474:-based company, and put into development. He was persuaded to direct his own screenplay. Moyle wrote it without a specific actor in mind but his development deal specified that the project would be canceled if a suitable actor could not be found. The director needed an actor who had to have "glee, to be ineffably sweet and at the same time demonic." He initially wanted to cast
356:
begin their own shows to put their thoughts and feelings out into the world. The police arrest Mark and Nora. As they are taken away, students shout their appreciation of “Harry”. Mark turns to the students and tells them to “Talk hard!” As the film ends, the voices of students, and even one of the teachers, are heard introducing their own pirate radio shows.
331:
Fellow student Nora De Niro deduces that Mark is Hard Harry, and attempts to assuage the guilt he feels over
Malcolm. The radio show becomes increasingly popular after Harry apologizes to Malcolm for not telling him not to follow through, and exhorts his listeners to confront their problems instead
601:
In 2019, Point Park
University's Conservatory of Performing Arts announced that it would be producing the world premiere production of the musical adaptation in conjunction with RWS Entertainment as a part of their 2019-2020 season. Jeff Thomson, composer, and Jeremy Desmon, book and lyrics, first
495:
and the "Hard Harry" persona as a guy who "has to get credibility as an outsider. As the last angry man on the planet, he has to use the foulest language he can think of. He even pretends to masturbate on the air. He's obsessed with sex and death." The school in the film, Hubert
Humphrey High, was
351:
Harry’s broadcast is heard by the entire school who have gathered at the athletics field. Mark’s father, school board commissioner Brian Hunter, confronts
Principal Loretta Cresswood demanding to know why she systematically expelled students with low test scores. Cresswood insists they were losers
355:
The harmonizer Mark uses to disguise his voice breaks, and Mark decides to broadcast his final message as himself. The Jeep drives up to the crowd of students, and Mark tells them that the world belongs to them and that they should make their own future. He encourages them to “steal the air” and
339:
Unrest at the school increases as students share bootleg tapes re-playing Harry’s show. A meeting of faculty and parents concludes that the pirate DJ is responsible for the problems at the school. The police investigate, first cutting off Mark’s access to his P.O. Box, and then cutting off the
504:
Slater disagreed with Moyle who wanted to bring in a tap dance instructor to help orchestrate a scene that begins with "Hard Harry" faking masturbation on the air and ends with him breaking into a manic dance by himself. Slater wanted to do something more spontaneous based on his instincts.
500:
high school where director Moyle's sister used to teach that, according to Moyle, had a principal "who had a pact with the staff to enhance the credibility of the school scholastically at the expense of the students who were immigrants or culturally disabled in some way or another."
547:
doesn't know how to draw out its premise, once that premise has been thoroughly explored. As the film accelerates toward its conclusion, the strands of its clever plot are too hastily and perfunctorily resolved . . . Working within the confines of the teen-age genre film, however,
323:
Happy Harry Hard-on or simply “Hard Harry”, he expounds outsider views about problems with
American society, expresses teen angst, and exposes the underhanded actions of the faculty. His audience grows from a handful of loyal listeners to the entire student body.
470:, a new wave comedy, was taken away from him and re-edited, Allan Moyle retired from directing and began working on screenplays. One of them, about a teenager who runs his own pirate radio station for other teenagers, came to the attention of SC Entertainment, a
327:
Depressed teenager
Malcolm Kaiser writes to Harry seeking advice about committing suicide. Harry flippantly expresses disbelief that Malcolm is sincere, saying “Maybe you’ll feel better tomorrow.” The next day it is discovered that Malcolm committed suicide.
347:
Mark decides to make a final broadcast. He installs his radio station in his mother's Jeep, creating a mobile transmitter so the FCC will have difficulty triangulating the radio signal. Nora drives while Mark broadcasts pursued by the police and the FCC.
29:
602:
started the project in 2006. They brought the preliminary script and music to workshop sessions at
Godspeed Musicals, The Human Race Theatre, and finally Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in 2016 to "test its legs".
