Class of 1984

Plot synopsis:
Andrew Norris (Perry King) is the new music teacher at a troubled inner city school. As he arrives on his first day, he meets fellow teacher Terry Corrigan (Roddy McDowall) who is carrying a gun. When Norris asks about the firearm, Corrigan assures the new teacher that he will soon know why such protection is necessary. When they enter the school, Norris is shocked to see everyone scanned by metal detectors and frisked. He spots a student with a knife, but the security guards let the kid go because they are so overworked.
The halls of the school are covered with graffiti. Norris learns that he is expected to patrol the halls as a security guard during his off periods. In his first class, a group of disruptive kids who are not registered in band are roughhousing and causing trouble. The leader of the gang is Peter Stegman (Timothy Van Patten). They quiet down enough to let Norris try to run the class where some kids genuinely want to learn, like Arthur (Michael J. Fox) who plays trumpet and Deneen who plays clarinet.
As Norris gets to know the school and the area, he decides that he wants to put together an orchestra with his more advanced students. The film follows Stegman's gang as they sell drugs, run a strip club, and cause all kinds of mayhem. They follow Norris home and taunt him one night.
At school, Norris is confronted with more and more evidence of Stegman's crimes. The two grow increasingly at odds. Eventually, they wind up in a bathroom alone together. Stegman throws himself into a mirror and beats himself up before claiming that Norris attacked him. Trying to clear things up, Norris visits Stegman's mother at home. Frustrated when Stegman still plays the victim and his mother will not hear Norris out, he hotwires Stegman's car and drives it into a wall.
The film climaxes as Norris' orchestra is about to give its first concert. As his wife gets ready at home, Stegman's gang breaks into the house and gang rapes her. One of them takes a Polaroid of her being raped and has it delivered to Norris on the podium, just as he is about to start the concert. Horrified by the photo, Norris runs off the podium in pursuit of Stegman's gang. The remainder of the film depicts Norris and the gang chasing each other through the school. Norris kills them off one by one, and he finally confronts Stegman on the roof. Their last scuffle ends with Stegman falling through a skylight and getting tangled in the ropes above the stage. He falls into full view of the audience as his neck is broken by one of the ropes.
The film ends with a title that claims Norris was never charged because the police could not find a witness to the crime.

Tags: violence, cult, revenge, murder, sadist

Review:
This movie has got it all - a cheesy theme sung by Alice Cooper, a high school terrorized by drug dealing punks, a classic sequence where a square student, high on something or other, decides to salute the flag...
when new teacher andy norris (perry king) arrives at lincoln high, he unwittingly pits himself against a gang of punks led by the legendary timothy van patton (who shocks the audience with a beautiful self-written piano solo).
Rape, gory violence, great villains, a killer signature song from Alice Cooper ("I Am The Future"), and solid performances from genre vets such as Perry King ("Mandingo", "Search and Destroy") and Roddy McDowell equal one of the greatest exploitation films of all time.
King starts work at a crime-ridden school and is targeted by a nasty gang led by the disturbed, spoiled, vicious, gifted youth Stegman (Timothy Van Patten).
I kinda hated this film when it first came out, thinking that it was unrealistic and ultra-violent, what with the metal detectors at the entrances to the high schools and depictions of punks, etc...little did I know.
This film, a kind of update of "Blackboard Jungle" by way of "Clockwork Orange" and "Death Wish" is a fascinating look at an urban high school controlled by punk gang leader Stegman (Timothy Van Patten).
This film is extremely well made, a classic b-movie that is first rate compared to junk like "The Faculty" or any of the other awful "I Know What you Did Last Summer" type of teen flicks out these days....
Meanwhile , a teacher (Roddy MacDowall , though Dennis Weaver was originally offered the role but turned it down as being too violent, and this character was inspired by several true stories of school violence director had read about in papers) has brought a gun to class to control his students .
Andrew Norris (Perry King) is a new teacher from Nebreska who has a run-in with the local toughs when he refuses to just look the other way like fellow teacher, Terry (Roddy McDowell) warns him to do.
The sadistic, violence prone student, Peter Stegman, runs the school with his colorful gang of cronies that look like cast rejects from The Warriors.
There are a lot of moments really good in this movie: a few examples: The scene of the drug dealing, the scene where Timothy Van Patten hurts himself in the toilets, the track he plays at the piano, the scene of the rape, and the whole scenes of the end of the movie which goes crescendo in the violence.
