ROCK ‘N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL

ROCK ‘N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL: Bookended between Animal House and Porky’s, this Corman quickie is one of the more memorable modern efforts from the producer and his crew of “do-it-for-the-fun-of-it” writers, directors and actors. P.J. Soles (who’d just been strangled by Michael Meyers in Halloween the year before) stars as Riff Randell, a quirky rebel whose obsession with The Ramones doesn’t jibe with the new administrative regime. Stripped of her front row tickets, Riff crashes the show anyway and convinces the band to stop by and rock the roof off Vince Lombardi High. The comedy is mostly dated sight gags and embarrassing schitck, but it’s endearing all the same…even more so with the recent passing of all the original Ramones members. Director Allan Arkush leans heavily on the Hard Day’s Night formula and makes the most of the Ramones’ raw stage power. With two songs written specifically for the film (including the title track) there’s not a better intro to the Ramones’ appeal than R ‘n R High School. Just watching the group of lanky, pale New Yorkers good-naturedly mumble their lines and brave the L.A. sunshine is entertainment enough. Shout Factory’s special edition is thicker than your old history textbook, with three audio commentaries, a retrospective, new interviews, rare stills and original radio / TV ads. Hey, Ho, Let’s Go!