Blackboard Jungle (1955)

A new English teacher at a violent, unruly inner-city school is determined to do his job, despite resistance from both students and faculty.

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Richard Brooks (screenplay), Evan Hunter (novel)

Stars:

Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, Louis Calhern

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Glenn Ford	...	Richard Dadier
Anne Francis	...	Anne Dadier
Louis Calhern	...	Jim Murdock
Margaret Hayes	...	Lois Judby Hammond
John Hoyt	...	Mr. Warneke
Richard Kiley	...	Joshua Y. Edwards
Emile Meyer	...	Mr. Halloran
Warner Anderson	...	Dr. Bradley
Basil Ruysdael	...	Prof. A.R. Kraal
Sidney Poitier	...	Gregory W. Miller
Vic Morrow	...	Artie West
Dan Terranova	...	Belazi
Rafael Campos	...	Pete V. Morales
Paul Mazursky	...	Emmanuel Stoker
Horace McMahon	...	Detective

Storyline

War veteran Rick Dadier is one of three new teachers hired at North Manual High School, an inner city boys school. This is his first teaching assignment, which he needs to support himself and his insecure pregnant wife, Anne. Despite Principle Warnecke's assertions to the contrary, Dadier quickly learns that the rumors of student discipline problems at the school are indeed true. The established teachers at the school try to counsel the newcomers, all inexperienced in such situations, as how best to handle the rowdy students. Regardless, Dadier tries to exert discipline in his class, which provokes a violent response. Dadier believes the student leaders against him are Artie West, but more specifically Gregory Miller, who he thinks uses the fact of being black as a means of racial provocation. Dadier has to decide either to leave and teach at a "real" school, or stay and figure out how to get through to his students. If he decides to stay, he has to figure out who the real disruptive ...

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Plot Keywords:

student | teacher | high school | teaching | school teacher | 

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Taglines:

A shock story of today's high school hoodlums!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Blackboard Jungle

Filming Locations:

El Segundo, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debuts of Vic Morrow and Jamie Farr.

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Goofs

In the record smashing scene,as the students leave the classroom, Santini walks down the hallway, but in the next shot is handing Mr. Edwards his glasses.

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Quotes

Richard Dadier: What's your name?
Artie West: Why do you want to know?
Richard Dadier: What's your name?
Artie West: What're you picking on me for?
Richard Dadier: I'm not picking on you, I asked what's your name.

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Connections

Referenced in The Bad News Bears: Here Comes the Coach (1979)

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Soundtracks

"Invention for Guitar and Trumpet"
Written by Willis Holman (uncredited)
Played by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra
Sal Salvador (guitar) (uncredited)
Maynard Ferguson (trumpet) (uncredited)
Courtesy of Capitol Records, Inc.

User Reviews

The movie that launched a few careers

After nearly 50 years, this memorable movie about a New York City high school remains a standard by which so-called 'high school' movies are judged, made and measured. Without Blackboard Jungle, there might not have been a Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Pretty in Pink, or Breakfast Club.

Before Sidney Poitier 'came to dinner', before Vic Morrow went into 'Combat', before Richard Kiley 'dreamed the impossible dream', and, yes, even before Jamie Farr (ne Jameel Farah), donned a dress, they were all part of The Blackboard Jungle. This movie launched quite a few notable careers.