Hi-Tops (film)
Encyclopedia
Hi-Tops is a 1985
Christian movie musical about the lives of several high school students and a trio of angels who are sent to Earth to experience and study peer pressure
. The film was originally a successful stage production that toured nationally.
The name of the musical, and of the eponymous band that figures in the plot, is derived from the high-top
style of shoes popular among youth in the mid-1980s.
on a "fact finding mission" to blend in with the teenagers at a high school and learn first hand what peer pressure is. At the same time, Lucifer
shows up to try and win some souls for his side. Chaos ensues, and so does a lot of music and dancing. All the main teenage characters, except the angels, are trying out to be in a band called "Hi-Tops". There are a few sub plots involving nerds, high school sweethearts, cheating on tests, taking drugs, etc.
1985 in film
-Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie...
Christian movie musical about the lives of several high school students and a trio of angels who are sent to Earth to experience and study peer pressure
Peer pressure
Peer pressure refers to the influence exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behavior in order to conform to group norms. Social groups affected include membership groups, when the individual is "formally" a member , or a social clique...
. The film was originally a successful stage production that toured nationally.
The name of the musical, and of the eponymous band that figures in the plot, is derived from the high-top
High-top
The high-top is a shoe that extends significantly over the wearer's ankle. It is commonly an athletic shoe, particularly for basketball. It is sometimes confused with the slightly shorter mid-top. Examples of basketball shoes that are high-tops are Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars; Nike Air Forces...
style of shoes popular among youth in the mid-1980s.
Plot
Three angels are sent to Earth by GabrielGabriel
In Abrahamic religions, Gabriel is an Archangel who typically serves as a messenger to humans from God.He first appears in the Book of Daniel, delivering explanations of Daniel's visions. In the Gospel of Luke Gabriel foretells the births of both John the Baptist and of Jesus...
on a "fact finding mission" to blend in with the teenagers at a high school and learn first hand what peer pressure is. At the same time, Lucifer
Lucifer
Traditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
shows up to try and win some souls for his side. Chaos ensues, and so does a lot of music and dancing. All the main teenage characters, except the angels, are trying out to be in a band called "Hi-Tops". There are a few sub plots involving nerds, high school sweethearts, cheating on tests, taking drugs, etc.
Cast
As credited at the conclusion of the film:| Character | Name |
|---|---|
| Norman J. Pitts | Jeff Carter |
| Ginny Alexander | Cheryl Dieda |
| Lewy/Lucifer | Daniel Walters |
| Heather Hanson | Michelle Rees |
| Tony Mizzarelli | Scott Richardson |
| Grace | Jennine Jones |
| Twinn Finn | Matt Wright |
| Lily from the Valley | Crystal Lewis Crystal Lewis Crystal Lewis is an American contemporary Christian/Gospel vocalist, songwriter and author.-Early years:Lewis grew up singing in her father's church... |
| Gabriel | Robb Rigg |
| Maggie | Maria Andrade |
| Hi-Tops Leader | Phil Davis |
| Lisa Louise LeBlanc | Holly Saunders |
| Mr. Quirk | Alan Smith |
| Travis | Ben Goodner |
| Lisa | Lisa Walker |
| Hi-Tops Dancer | Noah Penn |
| Hi-Tops Dancer | Jody Williams |
| Hi-Tops Dancer | Angel Smythe |
| Emily | Emily Olinger |
| Guardian Angel | Robert Smith |
| Sam | David Hare |
Songs
| Song | Featured Singers | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Overture | |
| 2. | Father of Lights | |
| 3. | The Fight Song | Hi-Tops Leader (Phil Davis) |
| 4. | Fads | Ensemble |
| 5. | Don't Think About the Consequences | Lewy (Daniel Walters) |
| 6. | Stand Back | Heather Hanson (Michelle Rees) |
| 7. | The Love Song for Two Nerds | Norman J. Pitts (Jeff Carter) & Grace (Jennine Jones) |
| 8. | I Wanna Be in the Band | Ensemble |
| 9. | Nobody Knows What It's Like to be Alone | Norman J. Pitts (Jeff Carter) |
| 10. | Take Off Your Mask | Ensemble |
Movie notes
- CCM artist Crystal LewisCrystal LewisCrystal Lewis is an American contemporary Christian/Gospel vocalist, songwriter and author.-Early years:Lewis grew up singing in her father's church...
appears in her acting debut as an angel disguised as a valley girlValley girlValley Girl is a stereotype leveled at a socio-economic and ethnic class of American women who can be described as colloquial English-speaking and materialistic...
. - Ernie Rettino and Debby Kerner Rettino, who wrote and produced this production, also created Psalty the Singing Song Book.
- Two of the actors, Jeff Carter and Michelle Rees, were later married. Their family, "The Carters," appeared on Family FeudFamily FeudFamily Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
when it was hosted by Ray Combs. The Carters won three times, winning a total of $11,947. On the second show, Michelle's sister-in-law Joni became only the third person ever to win "fast money" (the final round) all by herself by accumulating 216 points.