Three O'Clock High
Three O'Clock High is a 1987 American teen comedy film directed by Phil Joanou in his feature directorial debut, following a mild-mannered high school student named Jerry Mitchell who is assigned to interview a new transfer student with a tough reputation, leading to an unwanted after-school fight challenge.[1] The film stars Casey Siemaszko as the anxious protagonist Jerry Mitchell, a journalism student at a suburban high school, and Richard Tyson in his screen debut as the intimidating Buddy Revell, a brooding newcomer rumored to have a violent past.[1] Supporting roles include Anne Ryan as Jerry's girlfriend and best friend Franny Perrins, Jeffrey Tambor as assistant principal Mr. Rice, and Philip Baker Hall as Detective Mulvahill, with additional cast members such as Stacey Glick, Dirk Blocker, and John Diehl.[2] Written by Richard Christian Matheson and Thomas Szollosi, the screenplay draws from their experiences as high school reporters, emphasizing themes of adolescent anxiety, bullying, and the absurdity of high school social dynamics through a tense, clock-ticking narrative structure.[1] Produced by Universal Pictures and executive produced by Steven Spielberg (though his name was removed from credits due to creative differences), Three O'Clock High was filmed primarily at Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah, from October 16 to December 1, 1986, with the climactic fight scene involving approximately 1,800 student extras.[1][3] Cinematography was handled by Barry Sonnenfeld in one of his early feature credits, while the score features electronic music composed by Tangerine Dream and Sylvester Levay, contributing to the film's energetic, 1980s teen movie vibe.[2] Released on October 9, 1987, the PG-13-rated film runs 90 minutes and opened on 849 screens, grossing $1.5 million in its first four days and ultimately earning approximately $3.7 million at the domestic box office against a modest budget.[1] Critically, it received mixed reviews upon release, with Roger Ebert awarding it one star out of four for its formulaic plot and uneven tone, though it later gained a cult following for its sharp satire of high school tropes and memorable performances, particularly Tyson's chilling portrayal of Buddy.[4] On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 60% approval rating based on 15 reviews, praised for its humor and pacing but critiqued for predictability.[5] The production also boosted the local economy in Ogden by over $1 million during filming.[1]Production
Development
The screenplay for Three O'Clock High was written by Richard Christian Matheson and Thomas E. Szollosi, marking their first feature film script after prior work on television movies and episodic series.[1] The story drew from the writers' personal high school experiences, particularly Matheson's anxiety over an impending fight, and was structured around the six periods of a school day to build tension toward the titular confrontation.[6] Originally titled After School, the script emphasized themes of personal growth through dread and avoidance, transposing the isolated standoff of the 1952 Western High Noon to a high school setting, where a meek student faces an inevitable after-school brawl.[6][7] Development occurred in the mid-1980s during a surge in teen comedies, exemplified by John Hughes' films like The Breakfast Club (1985), which explored adolescent vulnerabilities but often with lighter tones.[6] In contrast, Three O'Clock High blended these high school tropes with noir-inspired elements, such as a relentless ticking clock and surreal black comedy, influenced by Martin Scorsese's After Hours (1985) to heighten the protagonist's escalating desperation.[6] This fusion aimed to subvert the era's raunchier teen fare by focusing on psychological tension and ironic humor rather than broad slapstick.[6] Phil Joanou was selected as director for his feature debut after impressing Steven Spielberg with his USC student film Last Chance Dance (1984) and subsequent work on music videos and episodes of Amazing Stories.[1][6] Joanou, initially reluctant about helming a high school project, was persuaded by Spielberg's endorsement and hands-on producing role alongside Aaron Spelling, though Spielberg chose to remain uncredited.[6] David E. Vogel served as the credited producer, overseeing the pre-production amid a competitive bidding process for the script.[1] Universal Pictures greenlit the project with a modest budget of approximately $5 million, positioning it as a low-risk entry in the teen genre while allowing creative freedom for its stylized approach.[6][8]Filming
Principal photography for Three O'Clock High took place primarily in Ogden, Utah, during the fall of 1986, from October 16 to December 1.[6] The production utilized Ogden High School as the primary filming location, representing the fictional Weaver High School in the story, while the school continued its regular operations.[3][9] Thousands of local students, including over 1,000 from Ogden High and nearby schools, served as extras to populate the high school environment.[6] The shooting schedule spanned six weeks, allowing the crew to capture the film's compressed single-day narrative in a near real-time style that amplified the building tension.[6] Production faced several challenges, including the coordination of large crowd scenes amid a functioning school schedule and the recruitment of extras impacted by Utah's hunting season.[6] The climactic fight sequence in the school parking lot took five days to film, involving about 1,800 student extras to simulate an authentic after-school spectacle.[6][3] Outdoor sequences, such as those in the parking lot, were complicated by unpredictable Utah weather, including storms that threatened delays and prompted the crew to extend the cast's on-site stay.[6] Director Phil Joanou incorporated Steadicam shots and dynamic camera movements—such as extended tracking sequences through the school hallways and library—to evoke mounting suspense, drawing stylistic inspiration from the script's homage to High Noon.[6][10]Story and characters
Plot
