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Up the Academy

  • 1980
  • R
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Up the Academy (1980)
Theatrical Trailer from Warner Bros. Pictures
Play trailer2:26
1 Video
46 Photos
Comedy

Four boys are sent, for different reasons, to a Military Academy. The life of discipline asks a lot of the four geeks. Of course these boys know how to make a party out of the hard times. Wi... Read allFour boys are sent, for different reasons, to a Military Academy. The life of discipline asks a lot of the four geeks. Of course these boys know how to make a party out of the hard times. Will they be "real men" after one year.Four boys are sent, for different reasons, to a Military Academy. The life of discipline asks a lot of the four geeks. Of course these boys know how to make a party out of the hard times. Will they be "real men" after one year.

  • Director
    • Robert Downey Sr.
  • Writers
    • Tom Patchett
    • Jay Tarses
  • Stars
    • Ron Leibman
    • Wendell Brown
    • Ralph Macchio
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.7/10
    1.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Downey Sr.
    • Writers
      • Tom Patchett
      • Jay Tarses
    • Stars
      • Ron Leibman
      • Wendell Brown
      • Ralph Macchio
    • 27User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
    • 29Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Up The Academy
    Trailer 2:26
    Watch Up The Academy

    Photos46

    Hutch Parker and Stacey Nelkin in Up the Academy (1980)
    19 x 28 mini movie poster
    Up the Academy (1980)
    Up the Academy (1980)
    Up the Academy (1980)
    Up the Academy (1980)
    Up the Academy (1980)
    Hutch Parker in Up the Academy (1980)
    James G. Robertson in Up the Academy (1980)
    Ron Leibman in Up the Academy (1980)
    Stacey Nelkin in Up the Academy (1980)
    Stacey Nelkin in Up the Academy (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ron Leibman
    Ron Leibman
    • Major Vaughn Liceman
    • (uncredited)
    Wendell Brown
    Wendell Brown
    • Ike
    Ralph Macchio
    Ralph Macchio
    • Chooch
    Tommy Citera
    Tommy Citera
    • Hash
    Hutch Parker
    Hutch Parker
    • Oliver
    • (as J. Hutchison)
    Harry Teinowitz
    Harry Teinowitz
    • Rodney Ververgaert
    Tom Poston
    Tom Poston
    • Sisson
    Ian Wolfe
    Ian Wolfe
    • Commandant Causeway
    Antonio Fargas
    Antonio Fargas
    • Coach
    Stacey Nelkin
    Stacey Nelkin
    • Candy
    Barbara Bach
    Barbara Bach
    • Bliss
    Leonard Frey
    Leonard Frey
    • Keck
    Luke Andreas
    • Vitto
    Candy Ann Brown
    Candy Ann Brown
    • Nubia
    King Coleman
    • Rev. MacArthur
    Rosalie Citera
    • Mrs. Bombalazzi
    Yvonne Francis
    • Commandant's Wife
    James G. Robertson
    • Mayor Holt
    • Director
      • Robert Downey Sr.
    • Writers
      • Tom Patchett
      • Jay Tarses
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      True to form, 'Mad Magazine' ran a mini-parody of this their own film. It was called: "Mad Magazine Resents 'Throw Up the Academy'".
    • Goofs
      Rodney waits until his bunkmates are asleep, then runs off to tell Liceman about their plans. On his way out, he falls off the porch steps into the bushes, and his hat flies off. He gets up, and continues on his way, leaving his hat in the bushes. In the next scene, he has his hat back.
    • Quotes

      Leisman: [pickup line] Tickle your ass with a feather?

      Party Guest: I beg your pardon?

      Leisman: It's particularly nasty weather.

    • Crazy credits
      The end credits show the opening credits sequence in reverse (the toy soldiers are falling up instead of down).
    • Alternate versions
      The film was originally presented by Mad Magazine and included scenes featuring a live-action version of Mad's character Alfred E. Neuman. Mad publisher William M. Gaines was however so disappointed with the movie that he later paid $30,000 to Warner Home Video to have them remove all the scenes featuring Neuman and all references to the magazine from the video release of the film. Reportedly, Warner later refunded the money after it was discovered that copies of the video distributed outside the USA didn't include the required cuts.
    • Connections
      Featured in Vintage Video: Up the Academy (1980) (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Kicking Up A Fuss
      Performed by Blow-Up

      Words & Music by Jody Worth & Bruce Nicholson

      Produced by Jody Worth & Bill Evans

    User reviews27

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    3/10
    It really doesn't hold up.
    I remember seeing the ads for this on TV and thinking it looked hilarious but unfortunately I couldn't see it due to the fact I was too young. So like a lot of movies that were denied me at a young age, I made it my mission to see it later on in life. Some of those movies, like, "The Life of Brian" and "Videodrome" were worth waiting for. Unfortunately others, like this one, weren't. And you know it's bad when Mad Magazine, the people that made it, put a large disclaimer in their magazine that they disavowed it. It was so poorly received that I don't think it ever got a proper release to home video and when movies like "Queen Kong" got a proper release, you know this one was destined for the junk pile of history.

    There's an.... art to making sophomoric movies and it doesn't involve just putting a whole bunch of stereotypes into a blender and hoping what comes out is good. Take a look at "Animal House" which is an apt comparison as that's what they were going for. It's considered a classic in part to the actors that took part in it but also the direction, the script and the fact that they didn't try to do too much with it. This movie however just seems to want to throw everything they can at the screen and hope that something works.

    Four boys are sent to a military academy all for different reasons and shenanigans ensue. There's the barber that just so happens to be blind giving bad haircuts. There's one of the officers that happens to be gay and like young boys. There's the sexy female instructor that teaches them about armaments in very sexual terms. In other words they tried really hard to be "Animal House" but didn't get hat made that movie the success it was.

    In short this is a bad movie made to cash in on a more successful movie but without knowing how to do it in the first place.
    helpful•6
    2
    • Java_Joe
    • Jul 11, 2019

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 6, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • *Sotilasopisto*
    • Filming locations
      • Salina, Kansas, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 27 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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