Teachers (1984)

A well meaning but burned-out high school teacher tries to maintain order against the backdrop of a pending lawsuit against his school district when it comes to light they gave a diploma to an illiterate student.

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writer:

W.R. McKinney

Stars:

Nick Nolte, JoBeth Williams, Judd Hirsch

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nick Nolte	...	Alex Jurel
JoBeth Williams	...	Lisa Hammond
Judd Hirsch	...	Roger Rubell
Ralph Macchio	...	Eddie Pilikian
Allen Garfield	...	Carl Rosenberg
Lee Grant	...	Dr. Donna Burke
Richard Mulligan	...	Herbert Gower
Royal Dano	...	Ditto Stiles
William Schallert	...	Horn
Art Metrano	...	Troy
Laura Dern	...	Diane
Crispin Glover	...	Danny
Morgan Freeman	...	Lewis
Madeleine Sherwood	...	Grace
Steven Hill	...	Sloan

Storyline

A teacher overcomes his frustration in a high-school full of flunkies. As he attempts to educate his students, his attempts to help them gets him into trouble with the school board, which only adds to his problems. With the support of his students he beats the school board and his frustration.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

They fall asleep in class. Throw ink on each other. Never come in Mondays. And they're just the teachers.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 October 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Aufsässigen

Filming Locations:

Columbus, Ohio, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Artists, Aaron Russo Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to trade paper 'Variety', the story was conceived by brothers producer Aaron Russo and executive producer Irwin Russo, the latter of whom was able to draw on ten years real life experience as a teacher in New York.

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Goofs

As Alex and Eddie discuss the stolen car and Eddie returning to take a remedial reading class, Alex's coat and hair change from zipped and combed, to unzipped and messy in one series of dialog, then back to zipped and combed at the end of the scene.

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Quotes

Alex Jurel: [determined] I'm not going to resign, Roger.
Dr. Donna Burke: [angry] You're finished! You're out!
Alex Jurel: Ah hell, Burke! I'm going to tell you something. I haven't even started! If you try and fire me, I'm going to be suing you.
Roger Rubell: What's that going to solve, Alex?
Alex Jurel: I don't know, Roger - let's try and find out. The damn school wasn't built for us, Roger. I wasn't built for your unions, your lawyers and all your other institutions. It was built for the kids! They're not here for us, we're here for them. That's what it's ...
[...]

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Connections

References Little Big Man (1970)

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Soundtracks

Can't Stop The Fire
Performed by Eric Martin

User Reviews

better than I remembered

When I first saw this movie shortly after it came out I thought it was a little over-the-top, despite the many memorable comic moments. Having had a chance to see it again many years later on cable I find it has more depth than I had seen in it originally. It is definitely a critique of public education, but it does not set up any easy enemies. Everyone here is complicit in a failing system - the unions, the school board, the lawyers, parents, complacent teachers, go-along- to-get-along administrators, &c &c. It is also touching to see how many of these people are not bad people, but are just trying to make a flawed system work (in this respect I find Judd Hirsch, as the put-upon assistant principal, the hidden gem of the movie). Having seen it again after all these years I find it provocative and, surprisingly, touching, especially Nolte's final peroration. And the best part,after all these years, is still Richard Mulligan, as the certifiable lunatic who turns out to be the best teacher in the whole damn school (a brilliant touch on the part of the writers) !!!!!