Why Shoot the Teacher? (1977)

In the 1930's, Max Brown is an urban young man from an Eastern province, fresh from college, whose only job offer is in a one-room school house in the Canadian prairie. At first he's ... See full summary »

Director:

Silvio Narizzano

Writers:

James Defelice (screenplay), Max Braithwaite (based on the book "Why Shoot The Teacher" by)

Stars:

Bud Cort, Samantha Eggar, Chris Wiggins

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bud Cort	...	Max Brown
Samantha Eggar	...	Alice Field
Chris Wiggins	...	Lyle Bishop
Gary Reineke	...	Harris Montgomery
John Friesen	...	Dave McDougall
Michael J. Reynolds	...	Bert Field
Kenneth Griffith	...	Inspector Woods
Scott Swan	...	Dan Trowbridge
Merrilyn Gann	...	Sheila Barnes
Norma West	...	Mrs. Bishop
Margery Hill	...	Mrs. Montgomery
Joanne McNeal	...	Mrs. McDougall
George Gwin	...	Dance Caller
Doug Blake	...	Percy Garfield
Alan Stebbings	...	Lester Sinclair

Storyline

In the 1930's, Max Brown is an urban young man from an Eastern province, fresh from college, whose only job offer is in a one-room school house in the Canadian prairie. At first he's distant, superior, lonely, and bewildered; his students are rebellious. Over the course of the year, he is drawn to Alice Field, the wife of a farmer, in a love that can lead nowhere. But, he and his students connect, a connection that matters and lasts.

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Plot Keywords:

railway station | scene before opening credits | tragicomedy | train | question in title | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements, language, some violence and sensuality

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Man schießt nicht auf den Lehrer

Filming Locations:

Hanna, Alberta, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 810,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fraser Films, Lancer Productions Limited, Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Inspector Wood: This should be an easy one. What is the capital of Canada?
Inspector Wood: [pointing to a student in the classroom] Yes, boy.
Charlie Mc Dougall: [standing to attention] The capital of Canada is C.

User Reviews

One of Bud Cort's finest films and performances!

I found this sweet little film to be a very enjoyable and highly recommended experience!

Bud Cort gives one of his finest performances as the naïve, lonely, sensitive, and oh-so-out-of-place Max Brown, a city fellow from Ottawa trying to make a life as a poorly compensated teacher in the very rural town of Willowgreen in western Canada during the Great Depression. It's comic how he has to deal with adjusting to the town, the townspeople, and their children as his students; and is especially very poignant and sad watching his doomed romance with the very married and just as lonely and frustrated Alice Field, played by Samantha Eggar.

As his 'Harold and Maude' was poorly served when it came out on DVD, how I wish that 'Why Shoot the Teacher?' would find its way onto DVD, having such special features as outtakes, deleted scenes, and especially, interviews with Bud Cort and the remaining cast and crew of the film. It's sad to see this one overlooked and, instead, to find such films of lesser quality in Bud's oeuvre, like 'Hysterical,' getting the DVD treatment. I hope that this oversight will someday be rectified for this gem in the career of Bud Cort.