To Sir, with Love (1967)

Idealistic engineer-trainee and his experiences in teaching a group of rambunctious white high school students from the slums of London's East End.

Director:

James Clavell

Writers:

E.R. Braithwaite (novel), James Clavell (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Sidney Poitier, Christian Roberts, Judy Geeson

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sidney Poitier	...	Mark Thackeray
Christian Roberts	...	Denham
Judy Geeson	...	Pamela Dare
Suzy Kendall	...	Gillian Blanchard
Ann Bell	...	Mrs. Dare
Geoffrey Bayldon	...	Theo Weston
Faith Brook	...	Grace Evans
Patricia Routledge	...	Clinty Clintridge
Chris Chittell	...	Potter (as Christopher Chittell)
Adrienne Posta	...	Moira Joseph
Edward Burnham	...	Florian
Rita Webb	...	Mrs. Joseph
Fiona Duncan	...	Euphemia Phillips
Fred Griffiths	...	Mr. Clark
Mona Bruce	...	Josie Dawes

Storyline

Engineer Mark Thackeray arrives to teach a totally undisciplined class at an East End school. Still hoping for a good engineering job, he's hopeful that he won't be there long. He starts implementing his own brand of classroom discipline: forcing the pupils to treat each other with respect. Inevitably he begins getting involved in the students' personal lives, and must avoid the advances of an amorous student while winning over the class tough. What will he decide when the engineering job comes through?

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Plot Keywords:

school | student | teaching | classroom | teacher | 

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Taglines:

A story as fresh as the girls in their minis. . .and as cool as their teacher had to be!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 June 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Al maestro con cariño

Filming Locations:

Docklands, Poplar, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$640,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Columbia British Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lulu performed the title song, which went straight to No 1 in the US.

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Goofs

During the dance between Thackeray and Pamela, when The Mindbenders abruptly switch from a slow song (opening bars of "Off And Running") to a fast one ("It's Getting Harder All The Time") we hear the students cheering, but the shot at that moment is of the whole class, and no one is cheering.

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Quotes

Pamela Dare: [reading from her school book] And he had learned to love, I know not why, for this in such as him seemed strange of mood. But thus it was and though in solitude's small part the nipped affections have to grow, in him this glowed when all beside had ceased to glow.

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Crazy Credits

In the end credits, Michael Des Barres name is misspelled as "Micheal."

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Connections

Spoofed in Get a Life: Bored Straight (1990)

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Soundtracks

"Off And Running"
Lyrics by Toni Wine
Music by Carole Bayer Sager (as Carole Bayer)
Performed by The Mindbenders (uncredited)

User Reviews

Fantastic!

Rent this movie. Don't read any reviews of it, just go out and rent it.

It's one of the best movies of the last forty years, and Sidney Poitier is just beautiful in it. The movie glows, has a soul even, and actually dares to say something of value. I wish they made more movies like this today! Just a gorgeous movie going experience........