Three O'Clock High

Plot synopsis:
Meek high school student Jerry Mitchell (Casey Siemaszko) and his kid sister Brei (Stacey Glick) have the house to themselves as their parents are on vacation. Jerry's day begins badly when he wakes late, and gets worse when he nearly wrecks his car while driving his sister and his school friend Franny (Anne Ryan) to Weaver High School, where the students this morning are gossiping about the new student Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson), a violent delinquent who has transferred in today from a continuation high school.
Jerry's first hour is at the school newspaper where his best friend, Vincent Costello (Jonathan Wise), is the editor. The teacher has the idea of doing an article about Buddy to welcome the "new kid" and she assigns Jerry to do the interview. In a men's room, Jerry sees Buddy and clumsily attempts to introduce himself and brings up the idea of the article. Through a series of poorly chosen statements, Jerry realizes he is only making Buddy angry and ultimately decides to cut his losses and tells Buddy to "...just forget this whole thing happened", giving Buddy a friendly tap on the arm. Buddy, who does not like being touched by others, responds by tossing Jerry against a wall and stating that the two must fight in the parking lot after school at 3 o'clock.
With little more than six hours until the encounter, Jerry tries different strategies to avoid the fight. Trying to reason with Buddy in the hallway doesn't work. Vincent suggests that he plant a switchblade in Buddy's locker to get him kicked out of school (which backfires). Brei advises him to simply skip school, but when Jerry tries to drive away, he finds the switchblade stuck in the steering wheel, and the car ignition wires cut. Trying to run, Jerry is caught by an overzealous school security guard, Duke (Mitch Pileggi), who finds the switchblade and takes Jerry to the office of Mr. Dolinski (Charles Macaulay), the Dean of Discipline. Seeing an otherwise perfectly clean school record, the now suspicious Mr. Dolinski informs Jerry that he will be keeping his eye on him from now on and lets him go.
Jerry makes several other attempts to avoid the fight: he steals money from the school's student store, which he manages, and pays an upperclassman to take care of Buddy; he tries to get thrown into detention by making a pass at his English teacher; he lets Buddy cheat by copying his answers during his final period math quiz. All of these efforts fail.
Ultimately after trying to befriend Buddy, he offers him the cash he took earlier to call off the fight. Buddy accepts the money, but scornfully calls Jerry "the biggest pussy I ever met in my life." Jerry, seized with self-loathing and anger, decides to confront Buddy and demand his money back. When Buddy refuses, Jerry insists that he is no coward and declares that the fight is on.
The fight begins in a parking lot, with hundreds of eager students observing. Principal O'Rourke, Mr. Dolinksi, Duke, Franny and even the guilt-plagued Vincent attempt to intervene, but Buddy easily disposes of them. Jerry, though obviously out-matched, still manages to stand his ground and ultimately uses Buddy's brass knuckles to knock out the bully and win the fight.
The next day, many students show their appreciation to Jerry for giving them such a great fight (one student had set up a betting pool and did quite well), and begin buying individual sheets of paper from the school store for $1 each (at the suggestion of a remorseful Vincent) to help Jerry make up the lost student store cash. Buddy shows up silencing the bustling crowd and begrudgingly shows respect by returning the $350. Weaver High is now filled with gossip as Jerry replaces Buddy as the hot talk of the school, with the rumors having a wide and humorous range of alignment with the truth.

Tags: cult, violence

Review:
3 O'Clock is purely plot-based; a sensitive view of teenage angst can be found elsewhere.The basic plot: Jerry Mitchell, everyman adolescent, manages to get himself into an after-school fight with the school psychopath Buddy Revell by 8:00 am, and spends the next 7 hours contriving every scheme to escape the certain flogging which awaits him at 3pm.
The film opens with a clicking alarm clock (peculiar for an electric clock) and ends with an image of the school clock; in between, clock dials, and class bells serve as symbolic death watch beetles.Jerry's gradual disintegration amongst his friends, the school administration, and the school store manager as well as his physical and moral decline as the day wears on is very amusing.What's memorable about the film is its radical cinematography which we presume is the contribution of long-time Coen collaborator cinematographer Barry Sonenfeld.
While clever technique this could create a ponderous over-theatrical look (like some of Spielberg's 80's work as viewed today) or a vapid MTV look, Joanou uses the showy technique to great effect and the film looks as fresh today as it did nearly 20 years ago.The enigmatic Buddy Revell is a wonderful creation, masterfully introduced by a continuous moving shot following, in succession, three sets of exchanges between students recounting Buddy's legendary reputation for psychotic violence.
