PUNK FILM ARCHIVE

 This is a set of films defined by the presence of punk musicians in narrative feature films. The films follow traditional narratives but often include “live” performances by punk bands. They also feature punk musicians as actors, often portraying punks themselves. These films are not grouped by genre, but rather they are grouped by a shared punk sensibility and presence of punk musicians in a non-documentary film.

 These films were often created in a low-budget, D.I.Y. approach, which is mirrored and complemented by the presence of punk musicians who often adopt such practices in their own lives. I find that this sensibility makes these films enjoyable and engaging, and would like to share them as a group with you.

 This database catalogs 13 of these films. The films will be available for download at the Kallick Family Gallery on Pitzer College's campus.

 Ian Byers-Gamber 2013

 

Blank Generation (1982)

Directed by: Ulli Lommel

Starring: Richard Hell

 Richard Hell stars as a struggling punk rocker stuck on a French filmmaker who does not care too much about him (or anything, for that matter). Along with many phone calls and long glances, there are some wonderful performances from Richard Hell and the Voidoids in CBGB. Andy Warhol makes a strange appearance as well.

 Richard Hell says of the film that “there’s not a single authentic, truthful moment in the movie,” but it is this obvious artifice that becomes humorous and engaging. Richard Hell's presence in the film is what saves it. When he is on stage, he looks like a real musician, and then he is off stage, it is painfully clear he is just acting. This tell is what gives away the film and allows it to be enjoyable.

 

Burst City (1982)

Directed by: Sogo Ishii

Starring: The Roosters, The Rockers, and The Stalin

 A crazy cyberpunk showcase of early 1980's Japanese punk, featuring a variety of dystopian rockers protesting the construction of a nuclear plant on their turf. Full of mosh pits, violence, motorcycles, highways, futuristic riot cops, and punks, Burst City thrusts the viewer into an insane future.

 

Class of 1984 (1982)

Directed by: Mark Lester

Featuring: Teenage Head

 A dark imagining of the 1982's near future, when punks the world (or classroom). The punks of this movie live out the extreme, reactionary stereotypes of the hardcore punk scene, with plenty of violence. This film goes completely crazy, with murdered teachers and completely ineffectual law enforcement. This film certainly does not have a traditional happy ending. Teenage Head appear in a concert scene that recalls punk documentary filmmaking, as there is almost no attempt made to sync the audio and visuals.

 

Dudes (1987)

Directed by: Penelope Spheeris

Featuring: Lee Ving, The Vandals

 From the same director as Suburbia and the Decline of Western Civilization, Dudes departs from LA and moves into redneck country. Flea returns to play another role as Milo, and Lee Ving (of Fear) plays the villain Missoula.

 The film sets the scene with the Vandals displaying their cow punk side with a performance of "Urban Struggle." The film quickly moves out of "the city" and into the country, where the two main characters (played by Jon Cryer and Daniel Roebuck) run into the rednecks, led by Lee Ving. Lee Ving has been in quite a few movies as well, including an over-the-top punk rocker in an Allan Arkush (Rock 'N' Roll High School) film, Get Crazy.

 

Jubilee (1978)

Directed by: Derek Jarman

Starring: Siouxsie and the Banshees, Adam Ant

 One of the earliest films on this list, directed by pioneer filmmaker Derek Jarman, Jubilee creates a new punk-world. Starting off in the 1500s, Queen Elizabeth I is transported to an alternate, dystopic 1970s Britain. The film does not follow any particular plot, and rather lets Queen Elizabeth move through the rubble of London with the help of a group of punks.

 Adam Ant plays "Kid," and also gives a performance with the Ants. Siouxsie and the Banshees also play a show that moves from television to real life and back.

 

 

Out of the Blue (1980)

Directed by: Dennis Hopper

Featuring: Pointed Sticks

 Dennis Hopper directs this film about family disaster. Hopper plays a father just out of a jail stint after drunkenly driving his big rig into a school bus. He comes back to his wife, who is now a drug addict, and his daughter, Cindy (played by Linda Manz), who exemplifies a teenage punk. The film follows the Cindy's troubles with her parents and peers.

 Vancouver punk band Pointed Sticks make an appearance when Cindy goes to one of their shows. She ends up onstage with the band, and even fills in on drums for a portion of their last song.

 

Pepi Luci Bom (1980)

Directed by: Pedro Almodovar

Starring: Alaska, Pedro Almodovar and McNamara

 Pedro Almodovar's first film comes directly out of "La Movida," the Spanish post-Franco counter-culture movement. Almodovar and his punk-glam-rock partner Fabio McNamara appear with starring musician Alaska, also part of the Movida. While the music is not exactly punk, La Movida shares many aspects with punk culture, and the low budget Pepi, Luci, Bom is no different.

