Class of 1984
Encyclopedia
Class of 1984 is a 1982 action-thriller movie about a newly hired music teacher at a troubled inner city
school, where students have to pass through a metal detector due to problems with gangs, drugs, and violence. It was directed by Mark L. Lester
and starred Perry King
as teacher Andrew Norris, Merrie Lynn Ross (who also co-executive produced) as his wife Diane Norris, Roddy McDowall
as Terry Corrigan and Timothy Van Patten as Peter Stegman, the leader of the gang of thugs who terrorize the school. It was one of Michael J. Fox
's early roles, before he was a well-established actor.
The movie utilized the punk
look and image that was becoming part of popular culture in the early 1980s. The movie's theme song, "I Am The Future
", was performed by Alice Cooper
. The film also features a performance by Canadian punk band Teenage Head
.
The movie has been described by some critics as an unofficial remake
of Blackboard Jungle
(1955), in which King has the Glenn Ford
role, Van Patten has Vic Morrow
's, and Fox is in Sidney Poitier
's.
The film begins with a warning that it is partially based on true events.
.
has noted that Class of 1984 is one of his favorite movies. Scharpling often references the film on his weekly call in radio program The Best Show on WFMU.
-themed sequels that were loosely based on the original: Class of 1999
(1990) and the direct to video follow-up Class of 1999 II: The Substitute
(1994), the first of which was also directed by Lester and like its predecessor, was also released via Vestron Video, while the latter was released by Vidmark Entertainment. Lionsgate released Class of 1999 on DVD September 16, 2008. They have been released on DVD in many foreign territories, such as Korea
, Italy
and Australia
.
is in its majority a spoof on Class of 1984. The gang of 'Cretins' represent the gang from '84. The tagline "We are the future" also appears in Nuke 'Em High, uttered by one of the gang members as "We're the youth of today."
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
school, where students have to pass through a metal detector due to problems with gangs, drugs, and violence. It was directed by Mark L. Lester
Mark L. Lester
Mark L. Lester is an American writer, producer, and director, primarily of action films.After his debut in 1970 with the film Just Can't Reach, he went on to make his mark with such memorable drive-in fare as Truck Stop Women and Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw...
and starred Perry King
Perry King
Perry Firestone King is an American television and film actor. King played the role of Cody Allen on the detective series Riptide from 1983 to 1986.-Early life:...
as teacher Andrew Norris, Merrie Lynn Ross (who also co-executive produced) as his wife Diane Norris, Roddy McDowall
Roddy McDowall
Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude "Roddy" McDowall was an English actor and photographer. His film roles included Cornelius and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes film series...
as Terry Corrigan and Timothy Van Patten as Peter Stegman, the leader of the gang of thugs who terrorize the school. It was one of Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox, OC is a Canadian American actor, author, producer, activist and voice-over artist. With a film and television career spanning from the late 1970s, Fox's roles have included Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy ; Alex P...
's early roles, before he was a well-established actor.
The movie utilized the punk
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
look and image that was becoming part of popular culture in the early 1980s. The movie's theme song, "I Am The Future
I Am The Future
"I Am the Future" is a 1982 song by rock music musician Alice Cooper. The song was one of two singles released from his 1982 album Zipper Catches Skin. The single did not chart.The track was not written by Alice Cooper...
", was performed by Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
. The film also features a performance by Canadian punk band Teenage Head
Teenage Head (band)
Teenage Head is a Canadian rock group from Hamilton, Ontario and was one of the most popular Canadian punk rock bands during the early 1980s....
.
The movie has been described by some critics as an unofficial remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
of Blackboard Jungle
Blackboard Jungle
Blackboard Jungle is a 1955 social commentary film about teachers in an inner-city school. It is based on the novel of the same name by Evan Hunter.-Plot:...
(1955), in which King has the Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford was a Canadian-born American actor from Hollywood's Golden Era with a career that spanned seven decades...
role, Van Patten has Vic Morrow
Vic Morrow
Victor "Vic" Morrow was an American actor whose credits include a starring role in the 1960s TV series Combat!, prominent roles in a handful of other television and cinema dramas, and numerous guest roles on television...
's, and Fox is in Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE is a Bahamian American actor, film director, author, and diplomat.In 1963, Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field...
's.
The film begins with a warning that it is partially based on true events.
Cast
- Timothy Van Patten as Peter Stegman, The leader of the gang and a feared figure in the school. He and his gang sell drugs, get in fights with rival gangs, and run a small prostitutionProstitutionProstitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
racket. He carries around a switchbladeSwitchbladeA switchblade is a type of knife with a folding or sliding blade contained in the handle which is opened automatically by a spring when a button, lever, or switch on the handle or bolster is activated A switchblade (also known as an automatic knife, pushbutton knife, switch, Sprenger, Springer,...
and is willing to do anything to save himself from trouble.
