End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones
Encyclopedia
End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones is a 2003 documentary film
about highly influential New York
punk rock
band the Ramones
. The film, produced and directed by Jim Fields
and Michael Gramaglia, documents the band's history from their formation in the early 1970s and 22 subsequent years of touring, to their 1996 breakup and the deaths of three of the four original members. The title is taken from the Ramones' 1980 album, End of the Century
.
and earliest performances at New York's CBGB's to their unexpected induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 2002. It features comprehensive and candid interviews with members Dee Dee Ramone
, Johnny Ramone
, Joey Ramone
, Marky Ramone
, C.J. Ramone, Tommy Ramone
, Richie Ramone
, and Elvis Ramone. Others close to the band are also interviewed, including Joey's mother and brother, contemporaries such as Debbie Harry
and Joe Strummer
, and childhood friends of the members. The filmmakers first attempted to make the film in 1994 to document the final year of the band on the road but ran into difficulties with the band's management. Fields and Gramaglia successfully restarted the production in 1998 after the band had officially retired.
A rough cut of End of the Century premiered at the Slamdance
Film Festival in 2003, with its run-time subsequently shortened by nearly one hour. The final and completed version of the film didn't appear until February 2005 at the Berlin Film Festival.
Even though the talk during the South American scenes is about Brazil
, both the "mob scene" and the TV presentation take place in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
. In the mob scene, the kids chase the Ramones car down Carlos Pellegrini street, 100 meters north of the Obelisco
landmark. The Argentine presenter is Mario Pergolini
. An observant viewer noticed that at 1:06:20 mins - 1:06:31 mins the 2 studio musicians for Phil Spector are reading off of cue cards (watch the guy on the right).
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about highly influential New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
. The film, produced and directed by Jim Fields
Jim Fields
James Wallace Fields is an American film director, producer, playwright and actor. Fields wrote, produced and directed the movies 416, Saving The Indian Hills, Preserve Me A Seat, Plain Living and, most recently Bugeaters, currently in production...
and Michael Gramaglia, documents the band's history from their formation in the early 1970s and 22 subsequent years of touring, to their 1996 breakup and the deaths of three of the four original members. The title is taken from the Ramones' 1980 album, End of the Century
End of the Century
T. Donald Guarisco of Allmusic notes that the "entire album is pretty controversial in the world of Ramones fandom".Dee Dee recalled hearing a song from the album on the radio, perhaps "I'm Affected": "I couldn't believe how awful it sounded. It was horrible. I hated "Baby, I Love You"...
.
Overview
The film tells the story of the Ramones from their beginnings in Forest Hills, QueensForest Hills, Queens
Forest Hills is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States.-Neighborhood:The neighborhood is home to upper-middle class residents, of whom the wealthier residents often live in the neighborhood's Forest Hills Gardens area...
and earliest performances at New York's CBGB's to their unexpected induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
in 2002. It features comprehensive and candid interviews with members Dee Dee Ramone
Dee Dee Ramone
Dee Dee Ramone was an American songwriter and musician, best known as founding member, bassist and main songwriter of the punk rock band the Ramones....
, Johnny Ramone
Johnny Ramone
John William Cummings , better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being the guitarist for the punk rock band the Ramones. He was a founding member of the band, and remained a member throughout the band's entire career...
, Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman...
, Marky Ramone
Marky Ramone
Marky Ramone is an American musician. He is best known for being the drummer for the Ramones, but has also played in other notable bands like Dust, Wayne County and the Backstreet Boys, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, and the Misfits.Although he is not the original drummer , Marky is the only living...
, C.J. Ramone, Tommy Ramone
Tommy Ramone
Tommy Ramone, also known as Thomas Erdelyi , is a Hungarian American record producer and musician...
, Richie Ramone
Richie Ramone
Richie Ramone is an American drummer best known for being the drummer for the iconic punk band the Ramones and the only Ramones drummer to be the sole composer and writer of Ramones songs.-Biography:...
, and Elvis Ramone. Others close to the band are also interviewed, including Joey's mother and brother, contemporaries such as Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
and Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
, and childhood friends of the members. The filmmakers first attempted to make the film in 1994 to document the final year of the band on the road but ran into difficulties with the band's management. Fields and Gramaglia successfully restarted the production in 1998 after the band had officially retired.
A rough cut of End of the Century premiered at the Slamdance
Slamdance Film Festival
As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent in the film industry; it is also the only major film festival fully programmed by filmmakers. Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the...
Film Festival in 2003, with its run-time subsequently shortened by nearly one hour. The final and completed version of the film didn't appear until February 2005 at the Berlin Film Festival.
Even though the talk during the South American scenes is about Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, both the "mob scene" and the TV presentation take place in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. In the mob scene, the kids chase the Ramones car down Carlos Pellegrini street, 100 meters north of the Obelisco
Obelisk of Buenos Aires
The Obelisk of Buenos Aires is a national historic monument and icon of Buenos Aires. Located in the Plaza de la República, in the intersection of avenues Corrientes and 9 de Julio, it was built to commemorate the fourth centenary of the first foundation of the city.In order to enrich the...
landmark. The Argentine presenter is Mario Pergolini
Mario Pergolini
Mario Daniel Pergolini is an Argentine journalist, media producer and businessman, best known as the former main host of the television programme Caiga Quien Caiga broadcast on Argentina's Telefe....
. An observant viewer noticed that at 1:06:20 mins - 1:06:31 mins the 2 studio musicians for Phil Spector are reading off of cue cards (watch the guy on the right).