Allan Arkush’s Rock ‘n’ Roll High School stars P. J. Soles as Riff Randell, a high school student who is convinced that if she can just get a copy of her original song “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” to her favorite band, the Ramones, especially Joey, then her song is sure to be a hit. Vince Lombardi High School has plenty of problems. There doesn’t appear to be a student in sight who takes their education seriously, especially Riff Randell and her best friend Kate Rambeau (Dey Young). The newly installed Principal Togar (Mary Woronov) is a despot and wants the school to straighten up and fly right. Her targets? Students like Riff and Kate, and punk-rock musicians like the Ramones.
Buy Rock ‘n’ Roll High School 4K UHDRiff waits three days in line to get Ramones tickets only to have her ticket stolen by Principal Togar. Riff and Kate decide they can still get music to the Ramones if they can just win a radio contest, get to the show, and get “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” in the hands of Joey Ramone. Whether or not all this can happen remains to be seen, but Rock ‘n’ Roll High School is a famous B-movie with a whole hell of a lot more dancing, singing, and wise-cracking than there is plot.
P. J. Soles had an undeniable spark on the screen back in the day, and her list of first movies is impressive (De Palma’s Carrie, Carpenter’s Halloween, Reitman’s Stripes). Clint Howard also puts in a great turn as Eaglebauer – the person on campus, this time hidden deep in the boy’s bathroom, who can get you virtually anything. There isn’t much left to see here except for an exceptionally fun ending in which the powers-that-be attempt to organize a record-burning session that goes in the exact opposite direction planned.
Special Features:
Disc One (4K UHD, Feature Film)
- New 4K Scan from the Original Camera Negative
- Presented in Dolby Vision
- New Audio Commentary with Stephen B. Armstrong, Author of I Want You Around: The Ramones and the Making of Rock ‘N’ Roll High School
- Audio Commentary with Director / Story Writer Allan Arkush, Producer Mike Finnell, and Screenwriter Richard Whitley
- Audio Commentary with Allan Arkush and Actors P. J. Soles and Clint Howard
- Audio Commentary with Screenwriters Richard Whitley and Russ Dvonch
- Audio Commentary with Executive Producer Roger Corman and Actor Dey Young
Disc Two (Blu-Ray, Feature Film)
- New 4K Scan from the Original Camera Negative
- New Audio Commentary with Stephen B. Armstrong, Author of I Want You Around: The Ramones and the Making of Rock ‘N’ Roll High School
- Audio Commentary with Director / Story Writer Allan Arkush, Producer Mike Finnell, and Screenwriter Richard Whitley
- Audio Commentary with Allan Arkush and Actors P. J. Soles and Clint Howard
- Audio Commentary with Screenwriters Richard Whitley and Russ Dvonch
- Audio Commentary with Executive Producer Roger Corman and Actor Dey Young
Disc Three (Blu-Ray, Special Features)
- New Interview with Musician and Actor Marky Ramone
- “Class of ‘79: 40 Years of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School – Revised with Extended Interviews and Never-Before-Seen Footage
- “Back to School: A Retrospective”
- “Staying After Class” – Interview 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
- Theatrical Trailer
- TV Spot
With an absolutely ridiculous amount of special features (Roger Corman’s audio commentary and interview with Leonard Maltin are, alone, worth the price of the set), and a great score by arguably the first and best punk band, the Ramones, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School surpasses its “B-movie” status in every way.
