"This Is Spinal Tap" shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.
Writing
Almost entirely improvised — the script was a 7-page outline.
Practical Effects
The Stonehenge prop disaster is peak practical comedy.
Acting
Guest, McKean, Shearer lived these characters for months.
Director
Rob Reiner
Christopher Guest
Nigel Tufnel
Michael McKean
David St. Hubbins
Harry Shearer
Derek Smalls
Rob Reiner
Marty DiBergi
June Chadwick
Jeanine Pettibone
Tony Hendra
Ian Faith
Bruno Kirby
Tommy Pischedda
Ed Begley Jr.
John 'Stumpy' Pepys
Paul Benedict
Tucker 'Smitty' Brown
Zane Buzby
Rolling Stone Reporter
Billy Crystal
Morty the Mime
Howard Hesseman
Terry Ladd
Patrick Macnee
Sir Denis Eton-Hogg
Paul Shaffer
Artie Fufkin
Fred Willard
Lt. Hookstratten
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The actors wrote and performed all their own songs, and the 'Smell the Glove' album cover debate was entirely improvised.
Ozzy Osbourne famously didn't realize it was fake and thought the band had real problems; it's now in the National Film Registry.
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