THE PLOT

Thornton Melon’s (Rodney Dangerfield) son is a college misfit, so Thornton’s lending some fatherly support... by enrolling as a fellow freshman!  Thornton’s pockets are deep enough to buy a ticket to class... and hire NASA to do his homework!  But when he ticks off his professor and then steals his girlfriend Thornton takes things just a little too far.  Now, he’ll have to hit the books instead of his bank account or go back to being the world’s wealthiest dropout! 

96 min. Rated PG-13

 

Film Facts for BACK TO SCHOOL

Most of the outdoors scenes at the college where shot on location at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

The original music score for the movie was composed by band leader Danny Elfman of Oingo Boingo. The band was featured performing their song "Dead Man's Party" at Thornton Melon's dorm party. 

Rodney Dangerfield always looked out for younger comedic talents. He was a big proponent for Sam Kinison's part as a crazed professor in Back to School. They also considered Jim Carrey, but he was rejected as too young. Later when producer Chuck Russell got the chance to direct The Mask (1994), he was finally able to use Jim Carrey, transforming the Mask from a "very dark horror film" to a comedy.
 

Alice Cooper's song "The Great American Success Story" (on the album 'Constrictor') was apparently intended to be the theme song. Its lyrics summarize the plot and include "he don't get no respect", and the chorus leads off with the phrase "back to school." The song was not used in the film, and there is no mention of the connection in the liner notes of the album. 

One of the last shots in the opening montage is of Rodney Dangerfield golfing. This was taken directly from his first film, Caddyshack (1980). 
The room in which Thornton Melon takes his three-hour oral exam is the same room in which Alex Owens makes her successful dance audition in Flashdance (1983). 

The song playing at Chaz's fraternity party (before the girls abandon it for Melon's) is "Everybody's Crazy", a song from Michael Bolton's days as a metal singer. 

Due to Rodney Dangerfield's contractual obligations with the Miller Brewing Company and his appearances in Miller Lite beer commercials at the time, only Miller beer was allowed to be shown in certain scenes (when Dangerfield goes to get a beer out of the refrigerator during the party at his house and during the large party at the college when the police arrive with extra beer). 

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

The scene where Derek distracts the opposing team's divers in not included when the movie is on television. That's because such actions could cause serious injury to divers, especially from 5 and 10-meter platforms, and would make Derek subject to arrest, prison time, and civil litigation. 

Trivia from: www.imdb.com