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 | caught masturbating | unwanted pregnancy | fired from the job | 

---

Taglines:

Hey Bud, Let's Party! [DVD]

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Brad Hamilton at the Mi-T Mart throws hot coffee in the robber's face. In Ruthless People (1986), Judge Reinhold gets a coffee cup thrown at him which hits him in the face.

---

Goofs

During the robbery at the Mi-T-Mart, the robber knocks the cookies off the counter and there are three cookies left. In the next shot, there are none.

---

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

In the VHS/ DVD print, Brad's boss, Dennis Taylor, is seen only once in the movie. In many TV prints, Dennis appears in a scene following the "no shirt, no shoes, no dice" scene. In that scene, Dennis tells Brad to explain the french fries that were poured in the trashcan.

---

Connections

References Jaws (1975)

---

Soundtracks

I'll Leave It Up to You
Performed by Poco
Written by Rusty Young
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.

User Reviews

I wish I'd gone to Ridgemont High

A fast-paced film with its share of laughs, Fast Times also takes time to sensitively handle many of the tough issues teens face. Abortion, trust, abandonment and sexual fears are all dealt with fairly and believably. An interesting snapshot into the world of teenagers--the great thing about this film is that it's not too stereotypically Californian. It could have been set anywhere in Canada or USA and still have been just as accurate. In addition, there are many scenes that will just have you doubled over with laughter--the carrot scene, as well as the interaction between rebel Sean Penn and angry Mr.Hand are just fantastic.

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

Gross USA:

$27,092,880

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$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