Special screening and moderated discussion hosted by Bill Kopp, followed by a screening of the film and then a moderated discussion about what we’ve just seen and heard.
“Riff Randell, rock ‘n’ roller.”
That’s how P.J. Soles introduces her character in Rock N Roll High School, the cult film that built upon a foundation of B-movies and served it up to a generation raised on a diet of second-wave rebellious rock ‘n’ roll, aka punk. Allan Arkush’s film starred The Ramones, non actors all, alongside Warhol denizens Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov. The clash of (sub)cultural icons makes for a rousing, fun and unashamedly of-its-time movie.
Rock N Roll High School spawned a cult following, writ small. You may recall that the underground success of The Rocky Horror Picture Show manifested in fans attending the movie in theaters dressed in costumes that copied (or at least followed on from) those on the screen, and rather than remaining seated in the darkened movie house, they jumped up and participated in the film.
Well, in the very late ‘70s, fans of Rock N Roll High School often did the same thing. They were inspired by the silly antics, the self-consciously cliché plot line, and the great music. And while we won’t actively encourage similar behavior at the Grail Moviehouse in Asheville on March 27, neither will we prohibit it. So come join us for a screening of the cult classic Rock N Roll High School, followed by an interactive discussion to follow. It’s the latest in our ongoing series of Music Movie Mondays, hosted by Bill Kopp (that’s me).