Up in Smoke (1978)

Two stoners unknowingly smuggle a van - made entirely of marijuana - from Mexico to L.A., with incompetent Sgt. Stedenko on their trail.

Directors:

Lou Adler, Tommy Chong (uncredited)

Writers:

Tommy Chong (as Thomas Chong), Cheech Marin

Stars:

Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Strother Martin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cheech Marin	...	Pedro
Tommy Chong	...	Man
Strother Martin	...	Mr. Stoner
Edie Adams	...	Tempest Stoner
Harold Fong	...	Chauffeur
Richard Novo	...	Richard
Jane Moder	...	Jail Bait
Pam Bille	...	Jail Bait
Arthur Roberts	...	Arresting Officer
Marian Beeler	...	Judge Gladys Dykes
Donald Hotton	...	Bailiff
John Ian Jacobs	...	Prosecuting Attorney (as Jon Ian Jacobs)
Christopher Joy	...	Curtis (as Christipher Joy)
Ray Vitte	...	The Band: Bass - James
Michael Caldwell	...	The Band: Guitar - Duane

Storyline

Cheech and Chong meet up by chance on the highway somewhere in California. They go in search of some dope and are accidentally deported to Mexico where in their desperation to get home they agree to drive a van back to the States so they can get back in time for a gig they are due to play. Unaware of the properties from which the van is constructed they make their way back having aquired a couple of female hitch-hikers whilst all the time avoiding the cops whom they are not even aware are following them.

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Plot Keywords:

cheech and chong | vietnam war veteran | low budget film | black comedy | absurd comedy | 

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Taglines:

Don't miss the only film where the heroes get wiped out in the first five minutes!

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

15 September 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cheech and Chong's Greatest Hits

Filming Locations:

Henry's Tacos, 11401 Moorpark St., Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$44,364,244

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lou Adler screened the film privately for Jack Nicholson who had just been in a car accident and had a dislocated shoulder. It proved to be a painful experience for Nicholson, for his shoulder hurt him every time he laughed - which was often.

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Goofs

When Cheech cuts across the road to pick up Chong, the two girls are seated on the bench waiting for their ride. When Cheech stops to let Chong in, the girls are already quickly loading their surfboards into a van that wasn't there when Cheech stopped.

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Quotes

Toyota Kawasaki: This is Toyota Kawasaki here at the Mexican-United States border.

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits are in the style of spray-painted graffiti, super-imposed over Pedro's low-rider.

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Connections

Followed by Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers (1984)

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Soundtracks

You're Not Blank
(uncredited)
Performed by The Dils
at the Rock Fight

User Reviews

You don't have to be a stoner to give this movie high praise

When this first came out in the theaters I passed on seeing it as it seemed like Cheech and Chong's time had come and went. I was a big fan of their comedy albums of the early and mid 70's but the movie version of their act would have been logical then but by 1978 it's time had past. Of those who did see this in the theater I couldn't get a proper read on a critical review since I could find no one who saw it in a theater that wasn't high when they went. A year or two after it came out it showed up on one of the cable movie channels and I was expecting a typical movie that takes a funny five minute skit and stretches it out to a painful non-funny 90 minutes. Director Lou Adler had never directed a movie before. He had produced the documentary rock film Monetery Pop and the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show and Robert Altman's quirky Brewster McCloud but he was Pop music entrepreneur as a music producer, publisher, manager and record company founder. He would only direct one other film which is too bad because with his industry connections and reputation and his natural feel for talent and getting the best out of talent being a director worked very well for him as with the help of Cheech and Chong he turned out a very very funny movie with Up in Smoke. The counter-culture stoner comedy duo take a simple theme for a story outline but the great comedic timing and sight gags and fast pacing and an their inventive approach at film making takes what should have been a low budget stoner comedy to the next level of lasting cinematic comedy. Like a Marx Brothers or WC Fields or Charlie Chaplin comedy this movie has lasting power to entertain generations. Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong star in the first of series of funny movies from the duo. A strong character cast includes Strother Martin, Stacy Keetch, Tom Skerritt and Edie Adams. Look for Gary Muledeer and Ellen Barkin too. This movie had such broad appeal that some of the most red neck, anti-counter-culture, anti-hippy/freak/doper people I have ever ever known loved it. I would give this a 9.0 out of 10.