Although the things about school violence happening in the film was seen as over the top now it has become a frightening reality.Class Of 1984 tells the story about a new music teacher named Andy Norris(Perry King) who has just transfered to Lincoln high to teach music.
When Andy gets to his music class he now has to deal with Peter Stegman(Tim Van Patten) and his gang of misfits who run the school.
When Andy tries tell the police and school officials with no luck, Andy must deal with Peter Stegman and his gang in a violent cat and mouse game leading up to a violent conclusion.Class Of 1984 is an amazing film from beginning to end because while there are things in the film that are over the top, the film is just as relevant as it was back in 1982.
Lester made this film because he wanted this movie to be a warning about what would happen if teenagers and High School violence wasn't handled.
This question definitely applies to Andy Norris who probably asks himself that question throughout the film and that's one of the great things about Class Of 1984 and where it rises above the typical B-Movie exploitation film.
It's ending that matches the tone of the rest of the film and is a unforgettable conclusion.Perry King does a brilliant job as Andy Norris,a new music teacher,with King bringing depth and intensity to the role and having great scenes with Van Patten.
The theme song I am the Future by Alice Cooper is amazing and unforgettable and you'll be singing during and after the movie.In final word,if you love Thrillers,Teen Films and Exploitation Films,you'll love Class Of 1984 an excellent film and a great Cult Classic that will stand the test of time and will stay with you after you watch it.
The acting is nothing short of fantastic, featuring breakout performances by Perry King as the caring Norris who slowly begins to lose his patience, the always incredible Roddy McDowell as Terry, the man who has lost all hope in his teaching abilities and dreams of actually making a good change in these kids lives, and, of course, Timothy Van Patten as Stegman, who plays the role with a mix of suaveness, psychosis, and even tragedy at his wasted life.
Fox also makes an early appearance as a good kid trapped in such a miserable world.The film does a good job of building the antagonists up as completely despicable so by the final showdown between Norris and the gang, you are itching for them to die, yet they are sympathetic in a way.
While Columbine may have proved that Lester's vision didn't go quite far enough, he sure as hell knows how to create the perfect B-movie.Brutal, fast and fun, such outrageously violent scenes as Andy cutting off a gang member's arm with a circular saw or burning another pupil alive ensured that Class of 1984 was heavily cut and even banned in numerous countries (recent R2 and R1 releases are fully uncut).Lester has claimed that he introduced America to punk rock with this movie.
While that's debatable, the gang all look the part, although Stegman boasts an unfortunate haircut that puts the 'wave' in 'new', and the soundtrack mixes the likes of Fear and Teenage Head with Alice Cooper.With its stylised brutality, punk rock soundtrack and relentless pace, Class of 1984 still hits you like a motorcycle chain to the jaw..
A gritty 80s re-working of 50s high-school drama The Blackboard Jungle, Class of 1984 exploited its audience's distrust of the current rebellious youth culture—punk rock—much further than its rock 'n' roll predecessor, presenting a bleak, violent, dystopian near-future that may have seemed a tad far fetched on its release, but which these days appears to have been scarily prophetic.An idealistic music teacher Andrew Norris (Perry King) moves to the suburbs with his pregnant wife to start a new job at an inner city high school, but is shocked to discover that his workplace is effectively controlled by gangs of juveniles, the worst being a group of punks led by psychotic genius Stegman (Timothy Van Patten).
Inevitably, the trouble escalates, becoming increasingly violent, and when Stegman's gang turn their attention to Norris's wife, the normally placid teacher finally realises that the only answer to his problem is to fight fire with fire.Although Tom Holland's script was obviously crafted to appeal to the same audiences who lapped up the violent right-wing retribution of Michael Winner's Death Wish movies, Class of 1984 is a little different to many of the revenge dramas that also followed in that film's wake.Firstly, unlike Bronson's Paul Kersey, Norris never actively seeks revenge: his violent acts are committed in self-defense and in order to save his wife.Secondly, the film suggests that it is previous generations' apathy and inaction that is to blame for social decay.