This is a teen comedy from the 1980s, every bit as good as anything made by John Hughes in those days (Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, etc.).The plot: our hero, Jerry, is assigned by the school newspaper to interview the new kid at school.
Jerry spends the rest of the day trying to get out of participating in the fight.The story is full of the usual parodies of teen-aged stereotypes, but they are somehow more believable and human than the characters in most films of this genre.
You sense you're in for something a bit different when you hear the ticking of the clock in the first few seconds of the movie - a countdown to a personal doomsday for Jerry Mitchell (Siemaszko), in charge of the high school bookstore and a writer for the school paper.
I loved the opening sequence as Jerry has to rush to get to school on time (that groovy track "Something to Remember Me By" is on the soundtrack currently available on CD) and the movie just builds from there.
What many contemporary movie-makers seem to forget that high-school was an endearing time for almost everyone, and there are unique feelings that can be captured by a well-done, tasteful, artful film like Three o'clock High.One of the thing that sets this movie apart is its pacing.
There are many subtle but illuminating bits like this throughout the movie.In my nostalgic reviewing of 80s high school films, this is one of the few that seem even better now than they did then..
Three O'Clock High contains a great, succint storytelling technique, particularly in art direction, as the day moves along as very nervous Jerry Mitchell tries all he can to get out his predicament.
Zooming in on clocks or sweaty faces, darkened principals offices and stuffed wild animals, every little things seems great at provoking Jerry Mitchell's uneasiness throughout the movie.
The main problem is the casting of richard tyson as the bully, I saw him in "two moon junction" and he was great in that but I didn't buy him as a bullying nut, although it was fun to see him in another movie(saw it after 2 moon).Three o' clock is a good "lost gem" type of movie to dig out when viewing old teen movies or to be seen by today's fans of teen movies.
Fans of movies like Rushmore and Election may be surprised to learn that even during the John Hughes (Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, etc.) era there were still hip, funny movies being made about the high school experience.The movie is shot in a mildly surreal "Coen brothers-esque" fashion that makes it a joy to look at, while the script is sharp and inventive.
Three O'Clock High is one of the best Teen films from the 80s and of all time that combines Funny Comedy,great cast,excellent direction and an amazing soundtrack.
This is an hilarious film that is underrated and deserves more love.Three O'Clock tells the story of high school nerd Jerry Mitchell(Casey Siemaszko)who has been hired to write a school newspaper article on new student Buddy Revell(Richard Tyson),who is rumored to be a total psycho.
Three O'Clock High is a great Teen film from the 80s that is underrated and not many people have heard of or seen.
What I love about Three O'Clock High and other Teen films from the 80s is that the film creates it's own world with funny and crazy situations whether it's Jerry dealing with Buddy,other students or teachers and trying to get out the fight with Buddy at all costs.
The fact that the film takes place in almost one full day adds to the film and gives the film great suspense and tension because as a viewer you never know what's going to happen or when because throughout the film there are shots of clocks all over and realize that time is running out on Jerry.
The main character Jerry is someone we can all relate to in this film because we know he doesn't want to fight Buddy and he is trying to do anything to get out of it and the things he does to get out of it tests his morals and what happens to him while trying get out of the fight is funny and truly insane.
Buddy Revell is a classic Teen film villain because Buddy is menacing and frightening where you feel like Buddy could be anywhere at anytime roaming the school halls stalking Jerry and that no one can stop him.
Richard Tyson is frightening and menacing as Buddy Revell,one of the best villains in High School films.
Great song.In final word,if you love Teen Films,especially ones from the 80s,I highly suggest you see Three O'Clock High,an underrated Teen classic from the 80s that you can watch again and again.
Now, Buddy challenges Jerry to a fight at the school's parking lot when the classes are over - at three o'clock high.
Jerry Mitchell's growing during the movie is incredible, and Buddy Revell must be one of the best villains of all time.
He changes perfectly with the pace of his character, with really great body and facial expressions While watching 'Three O'clock High', the movie surprised me in many ways.
-- Joanou directing started to surprise me right into the starting credits, with nice camera angles as Jerry was getting ready for school, and a great 80's-like song playing in the back.
'Three O'clock High' has an excellent script, that created unforgettable characters and haven't aged at all; the movie's acting is superb, specially because of the work of the two leads (Casey Siemaszko and Richard Tyson); and Phil Joanou's directing was a pleasant surprise, 'cause he was able to apply lots of directing techniques into a teen comedy.
