Prepare to crank those amps up to eleven|May. 04, 1984|USA|82 Min.|R
Genre: Comedy;Music
Description: This Is Spinal Tap is a 1984 mockumentary film directed by Rob Reiner, which follows the fictional English rock band Spinal Tap during their 1982 U.S. tour to promote their new album, Smell the Glove. The film is presented as a documentary by filmmaker Marty Di Bergi. The band, consisting of childhood friends David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel on vocals and guitar, bassist Derek Smalls, keyboardist Viv Savage, and drummer Mick Shrimpton, has a history of bizarre band name changes and a series of odd incidents involving their drummers.
Originally known as the Originals, they later adopted the name the New Originals and had a hit as the Thamesmen with the song “Gimme Some Money.” They eventually became Spinal Tap, moving from a flower power sound to heavy metal. Their journey is marked by strange misfortunes, including the deaths of their former drummers under peculiar circumstances like spontaneous human combustion, a gardening accident, and even choking on vomit.
The film portrays David and Nigel as talented but somewhat foolish musicians. In a memorable scene, Nigel proudly shows off his custom amplifier with volume knobs that go up to eleven, believing it will make the band louder. This moment gave rise to the popular phrase “up to eleven.” The band faces challenges during their tour, including canceled shows due to poor ticket sales and controversy over the sexist cover art of Smell the Glove, which leads major retailers to refuse to sell the album.
Tensions escalate as David’s girlfriend, Jeanine, joins the tour and begins to influence the band’s decisions, causing friction with their manager, Ian Faith. The album is ultimately released with a plain black cover, compared to the Beatles’ White Album, but it fails to generate significant interest. This Is Spinal Tap offers a satirical take on the rock music industry, blending humor with a behind-the-scenes look at the struggles and eccentricities of a fictional band.
Cast director: Rob Reiner
Cast actor: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner, June Chadwick, Bruno Kirby, Ed Begley Jr., Fran Drescher, Dana Carvey, Sandy Helberg
Original name: This Is Spinal Tap