ROGER CORMAN and CHEESE, part XVI: "Rock 'n' Roll High School" and Bagel Bites Three Cheese

It's an accomplishment on its own to work steadily in the movie business for 70 years, but to average between 6-9 productions per year during that stretch is how someone becomes a legend. Furthermore, to be a part of (and a major contributor to) an art form over such a vast and dynamic period of time, eventually the old work becomes nostalgia and the new stuff becomes self-referential. 

When Rock 'n' Roll High School was released in 1979, it wasn't necessarily a criticism of its time, but instead a sorta parody of the way things were; the establishment wasn't nearly as concerned with the evils of Rock 'n' Roll music as they were in the 50s and 60s (this was still before the Heavy Metal/Satanic Panic period of the 1980s). But at the time it was hip to both mock and also idealize that era that already seemed so long ago - this movie followed the release of Animal House, Grease, and Happy Days, and it's better than all of them. To be fair this doesn't actually take place in the 50s, it just borrows its sensibilities. High School delinquent Riff Randell (P. J. Soles) cares more about her favorite Punk Rock group The Ramones than her studies, and her passion is contagious to her peers and infuriating to her fascist Principal (Mary Woronov). That's really it for "plot" but if you've seen it then you know it's just enough of a framework for the funny and exciting tomfoolery that transpires throughout. There's a tangental teen romance thread that's useless -- the real power of this film comes from the equally commanding performances of P. J. and Mary - their enthusiasm as actors matches that of their characters. And also the Ramones performances which are invaluable moments to be preserved on film. Very few Roger Corman productions demonstrate this level of energy, devotion, and talent. 

Pizza in the morning, pizza in the evening... According to Ms. Randell, The Ramones only ever eat pizza. So you know what they say: When pizza's on a bagel... Unlike their older, fatter cousin The Pizza Roll, these are a lot lighter, less filling, and you get fewer of them. Also, despite the bold promise of "Three Cheese" they couldn't seem to get enough to cover each Bite. Having said all of that, these are actually very ok: the "cheese and sauce" does indeed taste like the frozen pizza experience, but what's most remarkable is the accuracy of the bagel experience. These aren't just little bread discs that happen to resemble the shape and color of a bagel, but also flavor and texture as well! Pretty stupendous considering they've lived most of their lives as frozen chunks in a plastic bag. 

The Movie: A

The Pizza: B