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IMDbPro

Waiting for Guffman

  • 19961996
  • RR
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
30K
YOUR RATING
Waiting for Guffman (1996)
Trailer for Waiting for Guffman
Play trailer2:02
1 Video
99+ Photos
Comedy
An aspiring director and the marginally talented amateur cast of a hokey small-town Missouri musical production go overboard when they learn that someone from Broadway will be in attendance.An aspiring director and the marginally talented amateur cast of a hokey small-town Missouri musical production go overboard when they learn that someone from Broadway will be in attendance.An aspiring director and the marginally talented amateur cast of a hokey small-town Missouri musical production go overboard when they learn that someone from Broadway will be in attendance.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
30K
YOUR RATING
    • Christopher Guest
    • Christopher Guest
    • Eugene Levy
  • Stars
    • Christopher Guest
    • Fred Willard
    • Catherine O'Hara
    • Christopher Guest
    • Christopher Guest
    • Eugene Levy
  • Stars
    • Christopher Guest
    • Fred Willard
    • Catherine O'Hara
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 217User reviews
    • 44Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Waiting for Guffman
    Trailer 2:02
    Watch Waiting for Guffman

    Photos144

    Catherine O'Hara and Fred Willard in Waiting for Guffman (1996)
    Catherine O'Hara and Fred Willard in Waiting for Guffman (1996)
    Parker Posey, Christopher Guest, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, and Fred Willard in Waiting for Guffman (1996)
    Parker Posey, Lewis Arquette, Bob Balaban, Christopher Guest, Catherine O'Hara, Matt Keeslar, Eugene Levy, and Fred Willard in Waiting for Guffman (1996)
    Christopher Guest and Paul Benedict in Waiting for Guffman (1996)
    Bob Balaban and Christopher Guest in Waiting for Guffman (1996)
    Christopher Guest in Waiting for Guffman (1996)
    Christopher Guest in Waiting for Guffman (1996)
    Christopher Guest in Waiting for Guffman (1996)
    Christopher Guest in Waiting for Guffman (1996)
    Parker Posey, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins, Eugene Levy, and Michael McKean in Waiting for Guffman (1996)
    Christopher Guest in Waiting for Guffman (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christopher Guest
    Christopher Guest
    • Corky St. Clair
    Fred Willard
    Fred Willard
    • Ron Albertson
    Catherine O'Hara
    Catherine O'Hara
    • Sheila Albertson
    Parker Posey
    Parker Posey
    • Libby Mae Brown
    Deborah Theaker
    Deborah Theaker
    • Gwen Fabin-Blunt - Councilwoman
    Michael Hitchcock
    Michael Hitchcock
    • Steve Stark - Councilman
    Scott Williamson
    Scott Williamson
    • Tucker Livingston - Councilman
    Larry Miller
    Larry Miller
    • Glenn Welsch - Mayor
    Don Lake
    Don Lake
    • Phil Burgess - Blaine Historian
    David Cross
    David Cross
    • UFO Expert
    Eugene Levy
    Eugene Levy
    • Dr. Allan Pearl
    James McQueen
    James McQueen
    • Singing Auditioner
    • (as Jim McQueen)
    Turk Pipkin
    • Ping Pong Ball Juggler
    Jerry Turman
    Jerry Turman
    • Raging Bull Auditioner
    Bob Balaban
    Bob Balaban
    • Lloyd Miller
    Paul Dooley
    Paul Dooley
    • UFO Abductee
    Linda Kash
    Linda Kash
    • Mrs. Allan Pearl
    Lewis Arquette
    Lewis Arquette
    • Clifford Wooley
      • Christopher Guest
      • Christopher Guest
      • Eugene Levy
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When playing Blaine Fabin in "Red, White and Blaine," it becomes necessary for Dr. Pearl (Eugene Levy) to remove his glasses. Unfortunately, Dr. Pearl's glasses corrected his lazy eye problem. Actor Fred Willard was unaware of the gag during shooting, and after delivering the line, "What did your keen and perceptive eyes behold?" to Fabin, he stared at Levy's lazy eye, finally understood why his line was funny, and "was gone for about ten minutes" with laughter.
    • Goofs
      During the last scene in the play, a tuba can be heard playing, but there is no tuba in the orchestra.
    • Quotes

      Corky St. Clair: So what I'm understanding here, correct me if I'm wrong, is that you're not giving me any money, so now I'm left, basically, with nothing. I'm left with zero, in which, what can I do with zero? You know, what can I... I can't do anything with it. I need to... this is my life here we're talking about, we're not just talking about, you know, something else, we're talking about my life, you know? And it's forcing me to do something I don't wanna do: to leave. To go out and just leave and go home and say... make a clean cut here and say "no way, Corky. You're not putting up with these people." And I'll tell you why I can't put up with you people, because you're bastard people. That's what you are, you're just bastard people and I'm going home and I'm gonna... I'm gonna bite my pillow is what I'm gonna do!

    • Crazy credits
      During the end credits, Corky (Christopher Guest) shows us some of the fun memorabilia that he sells in his store.
    • Alternate versions
      There is at least one rough cut of the film in circulation among fans of Guffman. It features an expanded performance of "Red, White and Blaine", including the musical number "This Bulging River", as well as dozens of alternate takes, as well as the exclusion of many scenes in the finished film, which were shot after this first rought cut was made.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Shadow Conspiracy/Waiting for Guffman/Star Wars: Special Edition/Gridlock'd/Prisoner of the Mountains/Walkabout (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Lightnin' Strikes
      Words and Music by Lou Christie (as Lou Christy), Twyla Herbert

      Courtesy of Music Corporation of America, Inc. (BMI)

      Performed by James McQueen (uncredited)

    User reviews217

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Definitely not to everyone's taste, but a lovely film nonetheless
    This is the first of several films that Christopher Guest and his friends have made using a very unusual style. Instead of a clearly defined script, some very talented actors (such as Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Fred Willard and others) took a script idea and improvised throughout. The film was then created using the best bits and I can honestly say that there is nothing like this film. While some of the jokes are very, very dry and occasionally fall flat, there is a subtle charm and wit to the film as you follow a group of 3rd rate local actors who have insane visions of Broadway.

    The film is ostensibly about a very local stage production about the founding of some small town. While these sort of pageants have been ubiquitous in small town America, this one is unique because supposedly a guy by the name of Guffman is coming to town and plans two see it. Guffman, it seems, is from Broadway and the cast has the temerity to believe that maybe they'll impress him so much that they'll become major stars. Considering the quality of the acting is well below that of an average high school production, this is very absurd. Yet, although ridiculous, there is a certain something in many of these people that is very likable so there is some depth to the film--you aren't just laughing at yokels who have ridiculous aspirations.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the film and think that people who like their humor subtle and perhaps a bit painful will enjoy this film. People who prefer broad comedy probably won't enjoy this very much.
    helpful•17
    2
    • planktonrules
    • Nov 10, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 31, 1997 (United States)
      • United States
      • Warner Bros. (United States)
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Gaslight Baker Theater, Lockhart, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Castle Rock Entertainment
      • Pale Morning Dun
      • All Night Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 24 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby
      • SDDS

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