Two boys, Pedro (Richard “Cheech” Marin) and Man (Tommy Chong) search for some marijuana to aid them in the formation of a pop group, and the trail leads them to LA. In pursuit is narcotics detective Sgt Stedenko (Stacy Keach).
Keach displays a real gift for comedy and has a ball as Sergeant Stedenko, the deranged narcotics squad cop on their trail – who uses confiscated stash and starts becoming a lizard (!) – while the van made of cannabis is a hoot. Cheech and Chong’s marijuana-laced humour keeps their spirits high and leads them to an outrageous finale at LA’s Roxy Theatre.
Cheech and Chong make their film debut in this riotous rock’n’roll comedy, bringing with them the same madness, lifestyles and sketches that sold over 10 million records in the early 1970s.
The pair made a surprisingly successful transition to the big screen, making six movies together, all essential viewing for students around the world. But if you only ever watch one Cheech and Chong movie, make it this one.
Up In Smoke brought in around $30 million in its first three weeks of release and ranked as the season’s #2 grossing film (after National Lampoon’s Animal House). In one week alone, the film was responsible for ¼ of total box office revenues in Los Angeles.
The Catholic Church even took the trouble to condemn the film as “morally objectionable” for Roman Catholics.
Pedro de Pacas
Cheech Marin
Man (Anthony)
Tommy Chong
Arnold Stoner
Strother Martin
Tempest Stoner
Edie Adams
James (Bass)
Ray Vitte
Duane (Guitar)
Michael Caldwell
Juan (1st Trumpet)
Jose Pulido
Tom (2nd Trumpet)
Ruben Guevara
Ollie (3rd Trumpet)
Miguel Murillo
Sergeant Stedenko
Stacy Keach
Harry
Mills Watson
Clyde
Karl Johnson
Murphy
Rick Beckner
Strawberry
Tom Skerritt
Jade East
Zane Buzby
Debbie
Anne Wharton
Gloria
Louisa Moritz
Richard
Richard Novo
Judge Gladys Dykes
Marian Beeler
Curtis
Christopher Joy
Aunt Bolita
Angelina Estrada
Bennie
Ben Merino
Toyota Kawasaki
Akemi Kikumura
Rodney Bingenheimer
Himself
Sister Mary Vogue
Marcia Wolf
Sister Mary Secretary
Andi Nachman
Sister Mary Quacker
Betty Mcguire
Sister Mary Arabian
Cheryl Jeffrey
Sister Mary Mary
Gayna Shernen
Sister Mary Yuma
June Creaghe
Sister Mary Indian
Patty Proudfoot
The Dills
Themselves
Berlin Brats
Themselves
The Whores
Themselves
Director
Lou Adler