On this day in comedy on September 15, 1978 Up in Smoke was released by Paramount Pictures.
This film by stage and recording duo Cheech and Chong is recognized as the first ‘stoner comedy”. The story centers around two potheads with a band and an insatiable need for weed. One (Tommy Chong) is given an ultimatum by his parents; get a job or get shipped off to military school. The other just wants to get high. After beating a drug bust when they’re discovered on the side of the road high as kites, their quest for more marijuana ensues. This journey takes them to the cousin of Cheech (Tom Skerritt), a Vietnam vet who has a flashback as the cops raid his house; to Tijuana to attend a wedding of relatives after his East L. A. kin called the INS on themselves to get a free trip over there and back to California, in a truck made, unbeknownst to them, entirely of marijuana resin (in a fiberglass-like form).
Most of the time our heroes are being tracked down by inept Sgt. Stedenko (Stacy Keach). He and his minions get close, but are thwarted time and time again by the weed fumes emanating from the truck that get the police high and distracted. The climax occurs when Cheech and Chong win the Battle of the Bands as their weedmobile spews THC smoke into the venue and gets the whole audience high.
Directed by Lou Adler, Up in Smoke also featured the talents of Strother Martin, Edie Adams, Mills Watson, June Fairchild, Zane Buzby, David Nelson and Ellen Barkin. On a budget of $2 million the film grossed $44,364,244 at the box office.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
Check out this clip:
