Rock 'n' Roll High School

Last updated

Rock 'n' Roll High School
Rock 'n' Roll High SchoolPoster.jpg
Theatrical release poster by William Stout [1]
Directed by Allan Arkush
Screenplay by
Story by
Produced by Michael Finnell
Starring
Cinematography Dean Cundey
Edited by
  • Larry Bock
  • Gail Werbin
Music by Ed Stasium
Distributed by New World Pictures
Release date
  • August 24, 1979 (1979-08-24)
[2]
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$200,000 [3]

Rock 'n' Roll High School is a 1979 American musical comedy film directed by Allan Arkush, produced by Michael Finnell, and starring P. J. Soles, Vince Van Patten, Clint Howard and Dey Young. [4] The film features the punk rock group Ramones. [5]

Contents

Plot

Vince Lombardi High School keeps losing principals to nervous breakdowns because of the students' love of rock 'n' roll and their disregard for education. The leader of the students, Riff Randell, is the biggest Ramones fan at the school and also the worst behavioral problem, in that her disciplinary record fills an entire filing cabinet. She waits in line for three days to get tickets to see the band, hoping to meet Joey Ramone so she can give him a song she wrote for the band, "Rock 'n' Roll High School".

When the tyrannical Principal Togar takes her ticket away, Riff and her best friend Kate Rambeau have to find another way to meet their heroes: winning a radio contest. Riff succeeds in delivering her song to Joey Ramone, but the next day Principal Togar and a group of parents attempt to burn a pile of rock records. In response, the students, joined by the Ramones (who are made honorary students), overthrow the teachers and hall monitors to take over the high school, with Principal Togar asking the musicians "Do your parents know you're Ramones?" [6] When the police are summoned and demand that the students evacuate the building, they do so, but then the students and the Ramones burn down the school as a final act of youthful rebellion.

Cast

Production

Roger Corman, executive producer of the film, was looking to make a modern teen film similar to the ones he made in his early career during the 1960s, with the focus on current music of the time. The initial title Disco High was selected for a story idea from Allan Arkush and Joe Dante. A script was developed by Richard Whitley, Russ Dvonch, and Joseph McBride. During this time, the film went through several different title changes including Heavy Metal Kids and Girl's Gym. Arkush directed the majority of the film, but Dante also helped when Arkush was suffering from exhaustion. [7]

Corman originally wanted Cheap Trick or Todd Rundgren to play the band, but due to a conflict of schedules, he was forced to find an alternative. [8] The Ramones were suggested by Paul Bartel, one of the actors in the film.

The genesis for the plot was a favorite story told to the film's original writer by his father, Raymond E. McBride of the Milwaukee Journal, who staged a walkout from his Superior (Wis.) Central High school in the 1920s. [9]

The film was shot on the campus of the defunct Mount Carmel High School in South Central Los Angeles, that had been closed in 1976. The nighttime school explosions and fires were so great that many were scared away by and, temporarily, would not return to the on campus sets. Extras used for filming were students from Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, California. The opening sequence, food fight scene, and the dance number “Do You Wanna Dance” featured the Drill Team and football team wearing their actual football uniforms and drill team outfits from MCHS. [10]

Release

The film had a sneak preview in Hollywood. It then had showings in Texas and New Mexico in April, 1979. It then went to San Francisco, then in July to Chicago, and opened in Manhattan on August 3 of that year, then continued on to further markets. [11] [12] [13]

Home media

Rock 'n' Roll High School was originally released on VHS by Warner Home Video in 1983, and was later re-released on VHS in 1996 by New Horizons Home Video ( OCLC   36127344). A year later, in 1997, it was issued on DVD by Lumivision. [7] A second DVD release occurred in 1999 from Slingshot. [7] Shortly after Joey Ramone's death in 2001, New Concorde produced a third DVD release. [7] The film was once again issued on DVD in 2005 by Buena Vista Home Entertainment ( ISBN   978-0-7888-6342-4 OCLC   62756806). DVDs in the PAL format were issued by Umbrella Entertainment in 2003 ( OCLC   223658430) and again in 2007 ( OCLC   368008921).

The film was a part of Shout! Factory's Roger Corman Cult Classics series, [14] reissued on DVD in May 2010. [15] Shout! Factory released the film with exclusive content on Blu-ray on May 11, 2010 [16] and again on November 19, 2019, with a new 4K restoration. [17]

Soundtrack

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Christgau's Record Guide B [18]
The New York Times (favourable) [19]

A soundtrack album on Sire/Warner Bros. Records was released around the same time, but it included only a limited number of songs from the film. The two main Ramones songs (the title song and "I Want You Around") were recorded by Ed Stasium but remixed by Phil Spector for the soundtrack album. The original Ed Stasium mixes were not issued until the compilation album Ramones Mania (1988) and the compilation album Hey! Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology (1999), respectively.

Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Rock 'n' Roll High School" (Phil Spector remix)Ramones Ramones 2:20
2."I Want You Around" (Phil Spector remix)RamonesRamones3:04
3."Come On Let's Go" (Cover of Ritchie Valens, 1959) Ritchie Valens The Paley Brothers and Ramones2:14
4."Ramones Medley: Blitzkrieg Bop / Teenage Lobotomy / California Sun / Pinhead / She's the One" (recorded live at The Roxy, Los Angeles)Ramones, Henry Glover, Morris Levy Ramones11:04
5."So It Goes" (from Pure Pop for Now People , 1978)Lowe Nick Lowe 2:31
6."Energy Fools the Magician" (from Before and After Science , 1977)Eno Brian Eno 2:05
Side Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Rock 'n' Roll High School"RamonesP. J. Soles2:12
2."Come Back Jonee" (from Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! , 1978) Gerald V. Casale, Mark Mothersbaugh Devo 3:47
3."Teenage Depression" (from Teenage Depression , 1976)Dave Higgs Eddie and the Hot Rods 2:57
4."Smokin' In the Boys Room" (from Yeah! , 1973) Cub Koda, Michael Lutz Brownsville Station 2:57
5."School Days" (single, 1957)Berry Chuck Berry 2:44
6."A Dream Goes on Forever" (from Todd , 1974)Rundgren Todd Rundgren 2:24
7."School's Out" (from School's Out , 1972) Alice Cooper, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith Alice Cooper 3:26

Other songs appearing in the film include:

As well as the following songs by the Ramones:

Reception

Rock 'n' Roll High School received generally positive reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 81% of 27 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.9/10. [20] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [21] The Globe and Mail wrote that "the plot owes something to Animal House (but Rock 'n' Roll High School is funnier) and something to Beach Blanket Bingo and something to many other movies too numerous to mention; it is not, how you say, original." [22] The Boston Globe opined: "It has the look of Grease and the soul of Animal House—and it's better than both. The anarchic rock of The Ramones electrifies the film with a driving beat that never lets up. The film, like rock and roll, is just plain fun." [23]

Proposed remake

In July 2008, actor/writer Alex Winter was hired to script a remake of the film for Howard Stern's production company. [24] [25]

In other media

Corman's short-lived comic book publishing imprint, Roger Corman's Cosmic Comics, released a two-issue take on the film in 1995, written by Bob Fingerman with art by Shane Oakley and Jason Lutes. Unable to acquire likeness licenses for the Ramones, the comic instead featured the Melvins. [26]

Related Research Articles

<i>Rocket to Russia</i> 1977 studio album by the Ramones

Rocket to Russia is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, and was released on November 4, 1977, through Sire Records. It is the band's last album to feature original drummer Tommy Ramone, who left the band in 1978 to focus on production. The album's origins date back to the summer of 1977, when "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" was released as a single. That summer was known as the peak of the punk rock genre since many punk bands were offered recording contracts. The album's recording began in August 1977, and the band had a considerably larger budget with Sire allowing them between $25,000 and $30,000; much of this money went toward the album's production rather than recording.

<i>End of the Century</i> 1980 studio album by the Ramones

End of the Century is the fifth studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released on February 4, 1980, through Sire Records. The album was the band's first to be produced by Phil Spector, though he had offered the band his assistance earlier in their career. With Spector fully producing the album, it was the first release that excluded original member Tommy Ramone, who had left the band in 1978 but had produced their previous album Road to Ruin. Spector used more advanced standards of engineering, such as high-quality overdubbing and echo chambers. These painstaking methods caused conflict between the band and Spector since the Ramones were accustomed to a quicker recording process. Spector emphasized the production value as well, working with a budget of around $200,000, far exceeding their earlier album sessions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marky Ramone</span> American drummer (born 1952)

Marc Steven Bell is an American drummer. He began playing in hard rock bands in the New York City area, notably Dust and Estus. He was asked to drum for punk rock band Richard Hell and the Voidoids. He replaced drummer Tommy Ramone in the Ramones in 1978, and went by the stage name Marky Ramone from then on. He has also played drums for other punk rock and heavy metal bands, including his own band Marky Ramone and the Intruders. He continues to keep the Ramones legacy alive around the world with his band Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Ramone</span> American guitarist (1948–2004)

John William Cummings, better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American musician who was the guitarist and a founding member of the Ramones, a band that helped pioneer the punk movement. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Until the band's disbandment in 1996, Johnny, along with the lead vocalist Joey Ramone, were the only two original members who stayed since its inception.

