This Is Spinal Tap
This mock documentary, which tracks the US tour of British heavy metal group Spinal Tap, puts on screen just about every cliche associated with rock music in general and heavy metal rockers in particular. Besides ridiculing the bold demonstrations of machismo so oftern on display at heavy meral gigs and the wild excesses of band members in tour buses and hotel rooms, This is Spinal Tap also takes a swipe at the rockumentary genre. With professional actors cast in the role of rockers, Rob Reiner outs on his documentary hat to make this tongue-in cheek study of a rock band. The rockumentary had its heyday in the 1970s. Probably the most notable earliest examples included It's Been a Hard Day's Night (1964), a portrait of the Beatles during a television show; Don't Look Back (1967), which takes to the road with Bob Dylan on a British tour; and Gimme Shelter (1970), which catalogues the Rolling Stıones' performance at the Altamont Speedway Free Festival. In later years, the genre faithfully followed the adventures of myriad groups from the Sex Pistols to Metallica, offering audiences an opportunity for closer acquaintance with the groups drugs, the horror and despair of hitting artist's block with an entourage of young and beautiful fans: these are all part and parcel of the world as portrayed on screen. On other words, rockumentaries not only got audiences admission to the bands' concert performances; they were also a ticket back stage. This is Spinal Tap, on the other hand, is a fake ticket to the behind-the-scenes of a fictional band which highlights hilarously the fake aspects of the real-life rock legend.
USA
'
1984
'
1984
Script
Christopher Guest
Harry Shearer
Michael McKean
Rob Reiner
Christopher Guest
Harry Shearer
Michael McKean
Rob Reiner
Cinematography
Peter Smokler
Peter Smokler
Editing
Kent Beyda
Kim Secrist
Robert Leighton
Kent Beyda
Kim Secrist
Robert Leighton
Production
Karen Murphy
Karen Murphy
Cast
Cristopher Guest
Harry Shearer
Michal McKean
Rob Reiner
Cristopher Guest
Harry Shearer
Michal McKean
Rob Reiner
Music
Cristopher Guest
Harry Shearer
Michal McKean
Rob Reiner
Cristopher Guest
Harry Shearer
Michal McKean
Rob Reiner
Festivals
14th Festival on Wheels
Mockumentaries
14th Festival on Wheels
Mockumentaries