National Lampoon's Animal House (film)
"National Lampoon's Animal House" is a comedy film released in 1978, set in the fictional Faber College during the year 1962. The story revolves around the misadventures of the unruly Delta Tau Chi fraternity, known for their carefree and chaotic lifestyle, contrasted with the uptight Omega fraternity. Written by Douglas Kenney, Chris Miller, and Harold Ramis, the film drew inspiration from the writers' own college experiences. Directed by John Landis, who was relatively young at the time, the film underwent significant revisions to tone down initially objectionable content, resulting in a more humorous and satire-focused screenplay.
The film features a cast of mostly unknown actors, with John Belushi portraying the iconic character John "Bluto" Blutarsky, whose performances and memorable lines have become legendary in pop culture. Although it was produced on a modest budget of $2.5 million, "Animal House" achieved tremendous box office success, grossing $45 million shortly after its release. The film's vibrant energy, along with its memorable music, contributed to its enduring appeal and cultural significance, influencing college culture with events like toga parties. In recognition of its impact, the film won a People's Choice Award and was later preserved in the Library of Congress's National Film Registry for its cultural importance.
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Subject Terms
National Lampoon's Animal House (film)
Identification American film
Date Released in 1978
Director John Landis
This hit movie inspired a number of subversive comedies and continued the tradition of comic films set on college campuses.
Key Figures
John Landis (1950- ), film director
The concept for National Lampoon’s Animal House grew from the college experiences of the three writers: Douglas Kenney, an alumnus of the Harvard Lampoon and founding editor of the National Lampoon magazine; Chris Miller; and Harold Ramis, an alumnus of The Second City comedy troupe of Chicago. Although the original script was turned down by Warner Bros., Universal Studios accepted it because of Kenney’s connection with the popular National Lampoon. John Landis, then only twenty-seven years old, was the last choice for director. He took the script, originally full of racism and gratuitous cruelty, and asked the writers to omit some of the grosser aspects. The result is a funny and literate screenplay.
With the exception of veteran actor Donald Sutherland, playing the jaded English professor, all the actors were virtually unknown. Kevin Bacon made his screen debut in the film, but John Belushi, playing John “Bluto” Blutarsky, is the most memorable character. Ramis knew Belushi through their involvement in The Second City and wrote the part with Belushi in mind. Although Landis took away much of his dialogue, Belushi still managed to steal any scene in which he appeared with a raised eyebrow, a drunken grin, or a leer. His few lines are legend—for example, his comment on being kicked out of school, “Seven years down the drain.” Other actors included Tom Hulce as Pinto, Stephen Furst as Flounder, Tim Matheson as Otter, and Karen Allen as Katy.
The film had a low budget of $2.5 million and, to cut costs, was shot almost entirely on the University of Oregon campus. The university was reluctant about using the campus and gave the crew thirty days to complete filming. Cast and crew worked six-day weeks and finished in twenty-eight days. Seven weeks after release, the film had generated $45 million at the box office.
Set at fictional Faber College, the time period is 1962, before the John F. Kennedy assassination and the turmoil of the later 1960’s. There are no “issues” to be aired. Major concerns are Jell-O slurping, toga parties, and drinking beer. The conflict in the film is between the establishment-supporting “goody-goodies” of Omega House and the fun-oriented, reprobate brothers of Delta House. All the positives about fraternity life are aspects of Delta; negative aspects were represented by the Nazi-like Omega. The result was a film full of fun and energy, supported by exuberant music, including “Shout” and “Twistin’ the Night Away.”
Impact
With its sense of freedom and anarchy, National Lampoon’s Animal House tapped into nostalgia for a simpler time. Its antiestablishment humor had a wide appeal, and the toga party became a national craze on college campuses. The film won the 1979 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Non-musical Motion Picture. In 2002, it was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry of motion pictures that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically” significant to American film.
Bibliography
Mitchell, Elvis. “Critic’s Notebook: Revisiting Faber College.” The New York Times, August 25, 2003, p. E1.
Shah, Diane, and Ron Labrecque. “Toga, Toga, Toga.” Newsweek, October 2, 1978, 74.
Sigoloff, Marc. Films of the Seventies: A Filmography of American, British, and Canadian Films, 1970-1979. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 2000.