“Rock, rock, rock, rock, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School!”
Those immortal words, written by The Ramones, kick off a super-charged coming-of-age comedy as chaperoned by, well yes ladies and gentlemen, The Ramones.
’70s era cultural signifiers abound in this Roger Corman-produced bonanza of low budget delights.
“Fun, fun, rock ‘n’ roll high school.
Fun, fun, oh baby.
Fun, fun, fun, fun.
Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock ‘n’ roll high school.”
That the Punk band from NYC were soaking up California rays while making the movie, only adds to its fun vibe. The Ramones are at the height of their powers, tearing up the screen with determined musical attitudes shaped by Girl Groups of the ’60s. Think, The Shangri-Las.
Who knew Punk was so sincerely romantic?
The proof in the Punk pudding nods toward be the beautifully innocent romantic intent in The Ramones’ fantastic songs.
The teen dreams of the ’70s are in roaring display, squeezed into every frame like a super yummy PB&J.
P.J. Soles is awesome as Riff Randall, The Ramones’ biggest fan, or groupie if you will or if you won’t. Romantic sparks fly in an out-of-this-world musical fantasy sequence with Joey singing “I Want You Around” to Riff in her bedroom.
Hot.
A girl’s Punk dream comes to life, with Johnny playing acoustic guitar accompaniment to Joey’s intimate love ballad.
I had the good fortune to be at Richmond Va’s radio station-awarded “Rock ‘n’ roll high school, Richmond Open High School. Aimee Mann was in the equivalent of my home room. As such, the radio station gave us a free screening of “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” at the Biograph Cinema in my VCU college neighborhood, the Fan District.
They gave us these great hot pink lettering on black t-shirts.
Oh, the memories of things teenaged Cole did in that t-shirt in 1979, my sophomore year at Open High. And yes, we did claim to get high openly.
Chills baby, straight up chills.
Mary Warnov gives a next level performance as Miss Togar, the high school’s evil school principal. It’s notable that Mary Warnov and her co-star Paul Bartel went on to make the romping BDSM sex comedy “Eating Raoul” together three years later.
It’s clear that everyone involved with this miraculous Punk Rock document, is having a great time really going for it with everything they’ve got.
That the “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” soundtrack is a truly perfect record, goes with the territory.
Rock out kids, “school’s out for summer, school’s out forever.”
“I hate the teachers and the principal
Don’t wanna be taught to be no fool
Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock ‘n’ roll high school.”
Rated PG. 93 mins.
