Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979)

A group of rock-music-loving students, with the help of the Ramones, take over their school to combat its newly installed oppressive administration.

Director:

Allan Arkush

Writers:

Richard Whitley (screenplay), Russ Dvonch (screenplay),

Stars:

P.J. Soles, Vincent Van Patten, Clint Howard

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
P.J. Soles	...	Riff Randell
Vincent Van Patten	...	Tom Roberts
Clint Howard	...	Eaglebauer
Dey Young	...	Kate Rambeau
Mary Woronov	...	Miss Evelyn Togar
Paul Bartel	...	Mr. McGree
Dick Miller	...	Police Chief
Don Steele	...	Screamin' Steve Stevens
Alix Elias	...	Coach Steroid
Loren Lester	...	Fritz Hansel
Daniel Davies	...	Fritz Gretel
Lynn Farrell	...	Angel Dust
Herbie Braha	...	Manager
Grady Sutton	...	School Board President
Chris Somma	...	Shawn

Storyline

Vince Lombardi High School keeps losing principals to nervous breakdowns because of the students' love of rock 'n' roll and their disregard of education. The putative leader of the students is Riff Randell, who loves the music of the Ramones. A new principal, the rock-music-hating Miss Evelyn Togar, is brought in and promises to put an end to the music craze. When Miss Togar and a group of parents attempt to burn a pile of rock records, the students take over the high school, joined by the Ramones, who are made honorary students. When the police are summoned and demand that the students evacuate the building, they do so, which leads to an explosive finale.

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Plot Keywords:

ramones | high school | rock 'n' roll | punk rock | school principal | 

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Taglines:

Hey ho, Let's go!

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Roger Corman: The Official DVD Website

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Disco High

Filming Locations:

Van Nuys High School - 6535 Cedros Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New World Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The role of Eaglebauer was originally written for Eddie Deezen. However, Deezen was busy working on Steven Spielberg's 1941, so the role was handed to Clint Howard.

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Goofs

During filming of the concert scenes, the camera focused on P.J. Soles and Dey Young ran at the wrong speed, giving the footage a very speeded-up look. The filmmakers added the scenes into the picture anyway.

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Quotes

Tom Roberts: [needs to see Eaglebauer] Miss, you don't understand. See, uh, this is an emergency.
Norma: Animal, vegetable, or mineral?
Tom Roberts: Um... sexual.

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Connections

Referenced in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012)

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Soundtracks

"California Sun"
by Ramones

User Reviews

I just wanna have some kicks. I just wanna get some chicks!

93 minutes of mindless fun from 1979. So what if P.J. Soles was damn near 30 when this was made...she can rock my high school any time she wants! Now that we're down to only one original Ramone (and even he isn't in this), we have to salute the Boys by watching this movie. It's the way we want to remember 'em best, blowing up a high school.

So screw you Principal Togar, and all your exploding mice! WE JUST WANNA ROCK! P.S.---R.I.P. Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, Mr. McGree, & Screamin' Steve. And if anybody knows whatever happened to Angel Dust (Lynn Farrell-who made 3 movies in 1979 and seems to have dropped off the planet since) please post it on the R&RHS message board.