The adults in '84 seem to have given up trying to solve the problems facing their community, and are now simply content in dealing with them as painlessly as possible (or simply by turning a blind eye altogether): the principal of the school refuses to enforce stricter punishments for rule infractions; likewise, the police's hands are conveniently tied by red-tape; biology teacher Terry Corrigan (Roddy McDowell) has turned to the bottle and is simply biding his time to retirement; and Stegman's middle-class mother is so ignorant that she refuses to believe her son could be anything other than a complete angel.Finally, we have the intriguing notion that, given a little nurturing from his single parent mother, Stegman could easily have been a grade A student, but a combination of boredom and neglect (plus a dash of untreated psychosis) has made him the murderous nut-job that he is.Still, a murderous nut-job he most certainly is, which means that he (and his gang) deserve to die, and Andy Norris turns out to be just the man to teach these scumbag kids a few lessons they will never forget...Music: Norris succeeds in getting a decent tune from one punk by bashing him repeatedly over the head with a metal bar.
Physics: Norris allows Stegman to take part in a practical experiment about gravitational force, throwing the loutish gang leader to his death from the school roof.If, like me, you're a fan of exploitative and gratuitously violent trash, then these scenes will most likely be your primary reason for tracking this sucker down, for they definitely deliver the goods when it comes to brutal and bloody action.
Makes those previous films look like the little red school house.Perry King and expecting wife Merrie Lynn Ross are new to the city and the school where King has got a new job as the music teacher.
***SPOILERS*** Released in the summer of 1982 the movie "Class of 1984" is really a remake of the 1955 juvenile delinquency classic "Blackboard Jungle" but far more violent with high school as well as music prodigy Peter Stegman, Thimothy Van Patten, who used his gang of thugs to terrorize everyone including teachers and principles at Lincoln High.
It's now the naive and sensitive Andrew Norris, Perry King, who has no idea in what he's up against who was to take his place.Andrew Norris who was the victim together with his fellow science teacher Terry Corrigan, Roddy Mcowall, of Stegman and his gang's violent abuses that included Andrew's pregnant wife Diane, Marrie Lynn Ross, who was kidnapped and brutalized by them soon turned into a Chuck Norris in him dealing with them.
Perry King stars as a teacher who is forced to turn vigilante when mean punks kidnap and rape his wife during the school orchestra, of course this is all brought to the surface due to King and Van Patten's struggle among each other through out the entire movie.
Fox, Timothy Van Patten, Perry King Review:The story is about a music teacher called Andrew Norris.
Lester goes on saying that Class of 1984 was a 'prophetic' film about how slowly but surely violence was going to escalate in public high schools to the point where it would be almost uncontrollable.
I have enjoyed this movie a bunch of times now,very good film,very believable.Timothy VanPatten looks a little too "Hollywood" in the picture.Roddy McDowall gives a superb performance as a biology teacher fighting alcoholism and Perry King is excellent too..
Basically it's Perry King who isn't bad, as the new music teacher, against Stegman, where the two keep hitting back, making for an absorbing and revenge cheering the good guy on pic, but nothing more.
Class Of 1984 does a rape scene to, and hats off to the Lisa Langois as the female villainess, and Merrie Lynn Ross, very good, and does us solid as King's raped wife, while also watch for a younger Michael J Fox, so so, as a stabbing victim, whose friend high on drugs, climbed one too many flagpoles.
Actually, I recall this film getting released theatrically over here all those years ago and even its first airing on Italian TV a little time later but, somehow, I never managed to sit down and watch it for myself until now.Anyway, despite its being fashioned literally almost step-by-step on BLACKBOARD JUNGLE Itself - the lead teacher has a pregnant wife who is harassed while alone in her home by the thugs, the teacher's best friend and fellow schoolteacher suffers terribly at the hands of his students, the head of school is powerless to intervene but still condemns King's eye-for-an-eye retaliatory tactics, etc.
Music teacher Andrew Norris is given a teaching assignment at a tough inner city school and it's not long before he becomes a target for a tough gang who rule the school through a reign of fear This begins with a caption saying " unfortunately some of the incidents are based on real life incidents " Considering the setting is 1984 the film hints that it's a forewarning as to what the future may hold in store .
Class of 1984 (1982)** 1/2 (out of 4)Music teacher Andy Norris (Perry King) arrives at a new school where on the first day he notices fellow teacher Terry (Roddy McDowall) carrying a gun.
