Class of 1984 (1982)

Director:

Mark L. Lester

Writers:

Tom Holland (story)
Mark L. Lester (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 August 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Class of 1984. Is this the future?

Plot:

Andy is a new teacher and an inner city high school that is like nothing he has ever seen before. The...

Plot Keywords:

High School | Teacher | City | Teenage Boy | Lesbian

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Perry King	...	Andrew Norris
Merrie Lynn Ross	...	Diane Norris
Timothy Van Patten	...	Peter Stegman
Roddy McDowall	...	Terry Corrigan
Stefan Arngrim	...	Drugstore
Michael J. Fox	...	Arthur (as Michael Fox)
Keith Knight	...	Barnyard
Lisa Langlois	...	Patsy
Neil Clifford	...	Fallon
Al Waxman	...	Detective Stewiski
Erin Noble	...	Deneen (as Erin Flannery)
David Gardner	...	Principal Morganthau
Steve Pernie	...	Rejack
Robert Reece	...	Leroy
Joseph Kelly	...	Jimmy

Also Known As:

Guerrilla High (Canada: English title) (working title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:18 (DVD rating) (uncut) (2005) | USA:R (cut) | Norway:15 (DVD rating) (2006) (uncut) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2006) | Finland:(Banned) (heavily cut) (1984) | Finland:(Banned) (uncut) (1982) (1983) (1986) | Australia:R | Denmark:15 | France:-16 | Germany:18 (cut version: 2002) | Iceland:(Banned) | New Zealand:R18 | Sweden:15 | UK:(Banned) (video rating) (1987) | UK:18 (original rating) (cut) | UK:18 (video re-rating) (2005) | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Central Tech. High School, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Guerilla High Productions

Trivia:

Director of photography Albert J. Dunk was hired by Mark L. Lester after Lester saw his work in the film 'Incubus (1981)'.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the thug climbs up the flag pole, he is alternately holding/not holding the flag in his hands.

Quotes:

Andrew Norris: You hurt her, I'll kill you! I swear to God I'll kill you!

Movie Connections:

References A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Soundtrack:

Let's Have a War

An Eighties exploitation classic. Stupid yes, but impossible not to enjoy!

The 1980s were a bit of a let down after the 1970s for exploitation fans, but there were a few gems released alongside the 'Risky Business's and 'Mr.Mom's. 'Chained Heat' and 'The Exterminator' immediately spring to mind, and 'Class Of 1984' is another. This movie has got it all - a cheesy theme sung by Alice Cooper, a high school terrorized by drug dealing punks, a classic sequence where a square student, high on something or other, decides to salute the flag... at the top of the flagpole... plus a bit with rabbits which I won't spoil. TV regular Perry King, no stranger to exploitation movies (see 'Mandingo'), plays a new and idealistic music teacher. He is befriended by another teacher, the cynical secret drinker Roddy McDowall ('Planet Of The Apes'), who tries to wise him up. Future 'Sopranos' writer/director Timothy Van Patten plays Stegman who sells drugs to his classmates, and leads a ruthless gang of hoods. When King tries to break Stegman's hold on the school he enters into a world of pain. This is a silly but hugely entertaining pile of trash. Be sure to keep an eye out for Michael J. Fox in one of his earliest roles, as a horn playing dweeb. Director Mark Lester eventually made a sequel in name only 'Class Of 1999', but it was disappointing and silly sci fi nonsense about robot teachers. I can't recommend that one but 'Class Of 1984' is classic beer'n'pizza material that will be enjoyed by any fans of nasty b-grade exploitation.