Like Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) in classic western High Noon, meek high school student Jerry Mitchell (Casey Siemaszko) finds himself nervously watching time tick by after he angers psychotic school 'touch-freak' Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson) by innocently patting him on the arm.
Challenged to a fight in the school parking lot at three o'clock, Jerry tries desperately to find a way out of his predicament, but everything he does only seems to make matters worse.Three O'Clock High is one of those films that, more often than not, elicits a blank stare when I mention it to casual film fans, but which, in my humble opinion, deserves to share the same kind of popularity and recognition as much-loved '80s hits Risky Business and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.I suspect that its current anonymity is largely due to the lack of a future A-list star, Casey Siemaszko never achieving the fame of Cruise or Broderick, a crying shame because the film is every bit as worthy of admiration as the aforementioned better known teen classics.
High school loser Jerry Mitchell (Casey Siemaszko) touches Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson), a tough new student who's a "touch freak," meaning he goes nuts when people touch him.
The teen movies of the 80's decade were dominated by the cheesy / romantic / well-intentioned cinema of John Hughes; the "Lemon Popsicle" sex teen movies clones such as Bob Clark's "Porky's" trilogy, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" or "The Last American Virgin" and the Spielberg's executive produced adventure / fantasy teen flicks such as "Back to the Future" or "The Goonies".Phil Joanou's first venture as a director was an unconventional teen comedy for its time called "Three O'Clock High", set in an all american High School like the majority of Hughes' (and non-Hughes) flicks of this genre, inspired by the classic western "High Noon" starring Gary Cooper (in an Oscar winner role) and Grace Kelly and based in real life situations of the two screenwriters during their High School years.Joanou, a fan of Scorsese's "After Hours", released 2 years prior and also an unusual comedy, but set in the adult world, based its directing style and fancy cinematography straight for the teen movie genre with the help of the inovator cinematographer, Barry Sonnenfeld (an usual collaborator of the Coen brothers at that time) to acquire a 'cartoon-ish' / comic book style through stylized camera angles and proper lightning effects resulting in a visually nifty film which also benefited from a skillful editing giving the movie its congruous
frantic pace.Besides the greatness of its technical aspects, the movie is also clever in its storytelling, the rivalry between the nerd, Jerry Mitchell and the "new kid on the block", the bad boy, Buddy Revell changes stereotypes through the course of the action with Mitchell being accused of theft, illegal weapon possession and even for cheating at the exam and Buddy, the long-haired' black leather jacket outsider being more smart & sensitive than people would give him credit for.Casey Siemaszko, after a string of good supporting roles in famous teen movies such as "Back to the Future", "Secret Admirer" and "Stand by Me" was given the lead role of Jerry Mitchell and he's perfectly cast giving life to his character, a nervous, unpopular & nerdy high schooler about to face his rite of passage to becoming a confident young man after his feud with the troubled misfit, played here by Richard Tyson, in his debut role, who delivered an interesting (and imposing) performance as Buddy Revell, even if his screentime is kind of short.The supporting players are filled with great character actors such as the always sinister, the late John P.
Ryan ("Runaway Train", "Avenging Force", "Class of 1999"); Jeffrey Tambor and Mitch Pileggi (future Wes Craven's "Shocker" and better known as Skinner in the hit TV show, "The X-Files").Some may say, including the late Roger Ebert in his review, that this movie resembles a lot of an early teen movie starring Chris Makepeace, Adam Baldwin & Matt Dillon called "My Bodyguard", which is a great (and earlier) entry on the High School genre, but ultimately, "Three O'Clock High" is way more creative, memorable and well paced and much more worthy in the rewatchable factor.Steven Spielberg, who executive produced this movie, ordered to get his name removed from the credits after he watched a rough cut of this.
In my point of view, Spielberg made a big mistake of disowned both films, because they're way original and inventive and still hold up well today and maybe with the Spielberg name envolved, they could have had more chances at the box office, instead of being flops that ran into obscurity (only cinephiles know the existence).Also worthy of a mention is the memorable music score by Tangerine Dream and the additional music provided by Sylvester Levay.In short, "Three O'Clock High" deserves to be in the Top 10 of the best High School teen movies from the 80's, it's a great watch and one of the last breath of a genre that started the downfall in popularity at the same time as the end of the decade was approaching...On a side note, the hit TV Show for Fox Network that premiered in '90, "Parker Lewis Can't Lose" stole the concept, ideas, the cinematography and directing style of this one.