<i>Road to Ruin</i> (Ramones album) 1978 studio album by the Ramones

Road to Ruin is the fourth studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released on September 22, 1978, through Sire Records as LP record, 8 track cartridge & audio cassette. It was the first Ramones album to feature new drummer Marky Ramone, who replaced Tommy Ramone. Tommy left the band due to low sales of previous albums as well as stress he experienced while touring; however, he stayed with the band to produce the album with Ed Stasium. The artwork's concept was designed by Ramones fan Gus MacDonald and later modified by John Holmstrom to include Marky instead of Tommy.

<i>Leave Home</i> 1977 studio album by the Ramones

Leave Home is the second studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones. It was released on January 10, 1977, through Sire Records, with the expanded CD being released through Rhino Entertainment on June 19, 2001. Songs on the album were written immediately after the band's first album's writing process, which demonstrated the band's progression. The album had a higher production value than their debut Ramones and featured faster tempos. The front photo was taken by Moshe Brakha and the back cover, which would become the band's logo, was designed by Arturo Vega. The album spawned three singles, but only one succeeded in charting. It was also promoted with several tour dates in the United States and Europe.

<i>Too Tough to Die</i> 1984 studio album by the Ramones

Too Tough to Die is the eighth studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones. It was released on October 1, 1984, and is the first Ramones record to feature Richie Ramone on drums. With ex-member Tommy Ramone producing, the recording process was similar to that of the band's 1976 self-titled debut album. Likewise, the record's style—both lyrically and compositionally—saw the band returning to their roots. The photograph on the album cover, which features silhouettes of the band members, resulted from a "lucky accident" after photographer George DuBose's camera malfunctioned.

<i>Weird Tales of the Ramones</i> 2005 compilation album by The Ramones

Weird Tales of the Ramones is a box set compilation by American punk band the Ramones. It was released on August 16, 2005. There are 85 songs on 3 CDs, plus a DVD containing the feature "Lifestyles of the Ramones", a documentary featuring several of their music videos up to 1990 interspersed by interview clips with the band and figures in pop culture, plus the music videos released by the band after the release of the main feature on the DVD. The set was compiled by Johnny Ramone and released by Rhino Records.

"Gabba Gabba Hey" is a catchphrase associated with the American punk rock band the Ramones. The phrase is included in the song "Pinhead" (1977), which contains the lyrics: "Gabba gabba, we accept you, we accept you, one of us." The song ends with: "Gabba gabba hey, gabba gabba hey!..."

<i>Ramones Mania</i> 1988 greatest hits album by Ramones

Ramones Mania is the first greatest hits album by the American punk rock band the Ramones. It was released on May 31, 1988 through Sire Records and consists of 30 Ramones songs, including some single versions, a single B-side and one previously unreleased take.

<i>Hey! Ho! Lets Go: The Anthology</i> 1999 greatest hits album by Ramones

Hey! Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology is a two–disc compilation that attempts to summarize the Ramones' career in its entirety. Every Ramones studio album is represented with the exception of Acid Eaters, their 1993 covers album. Some versions of this album include a hardcover 80-page booklet with liner notes by David Fricke and Danny Fields.

<i>Lifestyles of the Ramones</i> 1990 video by Ramones

Lifestyles of the Ramones is a VHS video made by the American punk rock band Ramones featuring interviews and music videos. Later, it was released again on DVD includes extras such as "Photo Gallery" & "Discography" - with Portuguese Brazilian subtitle, plus English lyrics for each song, and in 2005, it was re-released and included as a bonus disc of the 4 Disc Box-Set "Weird Tales Of The Ramones", and plus some music videos from 1992 to 1996, especially the unseen video 'Blitzkrieg Bop ', 'Substitute' and 'Spiderman'.

Allan Arkush is an American director and producer of films, television and videos. He is a collaborator of Joe Dante.

<i>All the Stuff (And More) Volume Two</i> 1990 compilation album by Ramones

All the Stuff Volume 2 is a compilation album by the Ramones. It includes their third and fourth albums, Rocket to Russia and Road to Ruin, excluding the song "Go Mental," plus bonus tracks. Some versions of the album do include "Go Mental" in its rightful place as track 24, after "I Wanna Be Sedated" and before "Questioningly," for a total of 30 tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Stasium</span> American record producer and audio engineer

Ed Stasium is an American record producer and audio engineer, who has worked on albums by the Ramones, Talking Heads, Motörhead, the Smithereens and Living Colour.

