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Note: My ISP no longer supports the use of CGI scripts unless I pay them buku dollores. This means a lot of the cool interactive stuff linked to this page no longer works. If you can give me free webspace that I can run Perl scripts on, or if you would like to adopt this site, please email me


Welcome to the Fast Times at Ridgemont High web site! This site celebrates that classic 1982 film about coming of age at a California high school. It is my objective to create here one of the most comprehensive and entertaining internet sites focused on a single movie. I hope you enjoy it!

Special Notices!

Vans still sells its classic checkerboard slip on sneakers. These are the same sneakers Spicoli wore in the movie. Price is $35 per pair. Order now from the Vans website.

Lana Clarkson, the actress who played Mrs. Vargas in Fast Times at Ridgemont High was found slain inside music producer Phil Spector's home on February 3, 2003. Police have charged Phil Spector with her murder.

Index


Introduction

The movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" was released in 1982 and was based on a book of the same name by writer Cameron Crowe. What is not generally known is that as preparation for writing his book, Crowe actually spent a year at Clairemont High School in San Diego posing as a student. This was done with the permission of the school administration and allowed Crowe first hand exposure to the realities of the American high school experience in the early 1980's. The characters in the book and movie are based on real people and all of the events described in the book and film actually happened.

I believe the fact that this film is rooted in reality is what differentiates it from the other "teen angst" movies of the 1980's. Most of the characters are complex and natural, not the traditional stereotypes we've all seen too many times before. The events depicted are also outside the norm for teen movies and are both serious and humorous. They entertain us because they are unpredictable and remind us of similar events that occurred in our own high schools. It is for these very reasons that Fast Times at Ridgemont High has become a cult classic.

Since launching this site in the spring of 1995, I have been amazed at the popularity of this film with people both young and old. Many people, including hardcore fans, people involved in the film, people involved in the entertainment industry, and graduates of Clairemont High have helped me continue enhancing this site by providing information, ideas, and services. To all of them I am grateful.

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The Cast

Sean Penn ...........................Jeff Spicoli
Jennifer Jason Leigh ................Stacy Hamilton
Judge Reinhold ......................Brad Hamilton
Robert Romanus ......................Mike Damone
Brian Backer ........................Mark "Rat" Ratner
Phoebe Cates ........................Linda Barrett
Ray Walston .........................Mr. Hand

This is an abbreviated list covering the major characters. The full cast and other info on this movie can be found by selecting this link to the "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" page in the Internet Movie Database.

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The Book

I bought a used copy of the book for $4 in the mid-80's and have since read it several times. As is the case with many books that are made into movies, the written format allows for fuller character development which makes individuals like Brad Hamilton, Jeff Spicoli, and Mr. Hand all the more interesting. Also, in addition to describing all of the people and events depicted in the movie, the book includes many more additional characters and events, some of which are as funny or funnier than those in the movie. I suggest that anyone who enjoys the film version of this work should try to track down the novel (now out of print) and give it a read. You will enjoy it immensely and appreciate the film even more.

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The Fast Times at Ridgemont High Trivia Exam

Think you know this movie? OK smart guy, show your stuff by taking this exam. Warning: This is not for freshman fans! If you fail, you can expect Mr. Hand at your house next Saturday night for a private tutoring session.

Mr. Hand has hidden a link to the answer key somewhere on this page. See if you can find it and cheat your way to fame and fortune just like the other Ridgemont kids!

Brian Nern has created another Fast Times trivia exam. Give it a try!

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Jeff Spicoli's Awesome Adventure

We all know the WWW is at its best when some degree of interaction with the user is involved. In an effort to provide this, I have created Jeff Spicoli's Awesome Adventure, an on-line trivia game that tests your knowledge of "Fast Times" as you follow Jeff's trials and tribulations in the movie.

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Alternative Versions of the Film

Belive it or not, at least three different versions of the film "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" exist. These are as follows:

Many thanks to Wayne Mogilefsky for providing information on these alternative versions as well as this comparison of the theatrical and broadcast TV versions

I have taken a crack at defining a "Director's Cut" of the film that includes the best elements of all the versions. Hopefully, MCA/Universal will one day release something similar to this.

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Press Reviews of the Book and Film

Perhaps predictably, the press reviews at the time the book and film were released were almost uniformly negative. Albert Ramirez did a Nexis search on the film's title and came up with these articles. Some are from the 1981-1982 time period and others are more recent. My favorite is the review that appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune in 1995.

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Images & Sound Clips

Images are in GIF or JPEG Format

Sounds are in Sun Audio (.au) Format


Stacy and Linda

Publicity still of Linda and Stacy making pizza at Perry's (86k-JPG)
Publicity still of Linda and Stacy scoping guys at Perry's (38k-JPG)
Publicity photo of Linda from rare pre-release promo document (86k-JPG)
Publicity still autographed by Phoebe and Jennifer (35k-JPG)
Publicity still autographed by Phoebe and Jennifer (35k-JPG)
Phoebe Cates and Jennifer Jason Leigh together (unknown date, 60k-JPG)
Linda getting ready for a dip in the pool (23k)
Linda as the object of Brad's fantasy (19k-JPG)
Linda preening in front of the mirror (TV only, 25k-JPG)
Stacy preening in front of the mirror (TV only, 22k-JPG)
Stacy about to get Mike in trouble with Rat (12k-JPG)
A cute picture of Stacy in Biology class (35k-JPG)
Stacy at abortion clinic (TV only, 24k-JPG)

Mike and Rat

A picture of Mike (40k-JPG)
Publicity still signed by Robert Romanus (Mike) (28k-JPG)
A picture of Rat (40k-JPG)
Publicity still of Mike & Rat coming to blows over Stacy! (48k-JPG)
Publicity still of Mike talking to Stacy (250k-GIF)
Mike describes Rat (32k)
Mike recounts Rat's past success with women (90k)
Mike instructs Rat in "The Attitude" (118k)
Mike Damone's Five Point Plan (includes sound clips) (33k)
Mike defends his profession (58k)

Brad Hamilton

A publicity still of Brad and Stacy by the Pool (40k-JPG)
A picture of Brad (40k-JPG)
Brad describes himself (22k)
Brad reviewing the rules with Jeff & Friends (with sound) (41k-JPG)
Brad has a meaningful conversation with his girlfriend Lisa (52k)
Brad hears that most dreaded line from Lisa (20k)
Brad flipping burgers with Arnold (35k-JPG)
Brad dealing with friendly customers at All American Burger (89k)

Mr. Hand

A picture of Mr. Hand (40k-JPG)
A publicity still of Mr. Hand from a rare pre-release promo document (40k-JPG)
Mr. Hand introduces himself and lays down the rules (134k)
Mr. Hand lays down another rule (101k)
Mr. Hand expresses confidence in his class (21k)
Mr. Hand meets Jeff Spicoli (399k - the whole scene!)
Mr. Hand gives Jeff Spicoli the "evil eye" (40k-JPG)

Jeff Spicoli

Great publicity still of Jeff and his buds (63k-JPG)
Black and white publicity still of Jeff (29k-JPG)
Rare publicity still from CBS TV showing (79k-JPG)
A rare view inside the stoner's van (29k-JPG)
Jeff and friends in bikinis (58k)
Jeff as a satisfied customer at All American Burger (41k-JPG)
Hey bud, Let's Party! (22k)
Jeff driving Jefferson's car (with sound) (27k-JPG)
Jeff tells Brad about his needs (100k)
Jeff playing Pac Man in the mall (TV only, 26k-JPG)
Jeff wearing a fancy hat (TV only, 19k-JPG)
Awesome, Totally Awesome! (20k)
Jeff's Plans for the Future (148k)

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Virtual Filmstrips

In an effort to integrate graphics and sounds without requiring large downloads, I have developed the "Virtual Filmstrip" concept. Each of the links below is to a page containing several consecutive screen shots from with movie, some with associated sound clips that can also be downloaded. This allows the viewer (hopefully) to experience some of the more classic moments from the film. Each page contains about 100k of in-line images so they may take a couple of minutes to download.

Brad's fantasy adventure with Linda
Mr. Hand vs. Jeff Spicoli: They Meet
Jeff and His Stoner Buds: Debriefing in the Bathroom
Mr. Hand vs. Jeff Spicoli: The Pizza Incident
Mr. Hand vs. Jeff Spicoli: Mr. Hand's Revenge

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QuickTime Movies

Below are some QuickTime movie clips from the film. They are 160x120 pixels in size, play at 12 fps, and include sound sampled at 11 kHz. The were originally captured as .AVI files using the Intel Indeo R3.2 compressor and have since been converted to "flattened" QuickTime format.

Mr. Hand introduces himself (280k)
Spicoli takes a bong hit (1.5 MB)

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The Soundtrack

The soundtrack to Fast Times at Ridgemont High was issued in 1982, coincident with the movie. It was released on the Elektra/Asylum label in both LP and cassette format. In 1995, almost 13 years after the movie's first release, the soundtrack has become available on CD.

Many fans e-mail me to ask "what it that song that is played when Linda is getting out of the pool and taking her top off". The answer is "Moving in Stereo" by The Cars. It is on their self-titled first album. Unfortunately, it is NOT on the FT@RH soundtrack CD.

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Fast Times: The TV Series

The Movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" spawned a short-lived TV series called, appropriately enough, "Fast Times". The show appeared on the CBS network in the spring of 1986 and included original movie cast members Ray Walston (Mr. Hand) and Vincent Schiavelli (Mr. Vargas). Fans of the TV series will be interested in the material below:

If you have any information, video captures, or audio clips from the TV series that you are willing to share, please contact me via e-mail.

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Letters to the Editor

Occassionally I receive interesting e-mail from visitors to this page concerning the film and the circumstances of its making. I have therefore created a Letters to the Editor Page to pass some of this interesting stuff on to future page visitors. If you know some interesting tidbits about this movie, please post the details on this page so others can enjoy them.

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The Ridgemont Mall

OK, Fast Times at Ridgemont High wasn't exactly Star Wars. Mattell never made any action figures of Jeff Spicoli (complete with sufboard, bong, and Vans!) and McDonald's never included plastic minatures of Brad's Cruising Vessel in its Happy Meals. Nevertheless, for those "Fast Times" fanatics willing to spend some time looking for "stuff" related to the movie, there is hope. Check out The Ridgemont Mall to see what types of "Fast Times" merchandise are available. Vendors are welcome to e-mail me if they have any other "Fast Times" stuff they want to offer for sale in this location. No bootleg stuff will be advertised and I receive no compensation of any kind on sales. This site continues to be a money-losing labor of love for me. Caveat Emptor.

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Related Links


The page that started it all! The Jeff Spicoli Home Page (from 1994)
The Phoebe Cates Showcase
Jennifer Jason Leigh Images
Aaron Teitlebaum's Fast Times Information Archive
Trailer for the Movie

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Future Plans

Future improvements planned for this site include the following:

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following individuals for their contributions to this effort:

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Tony Ruegger - webmaster

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Last updated: 11 January 2003