Rock ‘N’ Roll High School – The Ramones – Sound+Vision: Music at the Movies

Rock ‘N’ Roll High School – The Ramones – Sound+Vision: Music at the Movies

Sound + Vision: Music at The Movies presents the greatest in soundtrack-cinema. On the first Tuesday of every month, we curate a film screening where the music fuels the engine of the cinema experience, with a preshow moderated discussion on the film and music’s history and cultural impact. September’s pick is Rock ‘N’ Roll High School, featuring punk legends The Ramones.

Presented in Hi-def and 51. surround sound. Co-sponsored by WAMC, WEXT, and Rochmon Record Club.

“Teen punkette Riff Randall (P.J. Soles of CARRIE and HALLOWEEN) has one abiding fantasy: to meet the dreamy Ramones, and get them to perform one of her songs. Standing in her way is Principal Togar (Warhol star Mary Woronov), who runs Vince Lombardi High like a despot — until the boys from Forest Hills lead a student body putsch and rock the school down to its foundations. A tribute to the after-school bedroom sexual awakening, when one daydreams of Joey joining you in the shower.” — Metrograph

“Director Allan Arkush channels Frank Tashlin and the smartass spirit of Mad Magazine throughout the film, transforming his love letter to rock ’n’ roll and the eternal allure of being a teenager at war with parents into a live-action cartoon filled with giddily surreal touches. In reality, Ramones fandom was a small, specific, eccentric niche. But in Rock ’N’ Roll High School, the Ramones are as big as The Beatles.” — Nathan Rabin, The Dissolve

Vince Lombardi High School keeps losing principals to nervous breakdowns because of the students’ love of rock ‘n’ roll and their disregard of education. The putative leader of the students is Riff Randell, who loves the music of the Ramones. A new principal, the rock-music-hating Miss Evelyn Togar, is brought in and promises to put an end to the music craze. When Miss Togar and a group of parents attempt to burn a pile of rock records, the students take over the high school, joined by the Ramones, who are made honorary students. When the police are summoned and demand that the students evacuate the building, they do so, which leads to an explosive finale.—Rick Gregory