Blackboard Jungle (1955)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Evan Hunter (novel)
Richard Brooks (writer)

Release Date:

25 March 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The sensational novel...now on the screen!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Student | Teacher | High School | Psychotronic | Car Accident

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

The Blackboard Jungle (USA) (review title)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

UK:12 (1996 release) | UK:R | UK:X (August 1955) | Norway:12 (1955) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:7 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #17376)

Filming Locations:

El Segundo, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Clare Boothe Luce, then US Ambassador to Italy, prevented the film from being shown at the Venice Film Festival. A Senate committee had decided that the film would not have beneficial effects on the youth of the day.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the hoods break Josh's record collection, one of the kids starts playing a record and we hear music. During one part of the scene we see the phonograph arm playing the final groove of the record indicating that the record has finished playing, but we can still hear the music.

Quotes:

Richard Dadier: Yeah, I've been beaten up, but I'm not beaten. I'm not beaten, and I'm not quittin'.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "MGM: When the Lion Roars" (1992)

Soundtrack:

Let Me Go Lover

Blackboard Jungle-Mary Poppins Today!

Having taught in the New York City school system for 32 years and now retired, I am quite qualified to comment on this ground-breaking film.

When it came out, few people realized how bad some of our urban schools were. The truth is that the situation is even far worse today.

This great film attempts to show the truth about our urban school centers. It depicts the complete lack of discipline as well as a totally inept and unsympathetic school administration. The latter will hide incidents to show that their school is a good one.

Glenn Ford is terrific as the idealistic teacher. Having come from the military, he soon sees that the school is worse than many army situations he has encountered.

Gang violence is prevalent. Student disruption is constant. Vic Morrow and his gang of thugs, (yes, Mayor Bloomberg, they are thugs not Transit Workers) do their best to make sure that no one learns anything and that mayhem is the general order of the day.

The scene where Richard Kiley's records are destroyed in front of him by these recalcitrants is memorable.

If our society would only realize what these schools have become and do something about it. Instead, teachers are routinely blamed. Teachers must be psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers,and parents for so many who resist learning and authority.

The film was an omen for what was to come. Sadly, we have not learned from it. Yes, we try catch phrases like cooperative learning, etc. but the fact remains that teaching cannot be done until there is effective discipline.

An A+ for what this film tries to show. Nonetheless, the worst was yet to come.