American Pie
Short description
American Pie is a teen sex comedy about four high-school friends—Jim, Kevin, Oz and Finch—who are all still virgins as graduation approaches. At a party they make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night, and each pursues the goal in his own way. Their efforts mostly produce embarrassment rather than success, from awkward family encounters to mishaps with exchange students and band members, and the friends must also deal with jealousy, uncertainty and the fallout of their own reckless decisions.
The film was directed by Paul Weitz, the first of thirteen features he has directed in chronological order, ahead of Down to Earth in 2001, from a screenplay by Adam Herz and produced by Chris Weitz, Chris Moore and Craig Perry. Jason Biggs leads as Jim Levenstein, alongside Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Alyson Hannigan, Shannon Elizabeth and Tara Reid, among a credited cast and crew running into the hundreds.
Made for about 11 million dollars, it took roughly 235 million dollars worldwide, a large return on its budget. On IMDb it holds 7 out of 10 from around 466,000 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 6.6 out of 10 from far fewer votes. A film critics' rating of 6.3 out of 10 from 129 reviews places it modestly above the audience score on TMDB and slightly below the IMDb figure.
What's left behind the scenes
- Initially, the role of Heather was offered to Alison Hannigan, but after reading the script, Alison requested the role of Michelle.
- To accurately depict an erection in one of the scenes, the crew boiled a sausage, then put it on a pencil and wrapped it in foil. When it was placed between Jason Biggs’ legs, it was still hot.
- It took four attempts for the film to receive an R rating instead of NC-17.
- Members of the punk band "Blink 182" can be spotted in the scene where Nadia is being broadcast over the internet. Their song "Mutt" plays during this scene.
- The apple pie was purchased from the Costco supermarket.
- The web address of Jim's webcam, which he sent to his friends: http://128.220.27.192/temp/NadiaVision (in reality, the IP address belongs to the Department of Psychology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore).
- During the scene where Finch runs to the bathroom, the song "Walk, Don't Run" by The Ventures is playing.
- Jim's email: jim@eastgreatfalls.edu.
- Casey Affleck played the episodic role of Kevin's older brother. He talks to him on the phone in a restaurant.
- In the original version of the film, when Stifler drinks the semen smoothie, Kevin says, “Hey, Stifler, how’s the shellfish chowder?” However, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) objected that this phrase was not even suitable for an NC-17 rating, so during post-production the phrase was changed to: “Hey, Stifler, how’s the milkshake?”
- "Milkshake" was actually beer with beaten eggs.
- Exterior shots of the school were filmed at Millikan High School in Long Beach, California, while interior apartments were filmed at Poly High School, also in Long Beach.
- The members of the band "Blink 182" are credited as: "Mark Hoppus, Tom Delonge, and Scott Raynor", however, the drummer in the film is not Scott Raynor, but Travis Barker. (Scott Raynor left the band in 1998).
- In the scene where Jim runs home, actor Jason Biggs suffered from heatstroke. The film crew had to put ice in his shirt to cool him down while he ran. Subsequently, the actor was sent to the doctor. Another incident: while Jason Biggs was at home, he took too many zinc tablets and became ill. Therefore, his character (Jim) had to be removed from the scene in the script where Finch plays golf and talks to Kevin.
- Mena Suvari sang in her own voice.
- In the original script, Eddie Kaye Thomas’s character – Paul – initially had the last name French, which was later changed to Finch. And Stifler’s first name was Ryan, later changed to Steve.
- When Jim is waiting for Nadia, he sets up a webcam on his computer, which is to the left of the bed. In the following shots, it is visible that the video his friends are watching is filmed from a different angle.
- Filming took place from July 21 to September 11, 1998.
- When Adam Herz offered his screenplay to the studios, he titled it: "Untitled Teen Comedy That Can Be Shot For Under $10 Million And Will Probably Offend Many Who Read It, But You Will Love, I'm Sure." The script was later renamed 'East Great Falls High,' then 'Great Falls,' and finally 'American Pie.'
- The tuxedo that Sherman wore to the prom is the same as the one worn by Steve Buscemi in 'The Wedding Singer'.
- The music in the scene where Stifler's Mom seduces Finch is “Mrs. Robinson” from The Graduate.
- The name of the school in the film, East Great Falls High, is based on the real East Grand Rapids High, which screenwriter Adam Herz attended. At East Great Falls High, the diner where students eat is called “Dog Years,” while at East Grand Rapids it's “Yesterdog”; the school colors at EGFH are blue/white, and at EGRH are blue/white/gold.
- The scene where Oz and Stifler play their final lacrosse game, with the coach giving a speech and the assistant coach repeating his words, is a tribute to Trey Wilson’s speech in Bull Durham (1988).
- The Bible is located below the Dewey Decimal System in the section titled “Fluid Dynamics.”
- In the scene where Jessica and Vicky are working on their Spanish assignment, Jessica says: “Is this a correct translation?: Put a hat on your penis, or your ears will freeze” – this joke belongs to the film's director, Paul Weitz, who used it back when he was in school.
- The phrase “Say my name, bitch” (“Как меня зовут, мразь”), in the bedroom scene between Jim and Michelle, was improvised by Alison Hannigan. The director and producer found the line very funny and left it in the final cut of the film.
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