<i>Get Crazy</i> 1983 American musical comedy film

Get Crazy is a 1983 American musical comedy film directed by Allan Arkush, and stars Malcolm McDowell, Allen Garfield, Daniel Stern, Gail Edwards, and Ed Begley Jr.

<i>Deathsport</i> 1978 film

Deathsport is a 1978 science fiction B-film produced by Roger Corman and directed by Allan Arkush and Nicholas Niciphor. The film stars David Carradine and Playboy Playmate Claudia Jennings. It would be one of Jennings' last films before her death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock 'n' Roll High School (song)</span> 1979 single by the Ramones

"Rock 'n' Roll High School" is a song by American punk rock band Ramones, from the soundtrack album Rock 'n' Roll High School. The single did not chart in the U.S. but peaked at number 67 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramones</span> American punk rock band

The Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens in 1974. Known for helping establish the punk movement in the United States, the Ramones are often cited as the first true punk band. Though achieving little commercial success, the band is seen today as highly influential in punk culture.

<i>...Ya Know?</i> 2012 studio album by Joey Ramone

...Ya Know? is the second and final solo album by Joey Ramone. It was released posthumously on May 22, 2012, by BMG. The album features producers Ed Stasium, Jean Beauvoir, Daniel Rey, Joey's brother Mickey Leigh and Joe Blaney. Musicians include Joan Jett, Steven Van Zandt, Richie Ramone, Holly Beth Vincent, Genya Ravan, members of Cheap Trick and the Dictators and Mickey Leigh.

References

  1. ↑ Film Art Gallery
  2. ↑ "When Ramones Got Raucous in "Rock 'n' Roll High School"". Classic Rockers. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  3. ↑ Koetting, Christopher T. (2009). Mind Warp!: The Fantastic True Story of Roger Corman's New World Pictures (illustrated ed.). Bristol, England, UK: Hemlock Books. p. 165. ISBN   978-0-9557774-1-7. OCLC   707141398 . Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  4. ↑ G., Rob; C., Mike (September 2004). "P. J. Soles interview - Halloween, Carrie, Stripes". Icons Of Fright.com. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  5. ↑ Armstrong, Stephen B. (2023). I Want You Around: The Ramones and the Making of Rock 'n' Roll High School. Backbeat Books. p. xv.
  6. ↑ "Rock 'n' Roll High School Quotes". Stands4 LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Sherman, Craig (July 2001). "Take Three: classic Corman film, examined". ArtsEditor. Retrieved January 15, 2007.
  8. ↑ Stafford, Jeff. "Rock'n'Roll High School". TCM.com. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  9. ↑ Holmstrom, John (2001). "Remembering Joey Ramone". Punk . New York City, New York, USA: Ged Dunn. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  10. ↑ "40 Years Ago, the Ramones Roamed L.A. in "Rock 'n' Roll High School"". lamag.com. August 2, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  11. ↑ Comments by director Allan Arkush on a Facebook post
  12. ↑ Announcement of April 20 premiere in Texas
  13. ↑ Ad announcing start of Manhattan run
  14. ↑ DVD Empire
  15. ↑ Barton, Steve (April 30, 2010). "Shout! Factory Offers Glimpse of New Roger Corman DVDs and Blu-rays". Dread Central. Beyond, Dread Central Media. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  16. ↑ Rock 'n' Roll High School Blu-ray Release Date May 11, 2010 (Roger Corman's Cult Classics)
  17. ↑ Rock 'n' Roll High School Blu-ray Release Date November 19, 2019 (SteelBook)
  18. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: R". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . New Haven: Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   978-0-89919-026-6 . Retrieved March 12, 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  19. ↑ Rockwell, John (June 8, 1979). "The Pop Life". The New York Times .
  20. ↑ "Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979)". Rotten Tomatoes . Flixster. 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Rock 'n' Roll High School". Metacritic . Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  22. ↑ Scott, Jay (September 22, 1979). "These are rock's old rebels". The Globe and Mail. p. E5.
  23. ↑ Blowen, Michael (August 17, 1980). "A Rockin' Trip Back to High School". TVW. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
  24. ↑ Drees, Rich (July 31, 2008). "Stern Picks Writer For ROCK AND ROLL HIGH SCHOOL Redo". FilmBuffOnline. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
  25. ↑ Fleming, Michael (July 30, 2008). Gray, Timothy M. (ed.). "Stern sets 'Rock 'n' Roll' remake". Variety . Los Angeles, California, USA: Reed Business Information. ISBN   978-1-936168-42-2. ISSN   0042-2738. OCLC   806428356 . Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  26. ↑ Reed, Patrick A. "Pop Music Comics: The 90s, part three. Roger Corman & The Melvins, and more KISS", Depth of Field (February 11, 2012).
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.