Back to School (1986)

Back to School (1986)

Taglines: Registration starts Friday, June 13, at theaters everywhere.

Back to School movie storyline. Millionaire businessman Thornton Melon is upset when his son Jason announces that he is not sure about going to college. Thornton insists that college is the best thing he never had for himself, and to prove his point, he agrees to enroll in school along with his son. Thornton is a big hit on campus: always throwing the biggest parties, knowing all the right people, but is this the way to pass college?

Back to School is a 1986 American comedy film starring Rodney Dangerfield, Keith Gordon, Sally Kellerman, Burt Young, Terry Farrell, William Zabka, Ned Beatty, Sam Kinison, Paxton Whitehead and Robert Downey, Jr. It was directed by Alan Metter. The plot centers on a wealthy but uneducated father (Dangerfield) who goes to college to show solidarity with his discouraged son (Gordon) and learns that he cannot buy an education or happiness.

Author Kurt Vonnegut has a cameo as himself, as does the band Oingo Boingo, whose frontman Danny Elfman composed the score for the film. The University of Wisconsin–Madison was used as a backdrop for the movie, although it was called “Grand Lakes University.” The diving scenes were filmed at the since-demolished Industry Hills Aquatic Club in the City of Industry, California.

Before the end credits, the message “For ESTELLE Thanks For So Much” is shown. This is a dedication to Estelle Endler, one of the executive producers of the film, who died during filming. She was Dangerfield’s long-time manager, who helped him get into films such as Caddyshack.

Back to School Movie Poster (1986)

Back to School (1986)

Directed by: Alan Metter
Starring: Rodney Dangerfield, Sally Kellerman, Burt Young, Keith Gordon, Robert Downey Jr., Paxton Whitehead, Terry Farrell, Adrienne Barbeau
Screenplay by: Rodney Dangerfield, Greg Fields
Production Design by: David L. Snyder
Cinematography by: Thomas E. Ackerman
Film Editing by: David Rawlins
Costume Design by: Durinda Wood
Set Decoration by: Linda DeScenna
Music by: Danny Elfman
Distributed by: Orion Pictures
Release Date: June 13, 1986

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