Question 1

What real-life skill did Rodney Dangerfield share with his character Thornton Melon?

Accepted Answer

Like his character, Rodney Dangerfield was an acrobatic high diver in his youth.

Question 2

What humorous literary reference does Thornton make during a phone call with Kurt Vonnegut Jr.?

Accepted Answer

Thornton says 'Next time, I'll call Robert Ludlum!' before hanging up. Spy novelist Ludlum was one of Rodney Dangerfield's real-life neighbors at the time.

Question 3

Why is Rodney Dangerfield laughing during Sam Kinison's intense classroom scene?

Accepted Answer

Dangerfield had such a hard time keeping a straight face during his scene with Kinison that director Alan Metter ultimately left a take where he's laughing from a distance in the final cut.

Question 4

How did Harold Ramis change Rodney Dangerfield's character from the original script?

Accepted Answer

In the original script, Rodney Dangerfield's character was poor, but Harold Ramis suggested changing him to be rich.

Question 5

What was Back to School's box office performance in 1986?

Accepted Answer

It was the sixth highest-grossing film of 1986 and the second highest-grossing comedy of the year after Crocodile Dundee.

Question 6

What real-life skill did Rodney Dangerfield share with his character Thornton Melon?

Accepted Answer

Like his character, Rodney Dangerfield was an acrobatic high diver in his youth.

Question 7

What humorous literary reference does Thornton make during a phone call with Kurt Vonnegut Jr.?

Accepted Answer

Thornton tells Vonnegut 'Next time, I'll call Robert Ludlum!'—spy novelist Ludlum was Dangerfield's real-life neighbor.

Question 8

Why was Rodney Dangerfield laughing in a scene with Sam Kinison that made it into the final cut?

Accepted Answer

Dangerfield had trouble keeping a straight face while Kinison yelled at him, so director Alan Metter left the laughing take in the movie.

Question 9

How did Harold Ramis change Rodney Dangerfield's character from the original script?

Accepted Answer

Harold Ramis suggested changing Dangerfield's character from poor to rich in the script.

Question 10

What was the box office performance of Back to School in 1986?

Accepted Answer

It was the sixth highest-grossing film of 1986 and the second highest-grossing comedy that year after Crocodile Dundee.

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