Buzz
Before watching the 1982 comedy, explore these 15 intriguing behind-the-scenes details about Things Are Tough All Over.
1. Things Are Tough All Over marks Thomas K. Alvidsen’s sole venture into directing.
Alvidsen had previously worked as an editor on Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie and Cheech & Chong’s Nice Dreams.
2. This film is also just the second Cheech & Chong movie not helmed by Tommy Chong.
Up in Smoke, the debut feature film starring Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin, was helmed by director Lou Adler.
3. Initially, Things Are Tough All Over was titled Riding High.
4. The film drew inspiration from the 1979 oil crisis.
Cheech envisioned creating a Cheech & Chong movie centered around the event, and the script gradually took shape from that idea.
5. In this film, Cheech and Chong take on dual roles.
Alongside portraying themselves, they also take on the roles of the film’s stereotypically offensive antagonists, Mr. Slyman and Prince Habib, using brownface makeup.
6. “The Fifis” are portrayed by Cheech’s and Chong’s actual spouses, Shelby Chong (credited as Shelby Fiddis) and Rikki Marin.
Both had earlier roles in Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie and Cheech & Chong’s Nice Dreams, and they later appeared in Cheech & Chong’s The Corsican Brothers.
7. The Fifis are depicted as French in the film due to Tommy Chong’s wife having recently relocated to Paris.
Her love for French culture evidently influenced Chong—after Things Are Tough All Over premiered, Tommy and Shelby Chong moved to Cannes, France.
8. The character Donna, a hitchhiker, makes appearances in three Cheech & Chong films.
Portrayed by Evelyn Guerrero, Donna is featured in Things Are Tough All Over, Nice Dreams, and Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie.
9. Surprisingly, Cheech & Chong do not consume any marijuana in this film.
The sole drug used throughout the movie is Peyote.
10. The phrase “Things are tough all over” serves as the movie’s closing line.
… however, Cheech and his alternate character, Mr. Slyman, mention variations of the title twice before the movie concludes. Early in the film, Cheech remarks, “Things were tough all over,” while Slyman later states, “Things are tough every over [sic].”
11. Dave Coulier, before his Full House fame, has a cameo in the film.
He appears as a diner at the Las Vegas restaurant and is credited as “David Couwlier” in the closing credits.
12. Another diner in the restaurant is portrayed by renowned British comedian Ruby Wax.
Wax is celebrated for creating and starring in the British sitcom Girls on Top and for her guest roles on the comedy series Absolutely Fabulous.
13. This is the sole Cheech & Chong film where the characters reside in Chicago.
14. The individual who gives Cheech and Chong a ride while they’re hitchhiking is the famous prop comedian Rip Taylor.
Taylor is particularly recognized for his roles on 1970s game shows such as Hollywood Squares and The Gong Show.
15. The film’s soundtrack was composed by musician Gaye Delorme.
Delorme is best known for co-writing the Cheech & Chong track “Earache My Eye,” which debuted in their first movie, Up In Smoke, and was originally featured on their 1974 comedy album, Cheech & Chong’s Wedding Album.
