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Waiting for Guffman

  • 1996
  • R
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
32K
YOUR RATING
Waiting for Guffman (1996)
Trailer for Waiting for Guffman
Play trailer2:02
1 Video
99+ Photos
SatireComedy

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.

  • Director
    • Christopher Guest
  • Writers
    • Christopher Guest
    • Eugene Levy
  • Stars
    • Christopher Guest
    • Fred Willard
    • Catherine O'Hara
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    32K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Christopher Guest
    • Writers
      • Christopher Guest
      • Eugene Levy
    • Stars
      • Christopher Guest
      • Fred Willard
      • Catherine O'Hara
    • 223User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Waiting for Guffman
    Trailer 2:02
    Waiting for Guffman

    Photos144

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    + 138
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    Top cast38

    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
    • Director
      • Christopher Guest
    • Writers
      • 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 Siskel & Ebert: 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)

    User reviews223

    Featured review

    Waiting for Godot, I mean, Guffman

    "Waiting for Guffman" (1996): THE FINEST assemblage of straight-faced comedians in all of history, create one of THE funniest movies EVER. "Waiting for Guffman" is about humans with more than enough faith...AND self-delusions. Christopher Guest is the driving force, both in front of and behind the camera, and along with Eugene Levy, portray a small town's population creating a small play about their small history, which is a VERY BIG deal to them. Guest's consistent theme (throughout his films) is about humans who don't have enough insight or talent to spot the lack of it within themselves. There is an incredible blind faith, tenderness and embarrassing, misguided drive within these people. And yet, within their little world, they support the dreams for one another, and move through their lives with solid delusion. "This is Spinal Tap", "Best in Show", and "A Mighty Wind" are other great examples. Guest also has the sense to call back his actors for further projects. This is brilliant work.
    • futures-1
    • Dec 8, 2008
    • Permalink

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    FAQ19

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    Details

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

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,923,982
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $37,990
      • Feb 2, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,925,201
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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