683:
926:
1194:
1179:
1229:
1244:
1133:
605:
The world premiere production was set to open April 3, 2020, at
Pittsburgh Playhouse's Highmark Theater, but was put on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
1249:
1204:
1199:
709:
1224:
868:
1219:
1189:
1184:
1047:
957:
531:
can be a bit overbearing, but this is one teen drama with the courage of its convictions -- and a killer soundtrack." In his review for the
336:
student and consistent listener Paige
Woodward jams her medals and accolades into a microwave, causing an explosion which injures her face.
558:
gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four, praising the film's conclusion: "the ending, though in part contrived, doesn't cop out".
272:
271:
station from his parents' basement which functions as his sole outlet for his teenage angst and aggression. The station's theme song is "
567:
487:
met with Moyle and producer Sandy Stern and displayed all these qualities. Moyle has described the film's protagonist as an amalgam of
1234:
1214:
1209:
934:
341:
1093:
1169:
614:
1239:
973:
my friends, composer Jeff
Thomson and bookwriter/lyricist Jeremy Desmon, were working on at the Pittsburgh Playhouse called
1174:
590:
902:
1040:
798:
1077:
478:, but Cusack turned down the role, as he didn't want to play another high school student following his role in
466:
284:
684:"Celebrating Its 30th Anniversary, The Creators of The Film Classic "Pump Up the Volume" Speak of Its History"
586:
516:
failed to catch on at the box office. When it was released on August 24, 1990, in 799 theaters, it grossed
446:
352:
and troublemakers and that she did it for the good of the school. Brian immediately suspends Cresswood.
858:
1033:
452:
288:
1164:
223:
977:, based on the 1990 movie. But then everything shut down in March 2020, so I didn't get to see it.
1125:
1109:
757:
751:
Yakir, Dan (October 2, 1990). "Christian Slater Incites the Passions of an Entire High School in
667:
585:
Some audience members booed when the film was named the winner. It won the Audience Award at the
890:
6th Spirit Awards ceremony hosted by Buck Henry - full show (1991) | Film Independent on YouTube
633:
998:
863:
772:
580:
488:
484:
416:
365:
280:
261:
237:
88:
1020:
638:
524:
520:$ 1.6 million in its opening weekend. It went on to make $ 11.5 million in North America.
480:
371:
308:
265:
249:
142:
103:
593:, it was nominated for Best Feature, Best Male Lead, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.
523:
The film received generally positive reviews from critics and is currently rated 79% at
1117:
1101:
1069:
803:
533:
434:
132:
1014:
736:
Portman, Jamie (August 22, 1990). "Movie Views Cruel World of Today's Teenage Angst".
1158:
575:
440:
389:
333:
316:
312:
292:
276:
844:
737:
571:
422:
383:
377:
340:
wireless phone that Mark had surreptitiously hooked up at a neighboring house. The
320:
268:
245:
241:
98:
93:
28:
1141:
1057:
1025:
492:
475:
428:
401:
296:
233:
69:
42:
889:
410:
395:
319:. By day, Mark is a loner who has difficulty socializing. By night, under the
304:
829:
554:
552:
still succeeds in sounding a surprising number of honest, heartfelt notes".
226:
1009:
539:
497:
1003:
992:
958:"15 Questions in 15 Minutes with The Doo Wop Project's Russell Fischer"
471:
710:"Talk Hard: The Making of the Teen-Angst Classic 'Pump Up the Volume'"
332:
of surrendering to them through suicide. At the climax of his speech,
665:
Scott, Jay (September 12, 1990). "Festival of Festivals In Person".
843:
Zekas, Rita (September 11, 1990). "The making of a festival hero".
300:
229:
824:
Clark, Mike (August 22, 1990). "Slater turbocharges an energetic
1029:
517:
260:
High school student Mark Hunter lives in a sleepy suburb of
903:"Pump Up the Volume Musical Will Test Legs in Seattle"
566:The movie won the Golden Space Needle Award at the
207:
199:
182:
172:
148:
138:
128:
120:
112:
81:
56:
48:
38:
21:
527:based on 39 reviews. The consensus summarizes: "
799:"A Rebellious Teen-Ager Takes to the Airwaves"
1041:
8:
1134:Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story
1048:
1034:
1026:
27:
18:
1195:American coming-of-age comedy-drama films
731:
729:
727:
859:"Four Films Top Independent Nominations"
660:
658:
656:
625:
1180:1990s coming-of-age comedy-drama films
871:from the original on December 22, 2022
1230:Films set in Maricopa County, Arizona
570:, beating out the festival favorite,
7:
1245:English-language comedy-drama films
797:Holden, Stephen (August 22, 1990).
