Waiting for Guffman – (1996) by the same people who brought us A Mighty Wind and Spinal Tap. Blaine, Missouri, “The Stool Capital of the World,” celebrates its sesquicentennial anniversary with an original amateur musical production, Red, White and Blaine, featuring all local talent. In mocumentary style, beginning with interviews with the mayor and other townspeople, auditions, and the first rehearsal, with parts going to Dentist Allan Pearl (Eugene Levy), travel agents Ron and Sheila Albertson (Fred Willard and Catherine O’Hara), DQ employee Libby Mae Brown (Parker Posey), “old fart” Clifford Wooley, and mechanic Johnny Savage; director/writer Cory St Clair (Christopher Guest, who directed the film) receives communication from the Oppenheimer Foundation that New York City reviewer Mort Guffman will attend the stage performance, producing wild expectations in the cast of their possibly becoming a Broadway show. But then Cory quits when the city council turns down his request for $100,000 to funding the show, since the entire city budget is only $15,000.

The music director Lloyd Miller (Bob Balaban) takes over, but his no-nonsense style upsets the cast – besides, he shops at Wal-Mart – sending everyone back to Cory begging for his return. Cory comes back, but on the day of the show, Johnny Savage can’t perform. Cory takes the part so that the show can go on. A seat in front is reserved for Mr Guffman. The musical covers the history of Blaine from its founding by frontiersman Blaine Fabin, who thought he had reached California, to a visit by President McKinley and another by aliens from Mars on which a pot luck took place onboard the spacecraft. Allan Pearl goes to Miami to perform in nursing homes; the Albertsons get to Hollywood; Libby meets her father in Sipes, Alabama, after his release from prison; and Corky returns to New York City.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2007 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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