Back to School DVD

Back to School
Self-made wealthy guy Rodney Dangerfield decides he needs a better education--and also to spend some time away from his cheating new wife. Dangerfield joins his son Keith Gordon at college. Dad hopes to gain his son's respect (isn't that always Dangerfield's motivation?), while son tries to fit in with his snobbish and brutish fellow students. English professor Sally Kellerman forms a strong bond with Dangerfield, encouraging both father and son to stick out their first year despite all odds. The finale involves some slapstick at the swimming pool diving board, and the obligatory commencement address delivered by Dangerfield, who proves that he can crack jokes without tugging at his tie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast Rodney Dangerfield as Thornton Melon Sally Kellerman as Diane Burt Young as Lou Keith Gordon as Jason Melon Robert Downey, Jr. as Derek M. Emmet Walsh as Coach Turnbull Paxton Whitehead as Philip Barbay Adrienne Barbeau as Vanessa Terry Farrell as Valerie William Zabka as Chas Ned Beatty as Dean Martin Severn Darden as Dr. Barazini Sam Kinison as Prof. Terguson Robert Picardo as Giorgio Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. as Himself Edie McClurg as Marge

Crew Dorinda Rice Wood - Costume Designer Alan Metter - Director David Rawlins - Editor Harold Ramis - Executive Producer Estelle Endler - Executive Producer Michael Endler - Executive Producer Danny Elfman - Composer (Music Score) Richard Wolf - Songwriter Hallie D'Amore - Makeup David Snyder - Production Designer Marjorie Stone McShirley - Production Designer Thomas E. Ackerman - Cinematographer Estelle Endler - Producer Chuck Russell - Producer Harold Ramis - Producer Edmund Silkaitis - Set Designer Michael Lantieri - Special Effects Pete Antico - Stunts Dick Ziker - Stunts Chuck Picerni, Jr. - Stunts Greg Fields - Screen Story Dennis Snee - Screen Story Rodney Dangerfield - Screen Story Rich Eustis - Screenwriter Peter Torokvei - Screenwriter Harold Ramis - Screenwriter Steven Kampmann - Screenwriter Michael Elias - Screenwriter Will Aldis - Screenwriter Vern Porter - Screenwriter Rodney Dangerfield - Screenwriter Will Porter - Screenwriter

Back to School
Rodney Dangerfield has made a nominal career of playing the disrespected everyman, but the one he creates for Back to School is probably both the wealthiest and most loveable. One of his fonder star vehicles, Back to School twists the standard college comedy format by inserting a wild-eyed adult into the equation, then making him adept both at fitting in with his wisecracking classmates and cutting corners like a seasoned pro. (When he's required to write a paper on Kurt Vonnegut, he hires the author himself to do it; on receiving a poor grade, in a moment that's pure Dangerfield, he tells Vonnegut he doesn't know squat about himself.) Sharing the writing credit with seven others, including Animal House veteran Harold Ramis, Dangerfield finally writes himself a balance between his typical zippy putdowns and the warmth audiences expect from their comic heroes. Hardcore fans might think he's selling out in favor of sentiment, but most others will find it charmingly unselfconscious. He even convinces that a refined professor like the one played by Sally Kellerman just might go for him. Keith Gordon is the perfect straight man for Dangerfield, rolling his eyes like a put-upon son, but also generating his half of a believable father-son chemistry. And for suspension of disbelief at its zaniest, just check out Dangerfield's inimitable dive during the climactic swim meet. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French, Spanish Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD2: Dolby Digital Stereo DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: cc Original theatrical trailer DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: PG13 DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 2 DVD DVD Region Code: Content Length: 96 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- WS 1. Logo/Intro [2:16] 2. Main Title [2:04] 3. Fat Business [3:32] 4. Happily Married [1:12] 5. Adam and Evil [4:36] 6. An Honest Mistake [2:12] 7. Two Regular Schmoes [:53] 8. I'll Do it With You [2:45] 9. Buying In [3:15] 10. Meet the Girl [4:13] 11. Just a Dorm Room [1:01] 12. Economics 101 [3:04] 13. Not a Fighter [3:05] 14. Gibraltar Is a Girl [2:07] 15. How About a Merger? [1:54] 16. His Son's Coach [1:49] 17. Astronomy Homework [1:23] 18. Lou, These Are Girls [1:28] 19. Teacher's Pet [5:13] 20. Help With Vonnegut [6:29] 21. Kindred Spirits [1:34] 22. Take a Letter, Marge [1:46] 23. The Swim Meet [2:48] 24. Party of the Year [3:22] 25. Academic Fraud [7:22] 26. Looking Out for Dad [2:38] 27. Serious Study [1:48] 28. A Test for Mr. Melon [1:24] 29. Love, Valerie [2:07] 30. True Poetry [1:28] 31. He Shoots, He Scores [3:05] 32. End Credits [8:07] Side #2 -- P&S 1. Logo/Intro [2:16] 2. Main Title [2:04] 3. Fat Business [3:32] 4. Happily Married [1:12] 5. Adam and Evil [4:36] 6. An Honest Mistake [2:12] 7. Two Regular Schmoes [:53] 8. I'll Do it With You [2:45] 9. Buying In [3:15] 10. Meet the Girl [4:13] 11. Just a Dorm Room [1:01] 12. Economics 101 [3:04] 13. Not a Fighter [3:05] 14. Gibraltar Is a Girl [2:07] 15. How About a Merger? [1:54] 16. His Son's Coach [1:49] 17. Astronomy Homework [1:23] 18. Lou, These Are Girls [1:28] 19. Teacher's Pet [5:13] 20. Help With Vonnegut [6:29] 21. Kindred Spirits [1:34] 22. Take a Letter, Marge [1:46] 23. The Swim Meet [2:48] 24. Party of the Year [3:22] 25. Academic Fraud [7:22] 26. Looking Out for Dad [2:38] 27. Serious Study [1:48] 28. A Test for Mr. Melon [1:24] 29. Love, Valerie [2:07] 30. True Poetry [1:28] 31. He Shoots, He Scores [3:05] 32. End Credits [8:07]