Rock n' Roll High School

Hey Ho, Let’s Go!

Thank God for Paul Bartel (who plays Mr. McGree, the music teacher) at Vince Lombardi High School in this 1979 cult classic. According to Rock n Roll High School’s production history, it was his idea to bring The Ramones on board this teenage comedy. Originally, the film’s producer - the one and only Roger Corman - wanted Cheap Trick and while that might have been cool, Rock n Roll High School is made that much cooler thanks to the presence of Joey and Johnny and DeeDee and Marky Ramone.

 

"parties on with a BRAND-NEW 4K Scan From The Original Camera Negative"


The plot in this wild movie is simply about how far the students at Vince Lombardi High School (but really the decommissioned Mount Carmel High School) will go to thwart the strict plans of the music-hating, discipline-loving Principal Togar (Mary Woronov) and her two Fritz's (Loren Lester and Daniel Davies). Riff Randel (P.J. Soles) loves The Ramones. She’s written a song for them and, as they are playing a concert in her city, she plans on showing them her song in the hopes that they will perform it. She’s also purchased 100 tickets and wants the entire school body to attend the show.

But, much to Kate Rambeau (Dey Young) and Riff’s disappointment, Togar has other plans which includes burning all the vinyl records she can get her hands on. Fortunately, The Ramones are here to save the day with their rock and roll music.Rock n' Roll High School

You know how these teenage comedies go, especially the ones made for the drive-in. They are goofy, full of puns, and, thanks to Clint Howard’s matchmaking schemes, relentless in their onslaught as a nerdy jock, Tom Roberts (Vincent Van Patten) transforms his van into a velvet-padded sex shack (complete with an air-brushed warlock on its side and Joey Ramone serenades a scantily clad Riff while she fantasizes and DeeDee plays bass in the shower.

Complete with cameos from Dick Miller, Herbie Braha, Joe Dante, and Don Steele as Screamin’ Steve Stevens, Rock n Roll High School really does have it all. Big concerts, hilarious situations, crazed teens, wild hormones, and Angel Dust (Lynn Farrell) as The Ramones make their big screen debut in director Alllan Arkush’s Rock n Roll High School, which is now available in a super deluxe 40th Anniversary SteelBook edition and parties on with a BRAND-NEW 4K Scan From The Original Camera Negative.

Screw you, Principal Togar!

5/5 stars

 

Rock n' Roll High School

Blu-ray Details

Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray
- November 19, 2019
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: English SDH
Audio:
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Well, you don't care about history? Shout! Factory thinks you'd better reconsider – because this 40th Anniversary Edition of Rock 'N' Roll High School is compulsory education for scholars of cult cinema! 1979: Riff Randell (P.J. Soles, Halloween) is the rockingest rebel at Vince Lombardi High. Evelyn Togar (Mary Woronov, Eating Raoul) is the strict new principal with plans to rule the school like her own personal dictatorship. And The Ramones are the hottest band around. When these forces of nature collide, Lombardi High will never be the same! Striking back against Togar's record burnings and iron-fisted discipline, Riff leads a revolt that rocks the roof right off the schoo'’s hallowed halls! With a B-movie pedigree that few films can match, Rock 'N' Roll High School is the ultimate teacher of The Three Rs: Rock, Rebellion, and Ramones!

Video:

Stemming from a fresh restoration and remaster of the original 35mm camera negatives, the native 4K transfer of Rock n Roll High School absolutely POPS with warm colors, looking brand-new again. Yes, you can ditch previous releases as this new transfer is ALIVE with fresh greens, golden sun, and lots of clarity; the kind never seen before. The new 4K presentation is a damn showstopper, giving every scene brand-new depth and detail. This release is damned impressive, including the show stopping concert from The Ramones..

Audio:

Turn the volume up! The Beethoven’s of punk are commanding the airwaves in the English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • There are four different commentaries. See the breakdown below.

Special Features:

The celebration continues on the fully loaded special features, which includes a star-studded supplemental feature which includes interviews from All Arkush, Co-Director/Story Writer Joe Dante, Actress P.J. Soles, Screenwriter Richard Whitley, Screenwriter Russ Dvonch, Cinematographer Dean Cundey, Editor Larry Bock, And More!

  • NEW "Class Of '79: 40 Years Of Rock 'N' Roll High School" – Featuring Interviews With Director/Story Writer Allan Arkush, Co-Director/Story Writer Joe Dante, Actress P.J. Soles, Screenwriter Richard Whitley, Screenwriter Russ Dvonch,
  • Cinematographer Dean Cundey, Editor Larry Bock, And More!
  • Audio Commentary With Director Allan Arkush, Producer Mike Finnell And Screenwriter Richard Whitley
  • Audio Commentary With Executive Producer Roger Corman And Actress Dey Young
  • Audio Commentary With Allan Arkush And Actors P.J. Soles And Clint Howard
  • Audio Commentary With Screenwriter Richard Whitley And Russ Dvonch
  • "Back To School: A Retrospective" With Interviews From Allan Arkush, Executive Producer Roger Corman, And More
  • "Staying After Class": AnInterview With Actors P.J. Soles, Vincent Van Patten And Dey Young
  • Interview With Roger Corman Conducted By Leonard Maltin
  • Interview With Allan Arkush Including A Look At Rare, Behind-The-Scenes Stills
  • Audio Outtakes From The Roxy
  • Original Radio Ads And TV Spots
  • Theatrical Trailer

Blu-ray Rating

  Movie 5/5 stars
  Video  4/5 stars
  Audio 3/5 stars
  Extras 5/5 stars

Composite Blu-ray Grade

4/5 stars


Film Details

Rock n' Roll High School

MPAA Rating: PG.
Runtime:
93 mins
Director
: Allan Arkush
Writer:
Richard Whitley; Russ Dvonch; Joseph McBride
Cast:
P.J. Soles; Vincent Van Patten; Clint Howard
Genre
: Comedy | Music
Tagline:
They're giving Dirty Rotten Men a run for their Money.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Hey Ho, Let’s Go!"
Theatrical Distributor:
New World Pictures
Official Site: https://shoutfactory.com/product/rock-n-roll-high-school-1?product_id=2767
Release Date:
April 20, 1979
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
November 19, 2019.
Synopsis: Vince Lombardi High School has quite a reputation: it's the wildest, most rockin' high school around! That is, until a thug of a principal, Miss Togar, comes along and tries to make the school a totalitarian state. With the help of the Ramones, the students of Vince Lombardi battle Miss Togar's iron-fisted rule and take their battle to a truly explosive conclusion!

Art

Rock n' Roll High School