Pretty soon gang leader Stegman (Timothy Van Pattern) targets Andy and the attacks keep getting more violent.CLASS OF 1984 pretty much came out of nowhere and turned into a profitable hit that managed to score quite a few good reviews even from critics like Roger Ebert.
This trend continued in the 1980s with mainstream cinema churning out Death Wish and Dirty Harry sequels.This obscure B movie outing features an early film appearance by Michael J Fox, one of the few actors in this film who looks like a high school student.Perry Kings plays newbie Music teacher at Lincoln High whose idealism quickly goes out of the window as its run by a nihilistic gang of scumbags led by Peter Stegman who despite living a high style life, he can even play the piano spends most of his time living the life of violence and drug pushing.
Despite security guards, CCTV the Dean of the school can never find any wrongdoing by the thugs and other teachers just turn a blind eye until Roddy McDowall the Biology teacher snaps that is.Timothy Van Patten is having a hoot as the vile and cunning Stegman who really gets off in bringing misery which also includes an unsettling gang rape scene.
It was momentarily popular in its day because of the Orwellian connotations of the year 1984 which was just around the corner at the time.Perry King plays a new teacher who goes to work at an inner city high school run by ruthless punks led by Timothy Van Patten, who does a good, over the top job as the psychotic Stegman.
Perry King plays a bullied music teacher who's almost Had It Up To Here with the menacing gang terrorizing the school (one of the students is a fat Michael J Fox!).
Supposedly this is a modern update of an acclaimed 50's movie called "The Blackboard Jungle" starring Glenn Ford and Vic Morrow, but – even without having seen the original version - I heavily suspect the juvenile delinquents of that film to look like angelic choirboys in comparison with the psychopathic and anarchistic punk-kids of Lincoln High in "Class of 1984".
The ambitious and idealistic music teacher Andy Norris starts his new career at Lincoln High, but immediately notices that the entire school lives under the terrorist reign of gifted thug Peter Stegman and his gang of crazy lackeys.
As exploitation revengers go, this one delivers.Music teacher Andrew Norris (Perry King of "The Choirboys" and "Mandingo" - a bit of an exploitation veteran) arrives at the Abraham Lincoln High School as a substitute member-of-staff.
Naive and idealistic music teacher Andy Norris (a fine and likable performance by Perry King) gets a job at Lincoln High School in a crime-infested neighborhood.
Perry King does a great job as Mr.Norris while Timothy Van Patten does his role great as stegman.
Just how far might "Teach" go if the gloves really, finally, come off, and there is no (intention of) going back?Slow but steady escalation is the hallmark of "Class of 1984", in which millions of teachers everywhere get vicarious exploration of the above scenarios thanks to the work of Perry King as Mr Norris; and his problem is not truly "losing" control of his class, since his inevitable loss of control was decided by a group of by-definition-uncooperative, drug-crazed thug-pupils before he ever set foot on the graffiti-ridden inner-city premises of Lincoln High, with its X-ray scanning at the doors and omnipresent security cameras and guards.The film indeed commences with real-life news about violence and other problems encountered in US schools, so maybe it wants to make some serious points.
Timothy Van Patten, who does not act especially proficiently as mummy's boy/gang-leader Peter Stegman, does not really look like a psycho troublemaker (even if willing self-harming to damage Norris's reputation makes it clear he is one).
Perry King stars as music teacher Andrew Norris who arrives for his first day at a school only to become entangled in a war against a gang, led by Peter Stegman, played by Timothy Van Patten.
I see the comparison, however I feel it's irrelevant when discussing this film.timothy van patten (salami from the white shadow) plays a high school misfit who leads a gang into violence, drug dealing, and prostitution with an 80's punk vibe that even includes a memorable performance by the underrated hamilton based band teenage head.look for a young michael j.
When he's pushed too far and is teaching the kids while threatening them with a gun is intense but you feel good for Harry because of what the gang did, Perry King also does a great performance as Andrew Norris.
Class of 1984 starts as new music teacher Mr. Andrew Norris (Perry King) arrives at an inner city hell hole of a school named Abraham Lincoln High, he is somewhat shocked to discover the pupils carrying switchblades, selling drugs, intimidating other teachers & students & generally behaving in a very anti-social way to each other.
(Plot) Andy (Perry King) arrives at an inner city high school to take over the music class.
Perry King is a music teacher in the kind of school found mostly in movies.