Back to School

Back to School
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlan Metter
Screenplay by
Story by
Produced byChuck Russell
Starring
CinematographyThomas E. Ackerman
Edited byDavid Rawlins
Music byDanny Elfman
Production
company
Paper Clip Productions
Distributed byOrion Pictures
Release date
  • June 13, 1986 (1986-06-13)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$11 million[1]
Box office$91.3 million[2]

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, Robert Downey Jr., M. Emmet Walsh, and Adrienne Barbeau. 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 Jason (Gordon) and learns that he cannot buy an education or happiness.

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 in dedication to Estelle Endler, one of the executive producers of the film, who died during production. She was Dangerfield's long-time manager, who helped him get into films such as Caddyshack.[3]

  1. ^ "Blockbuster Lull No Problem At Box Office". Chicago Tribune. July 30, 1986. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  2. ^ "Back to School (1986)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  3. ^ Dangerfield, Rodney (2004). It's Not Easy Bein' Me: A Lifetime of No Respect but Plenty of Sex and Drugs. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060779245. I was right about Estelle—she was the best manager anyone could ever have. She got me into movies.