Jerry Mitchell, a mild-mannered high school student and aspiring journalist for the school newspaper at Ogden High School, is assigned to interview the new transfer student, Buddy Revell, a brooding delinquent with a notorious reputation for violence, including rumors of breaking a boy's neck in a previous school and assaulting a coach.[1][4] During the interview in the school bathroom, Jerry accidentally touches Buddy, who has a severe aversion to physical contact, prompting Buddy to declare a fight after school at exactly 3:00 p.m. in the parking lot, insisting Jerry show up or face consequences.[1][11] The film unfolds in real-time over the course of the school day, building tension as a countdown to the confrontation, with Jerry desperately trying to evade the fight and seeking help from various sources. He confides in his best friend and newspaper editor, Vincent Costello, who spreads the news unintentionally, turning the impending brawl into a school-wide spectacle fueled by rumors and bets. Jerry approaches school staff, including the vice principal and a sympathetic teacher who offers vague advice but no real intervention; he even calls his brothers at home for support, only to receive unhelpful sibling ribbing. Amid the escalating anxiety, Jerry experiences fleeting moments of unintended popularity, impressing a flirtatious classmate and drawing admiration from peers betting on the outcome, though these only heighten his isolation and fear of humiliation.[4][11][1] As the clock ticks toward 3:00 p.m., Jerry's attempts to negotiate peace with Buddy fail, and the bully's unyielding demeanor—marked by his cold stare and deliberate provocations—amplifies the dread, subverting typical high school comedy tropes into a suspenseful ordeal. In the climactic parking lot showdown, witnessed by a crowd of students, Buddy dominates initially with his physical prowess and brass knuckles, but drops them during the fight, allowing Jerry to retrieve them and land a decisive punch, knocking Buddy out and winning the fight. This unexpected victory allows Jerry to overcome his fears, earning respect from his peers and even a nod of acknowledgment from Buddy, who reveals a hint of vulnerability; the resolution underscores themes of bullying, the pressure of social expectations, and Jerry's journey toward self-discovery and assertiveness.[4][11][1]Cast
The cast of Three O'Clock High consists primarily of relatively unknown actors selected for their ability to convey authentic teen dynamics, with director Phil Joanou emphasizing chemistry during auditions to ensure the ensemble felt natural and relatable.[6] Casey Siemaszko leads as Jerry Mitchell, the anxious high school student and school newspaper editor who inadvertently provokes a confrontation, delivering a performance that balances vulnerability with growing desperation amid the film's central conflict involving a threatened after-school fight.[1][5] Richard Tyson portrays Buddy Revell, the brooding transfer student with a notorious violent past, whose stoic intensity anchors the tension and contrasts sharply with Siemaszko's neurotic energy, marking Tyson's debut feature role after 14 exhaustive callbacks.[1][6] Annie Ryan plays Franny Perrins, Jerry's level-headed girlfriend whose witty banter and unwavering support inject comic relief into the escalating chaos, her youthful portrayal enhancing the film's lighthearted ensemble interplay.[5] Key supporting performances bolster the high school milieu: Jeffrey Tambor as the exasperated vice principal Mr. Rice, whose bureaucratic interventions highlight administrative absurdities; Charles Macaulay as the stern assistant principal Voytek Dolinski, adding layers of institutional pressure; and John Diehl as school security guard Duke Herman, contributing to the security subplot with gruff authority. Jonathan Wise appears as Vincent Costello, Jerry's best friend and newspaper editor, while Stacey Glick plays Brei Mitchell, Jerry's sister.[5][12]Music
Score
The score for Three O'Clock High was primarily composed by the German electronic band Tangerine Dream, featuring members Edgar Froese, Chris Franke, and Paul Haslinger, who crafted a synth-heavy, atmospheric soundscape that evokes tension and a sense of 1980s noir.[13] This moody, dynamic approach, incorporating pulsating rhythms from keyboards, guitars, bass, and drums, builds suspense and underscores the film's offbeat tone, distinguishing it from the lighter, pop-oriented scores typical of 1980s teen comedies.[13][14] Key cues, such as "Go to the Head of the Class" and "The Fight," employ lush, complex electronic textures and tension-building progressions to heighten the narrative's escalating dread without relying on traditional orchestral elements.[15][16] The score was recorded in Berlin at Tangerine Dream's studio, with some segments later replaced by additional music from composer Sylvester Levay.[13] The score integrates seamlessly throughout the film's runtime, enhancing its real-time pacing and contributing to the overall atmosphere of anxiety and catharsis, as noted in contemporary analyses of its electronic style.[14][17] Portions of Tangerine Dream's contributions were released commercially as the original motion picture soundtrack in 1987, with a remastered edition issued in 2023.[13]Soundtrack album
The soundtrack album for Three O'Clock High was released in 1987 by Varèse Sarabande Records on vinyl LP (catalog STV 81339), featuring primarily the electronic score by Tangerine Dream alongside contributions from Sylvester Levay and a vocal track by Jim Walker. The original LP edition runs 18 minutes and 26 seconds, though expanded CD reissues, including a 2023 remastered version, extend to 41:42 by incorporating additional cues.[13] Primarily instrumental and synth-driven, the album captures the film's tense, high school atmosphere through pulsating sequences that underscore moments of anxiety and confrontation.[18] The album comprises 10 tracks on the original release, blending Tangerine Dream's signature sequencer-based compositions with Levay's orchestral elements. Key tracks include "Twisting With Buddy" and "The Fight Is On," which highlight the escalating drama, while later editions add pieces like "Pee-wee/Richie/Sonny Boy." The full track listing for the 1987 LP is as follows:| No. | Title | Composer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | It's Jerry's Day Today | Tangerine Dream | 0:44 |
| 2 | 46-32-15 | Tangerine Dream | 0:47 |
| 3 | No Detention | Tangerine Dream | 1:04 |
| 4 | Any School Bully Will Do | Tangerine Dream | 0:33 |
| 5 | Go To The Head Of The Class | Tangerine Dream | 3:12 |
| 6 | Sit | Sylvester Levay | 0:47 |
| 7 | The Fight | Sylvester Levay | 2:36 |
| 8 | Twisting With Buddy | Tangerine Dream | 0:53 |
| 9 | The Fight Is On | Sylvester Levay | 4:25 |
| 10 | Weak At The Knees | Tangerine Dream | 3:25 |