Cart 0

Bravo! Your order qualifies for free shipping within Canada. You are $150.00 CAD away from free shipping.
Sorry, looks like we don't have enough of this product.

Pair with
Is this a gift?
Subtotal Free
View cart
Shipping, taxes, and discount codes are calculated at checkout

Your Cart is Empty

A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever

Regular price $49.00 CAD
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Hurry, Only 1 Left!

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

For the first time, director Rob Reiner and co-creators Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer provide the full behind-the-scenes story of the making of the groundbreaking mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap and its upcoming sequel.

Since its original release in 1984, This Is Spinal Tap has evolved from a beloved cult film into a cinematic landmark: an all-time comedy classic that pioneered an entire genre, the mockumentary. Now, director Rob Reiner and his cowriters and costars, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, tell the complete story of the movie and its fictitious band—how they met, how Spinal Tap came to be, and how their low-budget indie film took on a life of its own. Years after the movie first came out, the Library of Congress selected This Is Spinal Tap for inclusion in the National Film Registry and Tap went on to play The Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium, and to over 100,000 fans at the Glastonbury Festival in England.

Reiner, Guest, McKean, and Shearer provide the backstories to the movie’s famous lines—among them “Hello, Cleveland!,” “None more black,” “You can’t dust for vomit,” and “These go to eleven”—and to such Tap anthems as “Big Bottom” and “Stonehenge.” Featuring never-before-seen photographs, band memorabilia, and personal reminiscences of their enduring creative partnership, A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever will delight Tap-heads of all ages—just as the long-awaited Spinal Tap sequel is hitting theatres.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever also comes with a bonus memoir by Reiner’s directorial alter ego, Marty DiBergi, in which he interviews Tap band members Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls about their musical journey and their drummers who paid the ultimate sacrifice to the rock gods.

Rob Reiner, a two-time Emmy–winning actor for his role in the landmark television series, All in the Family, is also the acclaimed director of This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, A Few Good Men, The American President, Ghosts of Mississippi, and The Bucket List. He recently directed the Emmy–nominated documentary Albert Brooks: Defending my Life, and the sequel to This Is Spinal Tap. As a dedicated political activist, he spearheaded a tobacco tax initiative in California to fund early childhood development and chaired the state commission to oversee its implementation. In 2008, he cofounded The American Foundation For Equal Rights, which paved the way for marriage equality nationwide.

Christopher Guest is a director, actor, and musician. His films include This is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, The Big Picture,Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, and Mascots. For the National Lampoon his albums includeRadio Dinner,Gold Turkey, Goodbye Pop,That’s Not Funny That’s Sick, and Lemmings. He has appeared as a cast member on Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell and the other Saturday Night Live. He has one Emmy, one Grammy, and one Grand Clio award. He is a recipient of an honorary doctorate from The Berklee College of Music.

Michael McKean is an accomplished artist with a career spanning six decades as an actor, musician, songwriter, screenwriter, director, producer, and television host. His theatre credits on Broadway and elsewhere include Hairspray, The Pajama Game, The Homecoming, Superior Donuts, The Best Man, All the Way, The Little Foxes, and currently on Broadway in Glengarry Glen Ross. His television credits include Laverne & Shirley, Saturday Night Live, Good Omens,Breeders, The Diplomat, The X-Files, and more, as well as Better Call Saul, for which he was nominated for an Emmy. His many film credits include Young Doctors in Love, Used Cars, Clue, Light of Day, The Brady Bunch Movie, True Crime, Best in Show, This is Spinal Tap, its upcoming sequel Spinal Tap: The End Continues, and others. Michael and his wife, Annette O’Toole, were nominated for an Academy Award for their song “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” from Christopher Guest’s A Mighty Wind, and he won a Grammy alongside Guest and Eugene Levy for the film’s title track. Michael lives in Los Angeles and New York and wherever his next adventure takes him.

Known to millions for his voices on The Simpsons, Harry Shearer is an actor, author, director, musician, broadcaster, humorist, and voiceover artist. His films includeThis Is Spinal Tap, The Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, The Fisher King, and The Truman Show and, as a writer and director,The Big Uneasy and Teddy Bears’ Picnic. His TV appearances include The Jack Benny Program, Saturday Night Live, and Nixon’s the One. His long-running radio program Le Show recently became part of The Library of Congress archives. He also has a musical, Here Comes J Edgar; a novel, Not Enough Indians, and five albums of satirical songs to his name.

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gallery Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ Sept. 9 2025
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1668079143
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1668079140
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 476 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.79 x 22.86 cm
Frequently Asked Questions

How much is shipping?

When checking out online you will be presented various shipping options with the exact shipping charge for each option, which is automatically calculated based on your shipping address.

Do you offer exchanges?

In the case of an exchange of an online order, the customer is responsible for all shipping charges from and to the customer's location. Please contact tiffshop@tiff.net prior to sending back any products.

What is your return policy?

All online orders are FINAL SALE. We offer an exchange-only policy for all non-sale, undamaged and unused goods within 14 days of purchase with the original receipt. See full policy here.

Do you offer any discounts?

Members receive 15% online and in-person at the TIFF Shop and up to 30% off on Member Savings Days.

Shipping Information

Shipping

From Toronto directly to your door. We ship across Canada and around the world. 

Fulfillment

We process each order by hand. Please allow for a slight delay in order fulfillment. 

International Orders

International customers are responsible for any custom charges, duties, or taxes charged to them by their country.

About Us


TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film.


Every purchase you make directly supports TIFF and helps us create a more informed and connected world through the power of film.


We’re dedicated to presenting the best of international and Canadian cinema and creating transformational experiences for film lovers and creators of all ages and backgrounds.