Monday, April 1, 2013

A to Z Challenge: A is for Allan Arkush, Rock 'n' Roller


Today is the first day of the annual A-to-Z Blogging Challenge. I’ll be spending the month of April blogging daily (except Sundays), with each date assigned a different letter of the alphabet. For my inaugural effort, I’ll confine myself to the movies and cast of characters surrounding the career of the one and only Roger Corman, my former boss and the subject of my newly updated biography, Roger Corman: Blood-Sucking Vampires, Flesh-Eating Cockroaches, and Driller Killers. And by the way, a tip of the hat to A to Z founder Arlee Bird, whose birthday is April 1 – and I’m not fooling.

Hollywood has always cottoned to actors whose names feature double As: I’m thinking about Alan Arkin, Alan Alda, and Amy Adams. Then there’s AA as in Alcoholics Anonymous, an organization that many show biz types know all too well. (Years ago, when I got lost while looking for an event in a large church complex, I stumbled upon an AA Meeting on the premises, and a very famous singer-actor welcomed me in.)

But in the Roger Corman world, AA means Allan Arkush, a tall, curly-headed fellow with a sardonic take on life. When I first met Allan at New World Pictures, he was a young film editor and trailer cutter, toiling in a decrepit editing suite alongside his crony, Joe Dante. In 1976, he and Joe made the leap into directing with Hollywood Boulevard, a pastiche of old Corman clips reassembled to tell a story of a starlet come to Tinseltown. The following year, having graduated into the position of second-unit director for Ron Howard’s New World debut film, Grand Theft Auto (1977), he discovered the horrors of going on location Corman-style. Allan has vividly described for me the on-set catered lunch that was so foul that his crew ran it over with a prop automobile while the cameras rolled. Still, location shooting had its up-side: “You went out in the desert all day, you wrecked cars.”

Allan’s New World Pictures highlight was Rock ‘n’ Roll High School(1979), a film that showcased his knowledge of the pop music scene. First order of business was to persuade Roger that disco music of the Saturday Night Fever ilk would not be appropriate for a plot that culminates in the blowing up of a high school by a rampaging student body. In a salute to down-and-dirty rock ‘n’ roll, Allan got the Ramones on board, and the rest is history. True, the film nearly killed him. Shooting 45 musical numbers in a mere 23 days, he collapsed at day 20, and was carted off to the hospital with a heart attack. Fortunately he survived, and has gone on to a directing career that includes an Emmy for TV’s The Temptations. And, of course, lots of music videos.


10 comments:

  1. Rock n Roll High School introduced me to the Ramones. Thanks for sharing the guy who put them in the movie.

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  2. My pleasure, Tim. If you want to look back at several of my old posts, there's a lot more on the filming of Rock 'n' Roll High School. Thanks for visiting Beverly in Movieland.

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  3. I am definitely going to be coming back to learn more. I LOVED Roger Corman movies when I was a kid, especially the Corman/Vincent Price horror flicks. Can't wait to hear more!

    Hi from Nagzilla bloghopping A to Z

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  4. Hi Nagzilla, I will have to check out your blog. Any fan of old Roger Corman flicks is a friend of mine. (And, as you'll find out, I have quite a store of old Roger stories you won't find anywhere else!)

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  5. How interesting!! I enjoyed reading your wonderful post! My nephew is just getting into the business, and is working on a new pilot with Robin Williams! He will be shooting I believe this next Thursday! I love old flicks and thanks for sharing! www.sandysanderellasmusings.blogspot.com

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  6. Thanks, Sandy. I'll have to check out your blog. Are you part of the A to Z Challenge too? I got into the film industry via the Roger Corman world, but my blog covers everyone from Clara Bow to Woody Strode to young kids trying to make it in show biz. Good luck to your nephew!

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  7. Look at the traffic already! I'm so glad you decided to participate in the A-Z Challenge - I thought it would intrigue you! And I also get to read 26 more great posts from you!

    I worked with Allan Arkush on one episode of Dawson's Creek that he directed. We had Rock ‘n’ Roll High School playing on the VHS/TV combo in the makeup trailer all week - and he signed that copy for me too - both with his own name and his Ramone name - bestowed by the band for his great work with them - his band name is "Allie Ramone" by the way. He bore up well under the double onslaught of the seven day per episode shooting schedule, and under the constant barrage of questions from me about his film work at New World - and other later projects like Get Crazy (1983)! A very nice man! His DC episode was a good one too!

    "B" seeing you tomorrow!

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  8. Yes, thanks, Mr. Craig. I spent most of today writing through the letter D, because this month is going to get VERY busy once my UCLA class begins. I hope people enjoy my musings about famous AND obscure former Cormanites.

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  9. ROCK AND ROLL HIGH SCHOOL is on right now as I type this on the Epix Drive In Channel. I like it more and more each time I see it. A great and informative post as always, Beverly.

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  10. Thank you for your enthusiasm, Brian! Always good to hear from you!

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