682:Hosoki, Nobuhiro (March 14, 2021).
568:Seattle International Film Festival
537:, Stephen Holden wrote, "Much like
419:as David Deaver, guidance counselor
1250:English-language independent films
407:Billy Morrissette as Mazz Mazzilli
14:
1205:Films about freedom of expression
956:Miller, Deb (November 28, 2022).
283:by alternative musicians such as
1200:American teen comedy-drama films
901:Hetrick, Adam (July 29, 2016).
708:Ducker, Eric (21 August 2020).
615:Pump Up the Volume (soundtrack)
1225:Films scored by Cliff Martinez
1094:The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag
211:$ 11.5 million (United States)
1:
1220:Films directed by Allan Moyle
1190:1990s teen comedy-drama films
591:6th Independent Spirit Awards
398:as Principal Loretta Creswood
232:film written and directed by
1185:1990s English-language films
634:"Pump Up the Volume (1990)"
1266:
612:
449:as Arthur Watts of the FCC
279:and there are glimpses of
1064:
344:begins an investigation.
157:August 22, 1990
33:Theatrical release poster
26:
1235:Films shot in California
1215:Films about radio people
1210:Films about pirate radio
285:The Jesus and Mary Chain
16:1990 film by Allan Moyle
587:Deauville Film Festival
1170:1990 independent films
1240:New Line Cinema films
1175:1990s American films
931:Pittsburgh Playhouse
867:. January 15, 1991.
289:Camper Van Beethoven
264:, and broadcasts an
165: (United States)
222:is a 1990 American
1110:New Waterford Girl
1086:Pump Up the Volume
1056:Films directed by
1016:Pump Up the Volume
1005:Pump Up the Volume
994:Pump Up the Volume
975:Pump Up the Volume
775:Pump Up the Volume
758:The Globe and Mail
753:Pump Up the Volume
668:The Globe and Mail
597:Musical adaptation
550:Pump Up the Volume
545:Pump Up the Volume
529:Pump Up the Volume
514:Pump Up the Volume
219:Pump Up the Volume
22:Pump Up the Volume
1152:
1151:
864:Los Angeles Times
779:. Box Office Mojo
581:Jesus of Montreal
437:as Malcolm Kaiser
392:as Paige Woodward
236:. The film stars
215:
214:
74:Nicolas Stiliadis
1257:
1050:
1043:
1036:
1027:
980:
979:
970:
968:
953:
947:
946:
944:
942:
933:. Archived from
923:
917:
916:
914:
913:
898:
892:
887:
881:
880:
878:
876:
855:
849:
848:
840:
834:
833:
821:
815:
814:
812:
811:
794:
788:
787:
785:
784:
769:
763:
762:
748:
742:
741:
733:
722:
721:
719:
717:
705:
699:
698:
696:
694:
679:
673:
672:
662:
651:
650:
648:
646:
630:
489:Holden Caulfield
485:Christian Slater
417:Robert Schenkkan
366:Christian Slater
262:Phoenix, Arizona
238:Christian Slater
164:
162:
89:Christian Slater
31:
19:
1265:
1264:
1260:
1259:
1258:
1256:
1255:
1254:
1155:
1154:
1153:
1148:
1060:
1054:
1021:Rotten Tomatoes
989:
984:
983:
966:
964:
962:DC Theater Arts
955:
954:
950:
940:
938:
937:on May 15, 2019
925:
924:
920:
911:
909:
900:
899:
895:
888:
884:
874:
872:
857:
856:
852:
842:
841:
837:
823:
822:
818:
809:
807:
796:
795:
791:
782:
780:
771:
770:
766:
750:
749:
745:
735:
734:
725:
715:
713:
707:
706:
702:
692:
690:
688:Cinema Daily US
681:
680:
676:
664:
663:
654:
644:
642:
639:Box Office Mojo
632:
631:
627:
622:
617:
611:
599:
564:
525:Rotten Tomatoes
511:
481:Say Anything...
