Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

A group of Southern California high school students are enjoying their most important subjects: sex, drugs, and rock n' roll.

Director:

Amy Heckerling

Writers:

Cameron Crowe (screenplay), Cameron Crowe (book)

Stars:

Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Penn	...	Jeff Spicoli
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Stacy Hamilton
Judge Reinhold	...	Brad Hamilton
Robert Romanus	...	Mike Damone
Brian Backer	...	Mark 'Rat' Ratner
Phoebe Cates	...	Linda Barrett
Ray Walston	...	Mr. Hand
Scott Thomson	...	Arnold
Vincent Schiavelli	...	Mr. Vargas
Amanda Wyss	...	Lisa
D.W. Brown	...	Ron Johnson
Forest Whitaker	...	Charles Jefferson
Kelli Maroney	...	Cindy
Tom Nolan	...	Dennis Taylor
Blair Tefkin	...	Pat Bernardo (as Blair Ashleigh)

Storyline

Follows a group of high school students growing up in southern California, based on the real-life adventures chronicled by Cameron Crowe. Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner are looking for a love interest, and are helped along by their older classmates, Linda Barrett and Mike Damone, respectively. The center of the film is held by Jeff Spicoli, a perpetually stoned surfer dude who faces off with the resolute Mr. Hand, who is convinced that everyone is on dope.

---

Plot Keywords:

high school | females talking about sex | female nudity | caught masturbating | title directed by female | 

---

Taglines:

Fast Cars, Fast Girls, Fast Carrots...Fast Carrots?

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 August 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fast Times

Filming Locations:

Van Nuys Blvd & Vose St, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,545,674, 15 August 1982, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$27,092,880

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Refugee Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ridgemont High scenes were filmed over eight days at Van Nuys High School in Van Nuys, CA. Although classes remained in session, the school allowed students interested in filmmaking to observe production. Additional locations included a rented house with a pool in Canoga Park, CA, the girls' gym at Canoga Park High School, Morningside Memorial Hospital in Inglewood, CA, All American Burger in Brentwood, CA, and various streets in the San Fernando Valley. The final week of filming took place on four sets constructed on Stage 3 at the Universal Studios lot in Universal City, CA, which served as the poolside changing room and the bedrooms of "Mike Damone," "Linda Barrett," and "Jeff Spicoli".

---

Goofs

During the "No shirt no shoes no dice" scene when the camera goes back to Spicoli saying no dice then laughing, the guy behind him is moving his mouth along with the words then laughs when Spicoli does.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Perry's Pizza Waitress: Linda, Linda, there he is. There's that guy from the stereo store. Don't you think he looks like Richard Gere?
Linda Barrett: Did you see his cute little butt?

---

Crazy Credits

"The End" appears on a video arcade game screen. The game is Atari's Missle Command (once all the player's cities have been destroyed).

---

Alternate Versions

The scene where Linda teaches Stacy how to give oral sex is deleted from the broadcast version.

---

Connections

Featured in What I Learned About... From the Movies: High School

---

Soundtracks

Highway Runner
(uncredited)
Written by Giorgio Moroder, Donna Summer
Performed by Donna Summer

User Reviews

"No Shirt , No Shoes , NO DICE"

This movie is one of my all time 80s favorites. All kinds of stars in this one. Totally depicts high school teens in the early 80s Fur Shure! Lots of comedy - little bit of drama - whole lot of sex. Sean Penn as the stoner surfer dude is the funniest role in his career. Phoebe Cates , was just becoming a known star. Jennifer Jason Leigh totally looks her part as a teen virgin and you can also see Nancy Wilson (guitarist of the band HEART) here in her tiny cameo role. Love this early 80s classic.Own it.Learn it. Live it...