This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Spinal Tap, one of England's loudest bands, is chronicled by film director Marty DiBergi on what proves to be a fateful tour.

Director:

Rob Reiner

Writers:

Christopher Guest, Michael McKean

Stars:

Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rob Reiner	...	Marty DiBergi
Kimberly Stringer	...	Heavy Metal Fan
Chazz Dominguez	...	Heavy Metal Fan
Shari Hall	...	Heavy Metal Fan
R.J. Parnell	...	Mick Shrimpton
David Kaff	...	Viv Savage
Tony Hendra	...	Ian Faith
Michael McKean	...	David St. Hubbins
Christopher Guest	...	Nigel Tufnel
Harry Shearer	...	Derek Smalls
Bruno Kirby	...	Tommy Pischedda
Jean Cromie	...	Ethereal Fan
Patrick Maher	...	New York M.C.
Ed Begley Jr.	...	John 'Stumpy' Pepys
Danny Kortchmar	...	Ronnie Pudding

Storyline

In 1982, the legendary English heavy metal band Spinal Tap attempt an American comeback tour accompanied by a fan who is also a film-maker. The resulting documentary, interspersed with powerful performances of Tap's pivotal music and profound lyrics, candidly follows a rock group heading towards crisis, culminating in the infamous affair of the eighteen-inch-high Stonehenge stage prop.

---

Plot Keywords:

pseudo documentary | parody | heavy metal | rockumentary | satire | 

---

Taglines:

The original rockumentary created by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Rob Reiner, Harry Shearer

---

Genres:

Comedy | Music

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 March 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

This is Spinal Tap®: A Rockumentary by Martin Di Bergi

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$30,835, 4 March 1984, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$244,557, 31 December 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Spinal Tap Prod.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.70 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Nigel rubs a violin against his guitar during his solo, it's a parody of Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, who used a violin bow to play his guitar during many concert performances.

---

Goofs

The limo driver talks about Sammy Davis coming out of the Copacabana about three in the morning and seeing Frank Sinatra walking down Broadway. The Copa was on 60th Street east of 5th Avenue -- more than half-a-mile from Broadway.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Marty DiBergi: Hello; my name is Marty DiBergi. I'm a filmmaker. I make a lot of commercials. That little dog that chases the covered wagon underneath the sink? That was mine. In 1966, I went down to Greenwich Village, New York City to a rock club called Electric Banana. Don't look for it; it's not there anymore. But that night, I heard a band that for me redefined the word "rock and roll". I remember being knocked out by their... their exuberance, their raw power - and their punctuality. That ...

---

Crazy Credits

The credits state that the band Spinal Tap is fictional, and add "And there's no Easter Bunny, either!"

---

Alternate Versions

Earlier video versions include onscreen captions identifying each band member during the first song ("Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight"), eg. "Nigel Tufnel - lead guitar". These captions are missing from early copies of the MGM Special Edition DVD, which were recalled to correct the oversight and re-released.

---

Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: The Princess Bride/China Girl/The Big Town/The Pick-Up Artist/I've Heard the Mermaids Sing (1987)

---

Soundtracks

Gimme Some Money
Written by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Rob Reiner and Harry Shearer
Performed by Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer

User Reviews

Hello Cleaveland! Still one of the funniest films ever and even better on DVD

Spinal Tap seemed funny the first time I saw it, but I never got all the jokes. Now though, I saw it through and through and I loved it even more (especially on DVD where the extras are hilarious). Nearly every gag in the movie is dead pan funny, from the cover of "Smell the Glove" (just the description will make you laugh) to all the others including the three piece guitar solo, the animal costumes ("this is what you'll look like as a crab" is the funniest line of the 80's next to "Frank, they're not here for you, Weird Al is on the plane" in Naked Gun), the backstage food, (of course) the amp that goes to 11 and the 18 inch stonehenge. Satire at one of it's best, and it's excellent. Cameos include Bruno Kirby, Billy Crystal, Dana Carvey, Paul Schaffer and Anjelica Houston. Other best line: you can not do free flow jazz odyssey in front of a festival crowd! A+