- Lisa LangloisLisa LangloisLisa Langlois is a Canadian actress, who has appeared in movies, television and theater.-Biography:Langlois spent her childhood years in Hamilton, Ontario where she attended a French language school becoming fluent in French. In 1974 she represented Hamilton in the Miss Teen Canada beauty pageant,...
as Patsy, The only female in the gang, and Stegman's girlfriendGirlfriendGirlfriend is a term that can refer to either a female partner in a non-marital romantic relationship or a female non-romantic friend that is closer than other friends....
. She does not fight and seems to not do much of anything, other than help the other members if they need it.
- Stefan ArngrimStefan ArngrimStefan Arngrim , sometimes credited as Stephan Arngrim, is a Canadian actor and former child actor.Arngrim was born in Canada, the son of actress Norma MacMillan and Thor Arngrim. He is the brother of actress Alison Arngrim...
as Drugstore, The drug dealer of the gang. He himself is hooked on drugs. He carries a straight razorStraight razorA straight razor is a razor with a blade that can fold into its handle. They are also called open razors and cut-throat razors.Although straight razors were once the principal method of manual shaving, they have been largely overshadowed by the safety razor, incorporating a disposable blade...
around and uses a baseball batBaseball batA baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces , but it...
in a gang fights.
- Keith KnightKeith Knight (actor)Keith Knight was a Canadian actor. He made his screen debut as Larry 'Fink' Finkelstein in the 1979 comedy Meatballs, voiced the White Rabbit in The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland, and voiced Pigface in the BBC drama Ace Lightning. He was also known for voicing Lowly Worm in The Busy World of...
as Barnyard, The gang's enforcerEnforcerEnforcer may refer to:*A thug who uses physical force or the threat of physical force to coerce others*Enforcer , a role in ice hockey*Enforcer - Gaming :*Enforcer, a units in the Battle Realms video game...
. He likes to wear clothes displaying the swastikaSwastikaThe swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
. He uses a large wooden plank in battle, which just shows his immense strength.
- Neil Clifford as Fallon, The gang's other enforcer. He wears a lot of black leatherLeatherLeather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
and has a mohawkMohawk hairstyleThe mohawk is a hairstyle in which, in the most common variety, both sides of the head are shaven, leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair...
.His weapon is a chainChainA chain is a sequence of connected links.Chain may also refer to:Chain may refer to:* Necklace - a jewelry which is worn around the neck* Mail , a type of armor made of interlocking chain links...
, which he wears as a belt for easy access in fights.
Reception
Upon its original release, Class of 1984 was banned in several countries due to its lewd content. It currently maintains a 60% fresh rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.
Legacy
Comedy writer and producer Tom ScharplingTom Scharpling
Tom Scharpling is an American radio host, comedian, television writer, producer and music video director. He is best known for hosting the weekly freeform radio call-in comedy program The Best Show on WFMU and for acting as a writer/executive producer for the TV show Monk.Scharpling is also noted...
has noted that Class of 1984 is one of his favorite movies. Scharpling often references the film on his weekly call in radio program The Best Show on WFMU.
Sequels
The movie also had two science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
-themed sequels that were loosely based on the original: Class of 1999
Class of 1999
Class of 1999 is a 1990 science fiction film directed by Mark L. Lester. It is the director's follow-up to his 1982 film Class of 1984.-Synopsis:...
(1990) and the direct to video follow-up Class of 1999 II: The Substitute
Class of 1999 II: The Substitute
Class of 1999 II: The Substitute is a 1994 Direct-to-video film about a new teacher at a troubled inner city school, where students all are affiliated with gangs, drugs, and violence...
(1994), the first of which was also directed by Lester and like its predecessor, was also released via Vestron Video, while the latter was released by Vidmark Entertainment. Lionsgate released Class of 1999 on DVD September 16, 2008. They have been released on DVD in many foreign territories, such as Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Parodies
The 1986 low-budget Troma movie Class of Nuke 'Em HighClass of Nuke 'Em High
Class of Nuke 'Em High, also known as Atomic High School, is a 1986 film made by cult classic B-movie production group Troma Entertainment. It was directed by Richard W. Haines and Lloyd Kaufman under the pseudonym Samuel Weil...
is in its majority a spoof on Class of 1984. The gang of 'Cretins' represent the gang from '84. The tagline "We are the future" also appears in Nuke 'Em High, uttered by one of the gang members as "We're the youth of today."