464:After his film
462:
453:Justin Hessling
386:as Brian Hunter
380:as Marla Hunter
374:as Nora De Niro
372:Samantha Mathis
362:
309:Concrete Blonde
273:Everybody Knows
258:
250:Samantha Mathis
195:
175:
168:
160:
158:
151:
143:New Line Cinema
108:
104:Samantha Mathis
77:
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1263:
1261:
1253:
1252:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1222:
1217:
1212:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1172:
1167:
1157:
1156:
1150:
1149:
1147:
1146:
1138:
1130:
1122:
1114:
1106:
1102:Empire Records
1098:
1090:
1082:
1074:
1070:The Rubber Gun
1065:
1062:
1061:
1055:
1053:
1052:
1045:
1038:
1030:
1024:
1023:
1012:
1001:
988:
987:External links
985:
982:
981:
948:
918:
893:
882:
850:
835:
816:
804:New York Times
789:
764:
743:
723:
700:
674:
652:
624:
623:
621:
618:
613:Main article:
610:
607:
598:
595:
563:
560:
534:New York Times
510:
507:
461:
458:
457:
456:
450:
444:
438:
435:Anthony Lucero
432:
431:as Mr. Murdock
426:
425:as Jan Emerson
420:
414:
408:
405:
399:
393:
387:
381:
375:
369:
368:as Mark Hunter
361:
358:
257:
254:
213:
212:
209:
205:
204:
201:
197:
196:
194:
193:
190:
186:
184:
180:
179:
176:
173:
170:
169:
167:
166:
154:
152:
149:
146:
145:
140:
139:Distributed by
136:
135:
133:Cliff Martinez
130:
126:
125:
122:
118:
117:
114:
113:Cinematography
110:
109:
107:
106:
101:
96:
91:
85:
83:
79:
78:
76:
75:
72:
67:
64:
60:
58:
54:
53:
50:
46:
45:
40:
36:
35:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1262:
1251:
1248:
1246:
1243:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1213:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1162:
1160:
1144:
1143:
1139:
1136:
1135:
1131:
1128:
1127:
1123:
1120:
1119:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1107:
1104:
1103:
1099:
1096:
1095:
1091:
1088:
1087:
1083:
1080:
1079:
1075:
1072:
1071:
1067:
1066:
1063:
1059:
1051:
1046:
1044:
1039:
1037:
1032:
1031:
1028:
1022:
1018:
1017:
1013:
1011:
1007:
1006:
1002:
1000:
996:
995:
991:
990:
986:
978:
976:
963:
959:
952:
949:
936:
932:
928:
922:
919:
908:
904:
897:
894:
891:
886:
883:
870:
866:
865:
860:
854:
851:
846:
839:
836:
831:
827:
820:
817:
806:
805:
800:
793:
790:
778:
776:
768:
765:
760:
759:
754:
747:
744:
739:
732:
730:
728:
724:
711:
704:
701:
689:
685:
678:
675:
670:
669:
661:
659:
657:
653:
641:
640:
635:
629:
626:
619:
616:
608:
606:
603:
596:
594:
592:
588:
584:
582:
577:
576:Academy Award
573:
569:
561:
559:
557:
556:
551:
546:
542:
541:
536:
535:
530:
526:
521:
519:
515:
508:
506:
502:
499:
494:
490:
486:
483:
482:
477:
473:
469:
468:
459:
455:as Holden Chu
454:
451:
448:
447:James Hampton
445:
442:
441:Lala Sloatman
439:
436:
433:
430:
427:
424:
421:
418:
415:
412:
409:
406:
403:
400:
397:
394:
391:
390:Cheryl Pollak
388:
385:
382:
379:
376:
373:
370:
367:
364:
363:
359:
357:
353:
349:
345:
343:
337:
335:
334:overachieving
329:
325:
322:
318:
