	grip
Ted Rhodes	....	key grip
Michael G. Riba	....	camera technician: second unit (as Michael Riba)
Joyce Rudolph	....	still photographer
Ward Russell	....	gaffer
Michael Salts	....	grip
Jeff Stanman	....	lighting technician
Dennis Wehr	....	lighting technician
Kurt Young	....	dolly grip

Casting Department
Karen Standard	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sandy Ampon	....	costumer: women
Ellis Cohen	....	costume supervisor
Janet Stout	....	costumer: women

Editorial Department
Richard Alderete	....	apprentice editor
Bob Hagans	....	color timer
Darren T. Holmes	....	assistant editor (as Darren Holmes)

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music editor
Dick Bernstein	....	music editor
Neil Brody	....	music editor
Lennie Niehaus	....	conductor
Linda Goldner Perry	....	music supervisor
Richard Wolf	....	composer: theme music

Transportation Department
Michael McDuffee	....	transportation coordinator
Richard Padgett	....	transportation co-captain (as Dick Padgett)
Tim Roslan	....	transportation co-captain (as Timothy Roslan)

Other crew
Julia Alexander	....	technical advisor: diving
Alicia Anthony	....	post-production auditor
Bonnie Belknap	....	food stylist
Jean Claude Bonnardot	....	production assistant
Doug Burdinski	....	production controller (as Douglas Burdinski)
Jean E. Chapman	....	first aid (as Jean Chapman)
Dan Curry	....	title designer: main title sequence
Rachel Friedman	....	assistant to producer
Mark C. Grech	....	craft service
Phyllis Levin	....	first aid (as Phyllis A. Levin)
Kathy Lymberopoulos	....	production associate
Kenneth Mancebo	....	pre-production accountant
Cass Martin	....	location manager
Mary McLaglen	....	production coordinator
Brian McMillan	....	head animal trainer
Katherine Ann Moore	....	unit publicist
Sharon Morov	....	production secretary
Mary Ann Newfield	....	script supervisor: second unit
Joseph M. O'Har	....	location manager
Pam O'Har	....	location manager
Lori O'Konek	....	production secretary: Madison
Judy Rosenthal	....	script supervisor
Melanie Roy	....	production assistant
Margaret Scarpello	....	production accountant
Esther Vivante	....	script supervisor
William Watts	....	production assistant
Jack E. Herman	....	extras set coordinator (uncredited)
Ken Rudolph	....	title designer: main title sequence (uncredited)

Thanks
Estelle Endler	....	dedicatee (as Estelle)

Production Companies

• Paper Clip Productions

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Constantin-Filmverleih (1987) (Austria) (theatrical)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• HBO/Cannon Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• HBO/Cannon Video (1986) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox of Germany (1987) (West Germany) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Cannom Creations (prosthetics)

Other Companies

• Animal Rentals Unlimited  animals provided by
• Atmosphere Agency, The  extras casting
• Cinema Research  titles
• Inter Video  video playback
• Keylite Production Services  production services and equipment
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Sunrise Films  negative cutting
• Tony's Food Service  catering

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:

The soundtrack was only released in LP format, but the score was later released with selections from the score of Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) on CD.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the bar fight, Lou lifts up one of the fighters (who is wearing a red shirt and blue jacket). After he's thrown into the jukebox, he's wearing different clothing

Quotes:

Dr. Phillip Barbay: I've been doing a great deal of thinking lately. I've been thinking... about us.
Diane: And?
Dr. Phillip Barbay: And I think we should start thinking about forming a... well, um, a...
Diane: A merger?
Dr. Phillip Barbay: A merger! Exactly, exactly. A merger... a partnership. Seriously, Diane, we're both intelligent, well-educated adults. We should be together. Incorporated, if you will. Look at the balance sheet. We were made for one another.
Diane: [laughing] Oh, Philip, you darling. I don't want to be merged or incorporated. I want to have fun and be romanced and... be loved. So, let's not rush into anything. Let's just start by having fun, OK?

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Dead Man's Party

How great would it be to have Rodney Dangerfield in your class!

A funny post-Animal House college film with a pretty distinguished cast. In addition to Dangerfield, who is terrific as usual, we also get to see Sally Kellerman, Burt Young, Ned Beatty, and an introduction to the brilliance of Robert Downey Jr. who is unforgettable as Derek Lutz. Although the movie is silly, lacking any convincing realism or plot, it is nontheless wonderful fun...especially if you are a Dangerfield fan. His rendition of "Twist and Shout" is a classic. And the scene at registration where his chauffeur Lou, played by the redoubtable Young, is priceless when he holds up a sign by the limo with Bruce Springstein's name on it and all the students rush out to mob the car while Dangerfield, his son, his son's love interest, and Lutz have the pick of classes.

Generally good viewing when you want a brainless, fun night.