“You’d Like Bigger Bread?”
Some people regard it as one of the funniest films ever to come out of Hollywood. Others think it’s a definitive piece of timeless art. Still, others view it as a shrewd critique of celebrity saturation and rock ‘n’ roll indulgence. However you see it, Christopher Guest’s classic This Is Spinal Tap is renowned for a multitude of quotable lines that have earned a permanent place in moviegoers’ memories and in the lexicon of legendary filmmaking.
Considered by The Guardian to be the best sandwich scene in cinema, this movie moment epitomizes the pain of traveling musicians forced to live on meager wages day in and day out, week after week. Guitarist Nigel Tufnel becomes confused and disheartened when he discovers that the backstage buffet provided for the band offers miniature bread more appropriate for tiny cheese slices, rather than sandwiches. After fumbling with the mini slices for several minutes, Tufnel accepts his fate saying “It’s not going to affect my performance, don’t worry about that. I just hate it… it really, it does disturb me, but I’ll rise above it; I’m a professional.”
“I Wouldn’t Worry About It Though, It’s Not A Big College Town”
The band learns their show in Boston has been canceled. Their manager, in an effort to lift their spirits, explains that the cancelation isn’t a big deal because it’s not like there are any colleges in Boston or anything. Let’s see… Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Northeastern University, along with at least 30 other colleges, universities, and community colleges. Too bad, boys.
“Envy Can Be A Good Thing”
Derek Smalls and David St. Hubbins decide to break up the band, convincing themselves that – not only are they making the right choice – they’re lucky to do so. Derek Smalls states that people should be envying them; David St. Hubbins says that he envies them. Truth be told, they both envy each other.
“Here Lies David St. Hubbins… And Why Not?”
When band singer David St. Hubbins is asked to write his own epitaph, he comes up with Here lies David St. Hubbins… and why not? St. Hubbins admits that the epitaph isn’t particularly good or memorable – it’s merely the first thing that came to mind.
“These Go To Eleven”
“Gone to 11” signifies that someone has gone so far off that they’re no longer living in reality. More literally, it can mean something that’s cranked up beyond the maximum. When Marty DiBergi asks guitarist Nigel Tufnel about his amps, Tufnel explains that whenever the band wants to send things into overdrive, they turn them up from 10 (normally the highest volume on an amplifier) to 11. DiBergi asks why not just make 10 louder, to which Tufnel responds, “These go to 11.”