Gorp (1980)

Director:

Joseph Ruben

Writers:

Jeffrey Konvitz (screenplay)
Jeffrey Konvitz (story)

Release Date:

May 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A bunch of fruits, nuts and flakes.

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Summer | Summer Camp | Rabbi | Prank | Panty Raid

Cast

Michael Lembeck	...	Kavell
Dennis Quaid	...	Mad Grossman
Philip Casnoff	...	Bergman
Fran Drescher	...	Evie
David Huddleston	...	Walrus Wallman
Robert Trebor	...	Rabbi Blowitz
Lou Wagner	...	Federman
Richard Beauchamp	...	Ramirez
Julius Harris	...	Fred the Chef
Lisa Shure	...	Vicki
Deborah Richter	...	Barbara (as Debi Richter)
Rosanna Arquette	...	Judy
Dale Robinette	...	Irvington
Mark R. Deming	...	Lobster Newburg
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Curt Ayers	...	Duffo Weiss
Steve Bonino	...	Batshit
Vincent Bufano	...	De Neckio
Otis Day	...	Sweet Moe
Rudy Diaz	...	Indian Joe
Douglas Dirkson	...	Bible Looie
Judith Drake	...	Big Bertha
Robert Elston	...	Mr. Kramer
Jim Greenleaf	...	Fat Solowitz (as James Greenleaf)
Shirley Gunther	...	Mrs. Walrus
Fred Hinds	...	The Seven Year Old Kid
Peter Marc Jacobson	...	Steinberg
John Reilly	...	Don Sharpe
Pete Robinson	...	Man in Bar
Janet Sarno	...	Mrs. Kramer
Four Scott	...	Kramer's Son
Marla Silverman	...	Zits Maguire
Glenn Super	...	Dracula Kesselman

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Crawfordville, Georgia, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

Last release from American International Pictures.

Movie Connections:

References King Kong (1933)

Summer Camp Madness

"GORP" is what it is. It came out at a time when movies that were capitalizing on the success of "Animal House" came out just like "Halloween" inspired plenty of successors in the slasher genre. The Party Animal, Teenage Sex comedy has another addition with this film that takes place in a Jewish summer camp that includes food fights, pranks played on nemises and the obligatory panty raids.

The film does have a certain atmosphere and the 2 lead protagonists are neither likeable nor interesting. They seem to get angry and shout all the time for no particular reason. It is also not clear if this film is supposed to take place in the '60s or in 1979-1980 when this film came out. Much of the film is carried by the madcap supporting characters including a younger Fran Drescher as a no apologies CIT who likes to chew and spit out men and Dennis Quaid in a rare turn as the gun obsessed "Mad Grossman." I have to say that it was interesting to see Quaid play a weirdo and it would be neat to see him play more roles like this now against his current leading man type.

The film doesn't have a real plot and is merely a bunch of unconnected scenes stuck together. "Animal House" had a coherent plot with developed characters that added a lot to the film. "Meatballs" also seemed to be more effective having a madcap counselor played by Bill Murray who also was likeable despite his delinquency. GORP meanders and even some of the pranks seem unjustified and mean spirited. I found myself wondering where the film was and where it was going and then it just eventually ended.

This is a rare film that seems to have disappeared from video distribution and has not seen a DVD release at this date. It's nothing special but it is a good example of the type of films that came out in the late '70s and early '80s in this genre and if nothing else interesting to see the earlier work of Dennis Quaid, Fran Drescher and Roseanna Arquette.