Monday, Sept. 8, 2003 | 8:18 a.m.
While "National Lampoon's Animal House" is considered the definitive movie on the college experience, oddly enough the film's director was never a college student.
"In fact, I didn't get past the 10th grade," said John Landis in a recent phone interview from his home in Los Angeles. " 'Animal House' is my college experience."
Instead, the then-little-known director relied on the script's writers Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney and Chris Miller who based the story on their fraternity experiences.
Landis also did his own research at several fraternities, although he didn't care for what he found.
"I actually visited a lot of fraternities and I personally didn't like them," he said. "So, in the movie, we stressed everything I felt was good about the Greek System the family thing, the support group (in Delta House). And then I put in Omega House everything that was bad the exclusionary, snobbish ... thing to include you out. I didn't like that. So that's why the membership (requirement) of the Delta House is you must have the desire to join."
Fans have a chance to revisit that college experience, as "Animal House" has been released in its second form, the "Double Secret Probation Edition."
Released five years ago for its 20th anniversary, the new 25th anniversary edition features digitally remastered video and audio, an all-new "Where Are They Now?" mockumentary on Delta Alumni that highlights many of the original cast members and was directed by Landis, and "The Yearbook: A Reunion," a 43-minute interview-documentary of the cast and crew of "Animal House" from the first DVD release.
For all its cultural impact, Landis said he had no idea "Animal House" would be recalled so fondly a quarter-century later.
"Oh, of course not. It was my first studio picture. It was $2 million -- much more than my first two movies put together," he said. "I was thrilled with the opportunity. I had a great cast and a wonderful script. I was pretty happy about the whole thing."
The studio suits, however, were not so optimistic.
"I think they just sort of threw up their hands. Because it was such a low priority, they really fought me tremendously in pre-production," he said. "They just hated my cast and were very upset that I was not casting famous comedians."
While Landis wanted unknowns to fill the roles -- so audiences had no preconceived notions of the actors -- the studio insisted that at least one "known" actor was cast. Eventually Donald Sutherland was brought on board as professor Dave Jennings, the very laid-back English teacher.
"Donald Sutherland was the only person who had a real reputation in the film," he said. "He was a movie star."
Maybe so, but it was the late John Belushi who stole the show. The comic had become a cult figure from the first season of "Saturday Night Live." Playing the role of uber-slob John "Bluto" Blutarsky, "Animal House" marked Belushi's first major role.
And the gifted actor made the most of it.
"John was extraordinary," Landis said. "We took away a lot of his dialogue because he was such a great mime and physically expressive. Oh yeah, I could tell he was special from the moment I met him."
While "Animal House" cemented the position of Belushi as a movie star, another "Saturday Night Live" cast member missed out on "Animal House" immortality.
Chevy Chase was interested in the role of ladies' man Eric "Otter" Stratton, ultimately played by Tim Matheson.
Landis talked Chase out of the part.
"I don't think he made the wrong decision," Landis said. "He chose a starring vehicle opposite Goldie Hawn and it was a big hit movie. So he came out well."
Still, few identify with "Foul Play" the way they do with "Animal House." In fact, "Foul Play" has yet to be released on DVD and never attained the fervent following of the film Chase turned down.
Released late in the summer of 1978, Landis said he first became aware of "Animal House's" appeal at the film's first screening.
"The very first preview was so extraordinary, I mean extraordinary, that we just thought, 'Uh-oh, look what's going on here,' " he said. "It was clear that it was connecting with the audience."
The "connection" was only helped by the fact the preview audience was mostly fraternity members, who happened to be in town for a frat convention.
The movie found a wide enough audience, however, to make more than $120 million at the box office, making it the top-grossing comedy at the time.
There was quickly talk of a sequel, although it never materialized in movie form.
Instead, Universal created "Delta House" for TV. The shortlived ABC series featured some of the same cast from the movie, as well as the same production team.
Landis, though, refused to be a part of the series since much of the movie's R-rated humor wouldn't survive the translation to network television.
And now, Landis said, the series is remembered for only one reason: "For being the first real job of Michelle Pfeiffer."
While the film flopped as a TV series, it has spawned innumerable imitations on the big screen. "Porky's," "Revenge of the Nerds," "American Pie" and most recently "Old School" are just a few of the raunchy, adolescent-style comedies "Animal House" helped pioneer.
"They're still ripping us off," Landis joked. "I don't know. It must have touched a nerve."
But few comedies have had as long-lasting and broad appeal as "Animal House." Twenty-five years after its release, the film remains as fresh, funny and clever as ever.
(The film even inspired an "Animal House"-themed slot machine, scheduled to be unveiled Sept. 16-18 at the Global Gaming Expo at Las Vegas Convention Center.)
Landis cited three reasons for the film's longevity.
"One, it's genuinely funny still. Two, because the characters are so well-realized that everyone can relate to them. Three, and this is with 20-20 hindsight, it somehow captures that sense of freedom that, when you're 18 to 21 years old and you're off on your own for the first time in college, and sometimes the military, you have the sense of you're not a child but you're not an adult," he said. "It's a wonderfully exuberant time.
"Everyone waxes nostalgic about their college days. And I think this movie captures that sense of freedom and anarchy and discovery."
Even Landis can't help himself from becoming nostalgic over the film.
"It's very difficult to be totally objective about the film because it's one of those rare instances in your life where everyone involved, everyone from the grips to the stars, had a wonderful time. And then it turned out to be a hit," he said. "That never happens."
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