This Is Spinal Tap
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This Is Spinal Tap

Year:
Duration:
82 min
Genres:
Comedy | Music
IMDB rate:
8
Director:
Rob Reiner
Awards:
3 wins & 2 nominations
Details
Country: USA
Release Date: 1984-03-02
Filming Locations: California, USA
Earnings
Budget: $2,500,000
Opening Weekend: $55,854 (USA) (10 September 2000)
Gross: $188,751 (USA) (8 October 2000)
Cast
Actor
Character
Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal
This Is Spinal Tap
Michael McKean
Michael McKean
This Is Spinal Tap
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
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
Fran Drescher
Bobbi Flekman
Memo Vera
Bartender
Julie Payne
Mime Waitress
Dana Carvey
Mime Waiter
Sandy Helberg
Angelo DiMentibelio
Robin Menken
Angelo's Associate (as Robin Mencken)
Zane Buzby
Rolling Stone Reporter
Jennifer Child
Limo Groupie
J.J. Barry
Rack Jobber
George McDaniel
Southern Rock Promoter
Paul Benedict
Tucker 'Smitty' Brown
Anne Churchill
Reba
Howard Hesseman
Terry Ladd
Paul Shortino
Duke Fame
Cherie Darr
Fame Groupie
Lara Cody
Fame Groupie
Andrew J. Lederer
Student Promoter
Russ Kunkel
Eric 'Stumpy Joe' Childs
Diana Duncan
'Jamboree Bop' Dancer
Gina Marie Pitrello
'Jamboree Bop' Dancer
June Chadwick
Jeanine Pettibone
Victory Tischler-Blue
Cindy (as Vicki Blue)
Joyce Hyser
Belinda
Gloria Gifford
Airport Security Officer
Paul Shaffer
Artie Fufkin
Archie Hahn
Room Service Guy
Charles Levin
Disc 'n' Dat Manager
Wonderful Smith
Janitor
Anjelica Huston
Polly Deutsch (also as Angelica Huston)
Chris Romano
Little Druid
Daniel Rodgers
Little Druid
Fred Willard
Colonel On Military Base
Fred Asparagus
Joe 'Mama' Besser
Rodney Kemerer
L.A. Party Guest
Robert Bauer
Moke
Sean Frye
Jordan St. Hubbins - David's Punk Rocker Son (uncredited)
Helen Kelly
'Pod' Concert Viewer (uncredited)
Paul Korda
Rock star, LA party guest (uncredited)
Blackie Lawless
Comercial Headbanger (uncredited)
Claudia Sloan
Girlfriend (uncredited)
Brinke Stevens
Girlfriend (uncredited)
Sam Whipple
Recording Engineer (uncredited)
Did you know?
Trivia
This is the only movie on IMDb that is rated out of 11 stars.
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Nigel talks with DiBergi about being influenced by the masters, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Sebastian Bach. During their performance of "Heavy Duty", Nigel's solo (which he plays while standing on the drum riser) is a tribute to Luigi Boccherini's "Minuet from String Quintet in E major, G.275".
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Spinal Tap is infamous for things going wrong with their Stonehenge props. The most famous incident comes from the film, in which the prop is undersized and nearly trampled by a dwarf. On their live tour in support of Break Like The Wind, a package delivery man brings a package with an even smaller model. In The Return of Spinal Tap, the prop is far too large, and the stage crew makes every effort to cram it through the small doorway - unsuccessfully. When performing at Live Aid, the prop (signed by all the other performers) was the right size, but a timing error ruined the effect - the "columns" were lowered without the top crossing piece, and subsequently removed from the stage - only to have the top piece eventually lowered with nothing to land on.
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Goofs
After making fun of Jeanine's drawings based on signs of the zodiac, she snatches the artwork from Nigel's hands. A few seconds later, he's holding it again.
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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.
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During the 'Recording Studio Meltdown' sequence, David begins playing with a white Stratocaster. In the same shot he switches to a Sunburst stratocaster and then back to a white Stratocaster in seconds (Special Edition only).
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Quotes
Marty DiBergi: David St. Hubbins... I must admit I've never heard anybody with that name.
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Viv Savage: Quite exciting, this computer magic!
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David St. Hubbins: He died in a bizarre gardening accident...
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Faq
Q
How many Spinal Tap albums are there?
A
There are three official Spinal Tap albums (note that the albums shown in the film (Smell the Glove, Shark Sandwich, Rock and Roll Creation) are FICTIONAL and do not actually exist.)The first release was the This Is Spinal Tap soundtrack, released in 1984 at the same time as the film. The soundtrack is missing some songs from the film (a capella version of "Heartbreak Hotel," "Jazz Odyssey," "All the Way Home," and "Saucy Jack" to name a few) though most of these songs appear in some shape or form on later albums. The album also includes a song entitled "America" that didn't appear in the film. Reissued and remastered versions of the album include two versions of a song entitled "Christmas with the Devil" as bonus tracks - a song that was released as a promo single in 1984.The second album was Break Like the Wind, released in 1992. The album consisted almost entirely of new songs, many of which were performed at the concert that was turned into A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out. However, it did feature rerecorded versions of "Christmas with the Devil" and "All the Way Home," as well. Many guests appeared on the album, including Slash of Guns N' Roses fame. Around this time, the band members reprised their roles in the Simpsons episode "The Otto Show" and performed "Break Like the Wind."The third album was Back from the Dead, released in 2009. Unlike the other albums, this one consists almost entirely of re-recorded songs (for instance, a "funky" version of "Sex Farm" and a reggae version of "Listen to the Flower People.") A few new songs appear as well, and "Jazz Oddyssey" (sic) makes its first appearance on a Spinal Tap album, albeit in three parts.
Q
Is this band real?
A
Yes and no. While they are intended as being a parody, and their entire backstory is made up, the three actors, Guest, Shearer and McKean, have performed, in character, as Spinal Tap and made a couple of records together, since the movie was made. As of early 2009, they are planning a tour and another record to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film.
Q
Is there a sequel to this film?
A
Sort of.A concert film, A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out (later released on video as The Return of Spinal Tap) was broadcast in 1992. It consists almost entirely of a live performance by the band, though with comedy scenes in between some of the songs, showing the band in the present day. It's not a full-blown mock documentary like the original film, so whether or not it could be considered a full-blown new film is debatable at best.The Simpsons episode "The Otto Show" sees the band members reprising their roles (Harry Shearer is a regular voice actor on the animated sitcom.) The band endures plenty of antics onstage, storms off 20 minutes into the set, and the next day, Otto's reckless driving causes the Spinal Tap tour bus to go over a cliff in flames, presumably killing the band.Additionally, the band performed at the Live Earth festival.
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Photos from cast
Billy Crystal Patrick Macnee Michael McKean
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