'70s Trash(?): Rock 'N' Roll High School

A Cult Classic finally gets its due.  This is Rock 'N' Roll High School, a 1979 Film famous for its Soundtrack and Stars.  Is it actually good though?  As noted, the hook of this Film is who's in it- The Ramones.  This, for once, was actually Corman succeeded at relating to 'the kids today' with a Film.  Aside from the famous group, it features just about ever other Corman Alumni you'd come to expect with something like this.  The Blands (Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov)?  Check.  Dick Miller?  Check.  The Announcer from Death Race 2000?  Yep, even him!  The Plot involves the titular High School struggling against a new Authority Figure who wants to maintain order.  Can she succeed?  Will The Ramones make a big difference?  To find out, read on...

A new Principal (Woronov)is brought in to Vince Lombardi High School.  She's strict!

In the B-Plot, the High School Quarterback is a dork and needs help from...Clint Howard to pick up women.  What a strange reality this is!

Would this be less weird with Eddie Deezen (who was originally-cast)?

Our Leads- Dey Young on the left, P.J. Soles on the right- are a mismatched pair who are friends.  The Quarterback wants Soles, while Young wants him.

Fun Fact: Soles was 28 when she shot this (same as Steve McQueen in The Blob) and was only 7 years younger than Woronov.

The Principal espouses the danger of Rock n Roll, showing it with a drawing of what happens to mice when they listen to it at full volume.

I mostly just used this shot to highlight how great this painting is and how much I want it!

The Ramones are coming to town, so Soles takes 3 days off from School to get Tickets.  They are only $10 each!

For her part in some rebellion, Soles (and Young by default) have their tickets taken by the Hall Monitors.

It's funny how...they get molested?  Weird gag!

They end up winning tickets, which makes the Movie stop to just show The Ramones play.  Could be worse.

Amongst the crowd is an Indian, Bartel's 'cool Teacher' and...the Mouse from the Painting, who's now human-sized!

In response to the rebellion, The Principal burns a bunch of albums on the lawn.  More rebellion now!

The students lock themselves in for a stand-off/Ramones Concert in the hallway.

They eventually make a rational decision...and blow up the School to zero consequences.  The End.

A fun and silly Movie, even if the Plot is lacking a bit.  Let's be honest- you don't watch a Film like this for the Plot, right?  You watch it for the silliness.  You watch it for certain Actors.  You watch it for The Ramones.  It's a weird piece of Film History.  It's especially weird when you think about who was almost the focus.  Before The Ramones, it was Todd Rundgren, then Cheap Trick, Van Halen and Devo!  All of them would have definitely brought a different feel for the most part.  The best and worst part of the Film is its ability to be distracted by the music.  On one hand, the Plot stops many times or just drags.  On the other hand, it does so while playing *The Ramones* at full blast, so how mad can you be?  From a technical standpoint, it is flawed.  From a viewing standpoint, it's quite fun.  I'm not going to pretend that I didn't notice the Pacing Issues- nor will I pretend that I didn't love the Soundtrack.  Rock 'n' Roll High School is a part of a Film History and deserving of its Cult Film Status- just enjoy it for what it is, as opposed to what it isn't.  To close, let's play 'Spot what doesn't belong' in the Shot.  It should be easy...

Next time, something more obscure and (most-likely) trashy.  It has to be '80s, right?  Stay tuned...