“National Lampoon’s Animal House” (1978) directed by John Landis, starring John Belushi / Z-View

National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)

Director:  John Landis

Screenplay: Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney, Chris Miller

Stars: John Belushi, Karen Allen, Tom Hulce, Stephen Furst, Mark Metcalf, Mary Louise Weller, Martha Smith, James Daughton, Douglas Kenney, James Widdoes, Tim Matheson, Peter Riegert, Bruce McGill, Donald Sutherland, John Vernon, Cesare Danova, Verna Bloom, Stephen Bishop, Otis Day and Kevin Bacon.

Tagline: It was the Deltas against the rules… the rules lost!

The Plot…

1962.  Dean Vernon Wormer has had enough from the antics of the Delta Tau Chi fraternity. Wormer wants Faber College to be respectable… even if he has to play underhanded.  So Wormer enlists Greg Marmalard, President of the elite Omega Theta Pi fraternity to join him.  Wormer places the Delta house on “Double Secret Probation” and the plan is set in place to rid the campus of the Delta‘s once and for all.

What Wormer didn’t take into consideration is that although the Delta ringleaders, John “Bluto” Blutarsky, Robert “Hoov” Hoover, Eric “Otter” Stratton, Daniel Simpson “D-Day” Day, Donald “Boon” Schoenstein as well as new pledges Larry “Pinto” Kroger and Kent “Flounder” Dorfman are flunking out of college, they won’t be expelled without a fight!

Toga Party!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

John Belushi improvised his cafeteria scenes of loading his tray and “I’m a zit!” Belushi also improvised the scene where he suddenly grabs Stephen Bishop’s guitar and smashes it into the wall.

After the success of Animal House, DeWayne Jessie legally changed his name to Otis Day and he began touring with a band he named Otis Day and the Knights.

For three days work, Donald Sutherland was offered a percentage of Animal House’s gross or $75,000.00.  Sutherland opted for the cash.  Had he taken the percentage he would have made three or four million dollars more.  Interesting to note, that even though Sutherland only appeared in a few scenes he made more than John Belushi, the movie’s star.  Belushi made $40,000.00.

Animal House features Kevin Bacon and Karen Allen’s feature film debuts.

1962 as selected for Animal House because the writers thought it was America’s last innocent year.  The climatic homecoming parade occurs on November 21, 1963, the day before President Kennedy’s assassination.

The actor who played the bass player in Otis Day’s band was legendary blues artist Robert Cray!  Cray was unknown at the time.

Animal House has an amazing supporting cast!

When Animal House was released I was the perfect age for it.  I had just graduated high school the year before and was enjoying my freshman year in college.

National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) rates 5 of 5 stars