There's a rumor that the director angered someone on the production team (Steven Spielberg was an executive producer that later asked his name to be removed) and this may have been a factor.Back to Ebert: the theme of the movie may have cut too close to Ebert's own high school experiences for his comfort or maybe he's forgotten what that period of life is really like.
Three O'Clock HighThe only way to really deal with a bully is to bully their younger sibling.Unfortunately, the bully in this comedy is an only child.High school geek Jerry (Casey Siemaszko) is tasked with writing a welcome article on his school's newest transfer: bad-boy Buddy (Richard Tyson).
Stashing contraband, getting detention, even trying to buy Buddy off doesn't dissuade the imminent beat down that has the student body placing bets.An out-there dark comedy, this 1987 high school sub-genre flop stands the test of time thanks to the enduring power of bullying.
This movie's not only puts to rest old demons that still sometimes haunt grown men when they think about high school (by seeing Jerry beat up the bully instead of the other way around), but it was so funny that I can't resist watching it whenever it is on cable!
All the elements come together in this movie- references to Lincoln (Fast Times ?), Tangerine Dream (Risky Business), and not to mention the stellar performances to provide a very unique look into a subject NeVeR displayed on film the way this one does, the high school fight..
The story follows the placid Jerry Mitchell who at school gets the job of writing an article about the new frightening student Buddy Revell, but instead ends up setting up a fight outside in the school's car park at three O'clock.
The plot revolves around a sort of preppy looking high school student, Jerry Mitchell, who spends the whole day trying to avoid a 3:00 showdown with a psycho bully, Buddy Revell.
I will never forget the pep rally scene, what a great experience!Tension and laughs build as student Jerry Michell tries to get through a day in school, knowing that at 3 PM he is going to have to face the new bully Buddy Revell.
Rather than the usual hijinks of a high school comedy (things like peeking in the girls' locker room, marijuana, etc.), we eagerly watch the clock as Jerry does, following his string of bad luck throughout the day.
Re-watching this picture on DVD with a classic dubbed version trying to see something that l'd possible missing on the first watch on TV, which I didn't remember if l'd saw it entirely, now l have another status over this picture, supported by a well drafted and unusual screenplay putting a dramatic fear atmosphere on a teen movie, also has an awesome male casting, apart Caitlin O' Heaney (Tales of the gold Monkey series) who l've never hear a thing, stand out from the others, all female casting are almost useless on the plot, the fight scene is too conterived to believe, before l wondering how the screenwriter settle the issue, when I was on High School many things like that happened including myself, endless fight were usually on those past time, anyway a fine job far away to be a masterpiece!!!!Resume:First watch: 1992 / how many: 2 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.5.
Jerry Mitchell is the perfect extreme of a pipsqueak-esque character to be faced with the challenge of fighting the most extreme psychotic creature to ever walk the halls of any high school, Buddy Revell.
The story is about a guy called Jerry Mitchell being challenged to a fight by a dangerous dude called Buddy Revell at three o'clock.
Although nothing more than a high-school version of "High Noon," "Three O'Clock High" is still an engaging, strange, even suspenseful comedy about a hapless nerd named Jerry Mitchell(Casey Siemasko, looking a little too old for the part) who manages to anger the most psychotic kid in school, the ironically named Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson, a regular performer in the Farrelly Brothers' films).
Funny teen movie in the vein of such films as "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "The Breakfast Club." The plot revolves around a teenager who must meet with a bully outside the school at three o'clock, and how he deals with the day knowing this.
In most cases the results go as expected (but in one case it doesn't and this is the most fun moment in the movie!), but in all cases you'll find yourself laughing because it very much mimics real life all too well!The flick also has several other minor characters that leave an impression, such as those 2 film students following Jerry all day, the beret/combat boot-wearing dude, and the most popular girl in school Karen.
Meek Jerry Mitchell (an excellent and engaging performance by Casey Siemaszko) gets challenged by scary and brutish bully Buddy Revell (a fearsome portrayal by the brawny Richard Tyson) to a big fight after school.
A must see for anyone going through their teens, Three O'Clock High is an uncomplicated feel good movie that the 80's should be remembered for..
Three O'Clock High is very 80's and a pretty campy comedy, it does not hold up as well as some other movies from this time period, but is fairly entertaining as a whole, even though I absolutely cannot stand Jerry and would like to beat him senseless ..
When trouble making, rebel student Buddy Revell (Tyson) arrives at his new high school, the school newspaper asks our hero, Jerry Mitchell (Siemaszko), to write a story about him.