314:
313:Henry Rollins
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
293:Primal Scream
290:
286:
282:
278:
277:Leonard Cohen
274:
270:
267:
263:
255:
253:
251:
247:
243:
239:
235:
231:
228:
225:
224:coming-of-age
221:
220:
210:
206:
202:
198:
191:
189:United States
188:
187:
185:
181:
177:
171:
156:
155:
153:
147:
144:
141:
137:
134:
131:
127:
123:
119:
115:
111:
105:
102:
100:
97:
95:
92:
90:
87:
86:
84:
80:
73:
71:
68:
65:
62:
61:
59:
55:
51:
47:
44:
41:
37:
30:
25:
20:
1140:
1132:
1124:
1116:
1108:
1100:
1092:
1085:
1084:
1078:Times Square
1076:
1068:
1015:
1004:
993:
974:
972:
967:December 22,
965:. Retrieved
961:
951:
939:. Retrieved
935:the original
930:
921:
910:. Retrieved
906:
896:
885:
875:December 22,
873:. Retrieved
862:
853:
845:Toronto Star
838:
825:
819:
808:. Retrieved
802:
792:
781:. Retrieved
774:
767:
756:
752:
746:
738:Toronto Star
716:16 September
714:. Retrieved
712:. The Ringer
703:
693:December 22,
691:. Retrieved
687:
677:
666:
643:. Retrieved
637:
628:
604:
600:
579:
572:Denys Arcand
565:
553:
549:
544:
538:
532:
528:
522:
513:
512:
503:
479:
467:Times Square
465:
463:
423:Ellen Greene
384:Scott Paulin
378:Mimi Kennedy
354:
350:
346:
338:
330:
326:
321:nom de plume
269:pirate radio
259:
246:Ellen Greene
242:Scott Paulin
218:
217:
216:
174:Running time
150:Release date
99:Ellen Greene
94:Scott Paulin
1142:Weirdsville
1126:Say Nothing
1058:Allan Moyle
941:January 15,
645:February 4,
578:-nominated
496:based on a
493:Lenny Bruce
476:John Cusack
429:Andy Romano
402:Ahmet Zappa
297:Soundgarden
234:Allan Moyle
178:105 minutes
70:Sandy Stern
66:Sara Risher
57:Produced by
52:Allan Moyle
43:Allan Moyle
39:Directed by
1165:1990 films
1159:Categories
912:2020-01-15
810:2008-03-03
783:2008-03-03
620:References
609:Soundtrack
460:Production
411:Seth Green
396:Annie Ross
305:Bad Brains
208:Box office
161:1990-08-22
124:Larry Bock
116:Walt Lloyd
49:Written by
830:USA Today
589:. At the
555:USA Today
509:Reception
281:cassettes
183:Countries
121:Edited by
63:Syd Cappe
1010:AllMovie
907:Playbill
869:Archived
540:Heathers
498:Montreal
443:as Janie
404:as Jaime
200:Language
129:Music by
82:Starring
1118:XChange
927:"Shows"
472:Toronto
413:as Joey
203:English
159: (
1145:(2007)
1137:(2004)
1129:(2001)
1121:(2000)
1113:(1999)
1105:(1995)
1097:(1992)
1089:(1990)
1081:(1980)
1073:(1977)
826:Volume
562:Awards
317:Pixies
315:, and
248:, and
192:Canada
301:Ice-T
275:" by
230:drama
999:IMDb
969:2022
943:2020
877:2022
718:2020
695:2022
647:2019
491:and
360:Cast
256:Plot
227:teen
1019:at
1008:at
997:at
828:".
755:".
574:'s
518:USD
342:FCC
1161::
971:.
960:.
929:.
905:.
861:.
801:.
726:^
686:.
655:^
636:.
543:,
311:,
307:,
303:,
299:,
295:,
291:,
287:,
266:FM
252:.
244:,
240:,
1049:e
1042:t
1035:v
945:.
915:.
879:.
847:.
832:.
813:.
786:.
777:"
773:"
761:.
740:.
720:.
697:.
671:.
649:.
583:.
163:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
