Pump Up the Volume

Name: Pump Up the Volume
Genre: Music, Drama
Released: 1990-08-22
Duration: 1 h 42 min
Rating: 7.3
Cast: Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Annie Ross, Scott Paulin, Mimi Kennedy

TALK HARD. STEAL THE AIR.

Pump Up the Volume (1990)

Timing: 1:42 (102 min)

7.3/10
38 525

—
no scores

7.1/10
413

7.2/10
33000

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Everything about the movie

Video 2

Photo 28

Actors and characters

Video for the film Pump Up the Volume — Official Trailer

2:54

Photo 28

Release date

1990-08-22

Country

Canada, United States

Production

New Line Cinema, SC Entertainment

Genre

Music, Drama

Budget

Box office

$11 541 758

Website

Director

Allan Moyle

Actors

Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Annie Ross, Scott Paulin, Mimi Kennedy, Andy Romano, Keith Stuart Thayer, Cheryl Pollak, Jeff Chamberlain, Lala Sloatman
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Allan Moyle

Producer

Sandy Stern, Rupert Harvey, Sara Risher, Nicolas Stiliadis, Syd Cappe

Camera operator

Walt Lloyd

Composer

Cliff Martinez

Artist

Robb Wilson King

Audition

Judith Holstra, Deborah Aquila

Editing

Janice Hampton, Larry Bock
Whole Team (94)

Short description

Mark Hunter, a lonely high school student, uses his shortwave radio to moonlight as the popular pirate DJ "Hard Harry." When his show gets blamed for a teen committing suicide, the students clash with high school faculty and the authorities.

What's left behind the scenes

Due to constant smoking during filming, as required by the script, Christian Slater, who played the main character, felt unwell several times.
Director and screenwriter Allan Moyle described the main character, played by Christian Slater, as a mix of Lenny Bruce (an American stand-up comedian, social critic, and satirist who gained prominence in the 1950s and 1960s) and Holden Caulfield (the main character in J. D. Salinger's novel 'The Catcher in the Rye').
The school shown in the film was based on a high school in Montreal, where the director and screenwriter Allan Moyle's sister once worked as a teacher.
Christian Slater and Samantha Mathis were in a close relationship during the making of the film, so the feelings they displayed on screen were quite genuine.
Inspired by George Lucas's comedy *American Graffiti* (1973), director and screenwriter Allan Moyle approached Lucas to be a consultant or even producer on the *Pump Up the Volume* project. Lucas read the script and noted its potential. However, he and Steven Spielberg had released the adventure film *Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade* (1989) a year earlier, and Lucas now wanted to focus on the *Radio Killers* project. He had begun working on *Radio Killers* as early as the 1970s. Ultimately, the film of the same name (1994) was directed by Mel Smith, but it flopped at the box office.
Just before filming began, Christian Slater had his driver's license suspended for the second time in a relatively short period for driving under the influence, and Allan Moyle had to make corresponding changes to the script. Slater's character does not drive, preferring to walk. In the final scene, his girlfriend Nora, played by Samantha Mathis, is behind the wheel.
Director and screenwriter Allan Moyle described the main character, played by Christian Slater, as a cross between Lenny Bruce (an American stand-up comedian, social critic, and satirist who rose to fame in the 1950s and 60s) and Holden Caulfield (the protagonist of J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye).
Due to the constant smoking required by the script, lead actor Christian Slater fell ill several times during filming.
Christian Slater and Samantha Mathis were in a close relationship while working on the film, so the feelings they displayed on screen were quite genuine.
The educational institution shown in the film is based on a high school in Montreal, where the sister of director and screenwriter Allan Moyle once worked as a teacher.
Inspired by George Lucas's comedy American Graffiti (1973), director and screenwriter Allan Moyle approached Lucas with a request to serve as a consultant or even a producer on the project Turn It Up! Lucas read the script and noted its potential. However, a year earlier, he and Steven Spielberg had released the adventure action film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), and Lucas now wanted to focus on the project Radio Killers. He had begun working on Radio Killers back in the 1970s. Ultimately, the eponymous film (1994) was directed by Mel Smith, but it failed at the box office.
Right before filming began, Christian Slater had his driver's license revoked for drunk driving for the second time in a relatively short period, forcing Allan Moyle to make corresponding changes to the script. Slater's character does not drive, preferring to travel on foot. In the final scene, his girlfriend Nora, played by Samantha Mathis, is behind the wheel.