 La Movida was an apolitical pushback against the cultural repression of Franco's regime. Sexuality, camp, music and literature exploded, and Almodovar put it to film. The film was shot on an extremely low budget, on nights and weekends with the help of friends and family. This means of production echoes the punk ethos of DIY and community based creation.

 

Repo Man (1983)

Directed by: Alex Cox

Featuring: The Circle Jerks

 One of the first representations of punks in mainstream Hollywood cinema happens to also be one of the best. Otto (Emilio Estevez) is a broke punk meandering through life, until he meets Bud (Harry Dean Stanton) and becomes a repo man. Rather than being the most extreme character in the film (as one would expect the punk character to be), his fellow repo men are much wilder and more interesting. At the same time, Otto's old punk friends push the punk stereotype to the limit ("let's go do some crimes") in a hilariously self aware portrayal. The real punks of the film, The Circle Jerks (and Zander Schloss, who would later join the Circle Jerks after filming Repo Man), act as a lounge act and a nerdy ex-supermarket clerk, respectively.

 

Rock 'N' Roll High School (1979)

Directed by: Allan Arkush

Starring: The Ramones

 The timeless classic, where The Ramones' biggest fan, Riff Randell, has to battle her totally square / evil high school principle to see The Ramones. Ms. Togar, the principle, does the best she can to prevent Riff from seeing The Ramones when they come to town, and even begins running lab tests to prove the dangers of rock 'n' roll.

 Fortunately, The Ramones come to Riff's rescue, helping to take over the high school and perform at the Roxy as well. Darby Crash and Lorna Doom (of The Germs) appear in the audience at the Roxy show.

 

Six String Samurai (1998)

Directed by: Lance Mungia

Featuring: The Red Elvises

 Six String Samurai is one of the latest movies featured in this list, but the strange execution and even stranger plot mean it does not stand too far away from the rest of the films in this archive. A post-apocalyptic America needs a new king, after reigning king Elvis passes in "Lost Vegas." Every guitar slinger, including Death himself, in the country heads to Vegas to lay claim to the throne.

 Jeffrey Falcon stars as a Buddy Holly surrogate who is also working towards the throne. Along the way he runs into a lot of trouble, including The Red Elvises. The Red Elvises are a surf/rockabilly/traditional russian band

 

Suburbia (1983)

Directed by: Penelope Spheeris

Featuring: D.I., T.S.O.L., The Vandals

 Penelope Spheeris, who also directed The Decline of Western Civilization and Dudes, made this fictional narrative based on the experiences of homeless punks in LA, and then cast them in the film. Suburbia is surprisingly heartfelt and sad, but also

 Suburbia follows a group of youths squatting in an eminient domain suburb by the 605. Some have been kicked out of their homes, others chose to leave. The kids of T.R. House (The Rejected) run into trouble with a "Citizens Against Crime" group, who want to force the kids out of the house.

 The film is punctuated by a series of concerts, where D.I., True Sounds of Liberty, and The Vandals perform. The bands participate in the film, yelling at the punks in the audience, and many crucial plot points take place at the venue. Flea (of RHCP) plays one of the kids as well.

 

Up In Smoke (1978)

Directed by: Lou Adler

Featuring: The Dils, Cheech and Chong

 Up In Smoke ends with a delightful battle of the bands sequence, featuring The Dils and Cheech and Chong themselves. The Dils, who actually missed the cutoff for the casting call, drove from Carlsbad to the Roxy in LA anyways and walked straight in to the shoot. They played "You're Not Blank" and appear as the second band in the scene.

 Cheech and Chong themselves perform their song "Earache My Eye" (with Cheech as Alice Bowie). Halfway through, Cheech yells "I only know three chords," something that can be said for many punk bands of the time.

 

Wild Zero (1999)

Directed by: Tetsuro Takeuchi

Starring: Guitar Wolf

 Wild Zero tells the story of Ace, an aspiring rocker (who's noticeable lack of musical talent is more than made up by his amazing hair) and his punk idol Guitar Wolf as they have to save the world from an alien / zombie attack.

 Guitar Wolf, playing themselves, are in a dispute with an evil club manager when the aliens arrive and begin zombifying people. They end up helping Ace survive by fending off the zombies. Guitar Wolf also have magical powers, activated by their instruments, that help them fight off the zombies. There is an amazing soundtrack and a few great performances by Guitar Wolf in the film.