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IMDbPro

Rock 'n' Roll High School

  • 1979
  • PG
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
12K
YOUR RATING
P.J. Soles, Clint Howard, Vincent Van Patten, and Dey Young in 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.
Play trailer2:15
10 Videos
99+ Photos
ParodyComedyMusic

Ramones fanatic and delinquent Riff Randell battles it out with the strict new principal of Vince Lombardi High School, Miss Togar, with help from the Ramones.Ramones fanatic and delinquent Riff Randell battles it out with the strict new principal of Vince Lombardi High School, Miss Togar, with help from the Ramones.Ramones fanatic and delinquent Riff Randell battles it out with the strict new principal of Vince Lombardi High School, Miss Togar, with help from the Ramones.

  • Directors
    • Allan Arkush
    • Joe Dante
  • Writers
    • Richard Whitley
    • Russ Dvonch
    • Joseph McBride
  • Stars
    • P.J. Soles
    • Vincent Van Patten
    • Clint Howard
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    12K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Allan Arkush
      • Joe Dante
    • Writers
      • Richard Whitley
      • Russ Dvonch
      • Joseph McBride
    • Stars
      • P.J. Soles
      • Vincent Van Patten
      • Clint Howard
    • 102User reviews
    • 78Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos10

    Rock 'n' Roll High School - Trailer
    Trailer 2:15
    Rock 'n' Roll High School - Trailer
    Rock n Roll High School
    Clip 2:17
    Rock n Roll High School
    Rock n Roll High School
    Clip 2:17
    Rock n Roll High School
    Rock 'n' Roll High School
    Clip 1:06
    Rock 'n' Roll High School
    Rock 'n' Roll High School
    Clip 0:35
    Rock 'n' Roll High School
    Rock 'n' Roll High School
    Clip 0:47
    Rock 'n' Roll High School
    Rock 'n' Roll High School
    Clip 0:52
    Rock 'n' Roll High School

    Photos115

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    + 107
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    Top cast57

    Edit
    P.J. Soles
    P.J. Soles
    • Riff Randell
    Vincent Van Patten
    Vincent Van Patten
    • Tom Roberts
    Clint Howard
    Clint Howard
    • Eaglebauer
    Dey Young
    Dey Young
    • Kate Rambeau
    Mary Woronov
    Mary Woronov
    • Miss Togar
    Paul Bartel
    Paul Bartel
    • Mr. McGree
    Dick Miller
    Dick Miller
    • Police Chief
    Don Steele
    Don Steele
    • Screamin' Steve Stevens
    Alix Elias
    Alix Elias
    • Coach Steroid
    Loren Lester
    Loren Lester
    • Fritz Hansel
    Daniel Davies
    • Fritz Gretel
    Lynn Farrell
    • Angel Dust
    Herbie Braha
    Herbie Braha
    • Manager
    Grady Sutton
    Grady Sutton
    • School Board President
    Chris Somma
    Chris Somma
    • Shawn
    Marla Rosenfield
    Marla Rosenfield
    • Cheryl
    Barbara Ann Grimes
    • Cafeteria Lady
    • (as Barbara Ann Walters)
    Terry Soda
    • Norma
    • Directors
      • Allan Arkush
      • Joe Dante
    • Writers
      • Richard Whitley
      • Russ Dvonch
      • Joseph McBride
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally, Todd Rundgren was to star as the musical act, but both sides could not come to an agreement. Next, Cheap Trick was contacted, but a similar situation happened. After that, talks were conducted with Warner Bros. Records, where Allan Arkush had a connection, to decide on which band they should use in the film. The first suggestion was Devo, but Arkush decided that they had too much of their own concept. Another band considered for the movie was Van Halen, but Warner execs warned Arkush that they were raucous and would be difficult to handle. Finally, an exec name-dropped the Ramones, who recorded for Sire Records, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records. Arkush, being a huge fan of the band, agreed. To this day, Rundgren regrets passing up the role he was offered.
    • Goofs
      When Tom calls Riff from his van, he mentions that he is listening to the "new Ramones album." The song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" can be heard in the background. The problem is "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" is from the Ramones' first album "Ramones" (1976). Had Tom actually been listening to their newest album, he would have been listening to "Road to Ruin" (1978)...which does not include the song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend".
    • Quotes

      Tom Roberts: The only thing I'll ever lay is a rug!

    • Alternate versions
      UK cinema and video versions were cut by 1 min 39 secs to remove all footage of cocaine and reefers. The cuts were fully restored for the 2002 Prism DVD.
    • Connections
      Edited into Ramones: Do You Wanna Dance? (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      Alley Cat
      Written by Bent Fabricius-Bjerre

      Performed by Bent Fabricius-Bjerre (as Bent Fabric)

    User reviews102

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10

    Silly Satire

    P.J. Soles lights up the screen as Riff Randle - a fun loving teenager who just wants to listen to her Ramones albums without her evil school principal, Ms. Togar (a hilariously campy Mary Woronov), telling her that she's a bad person for it. Naturally, this pushes Riff to go to desperate lengths to share her love of The Ramones and even gets a hundred of her classmates tickets to their local concert...but will Ms. Togar try to put an end to their fun?

    Rock 'n Roll High School is absurdist comedy at its most bizarre. The music of The Ramones adds a nice underscore for the punk rock storyline and general sense of anarchy. All the actors are fun, including the adorable Dey Young and charmingly goofy Vincent Van Patten. Cult icons Paul Bartel, Dick Miller, and Clint Howard are also amusing in their smaller roles.

    Turn off your brain, crank up the volume, and have a blast.
    • marcusgrant-86630
    • May 2, 2019
    • Permalink

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 11, 1981 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • California Girls
    • Filming locations
      • Mount Carmel High School - 7011 South Hoover Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • New World Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $300,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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