The Principal (1987)

Director:

Christopher Cain

Writer:

Frank Deese (written by)

Release Date:

18 September 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

An educator who never plays by the rules. A high school where the only law is survival. Will he break it before it breaks him?

Plot:

A teacher is assigned to be the principal of a violence and crime ridden high school.

Plot Keywords:

School | Teacher | Violence | Drugs | Gun

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

James Belushi	...	Rick Latimer
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Jake Phillips
Rae Dawn Chong	...	Hilary Orozco
Michael Wright	...	Victor Duncan
J.J. Cohen	...	White Zac
Esai Morales	...	Raymi Rojas
Troy Winbush	...	'Baby' Emile
Jacob Vargas	...	Arturo Diego
Thomas Ryan	...	Robert Darcy
Reggie Johnson	...	Jojo
Kelly Jo Minter	...	Treena Lester (as Kelly Minter)
Ruth Beckford	...	Mrs. Jenkins
Julian Brooks	...	Kevin
Joan Valderrama	...	Secretary
Rick Hamilton	...	Mr. Harkley
Marty Pistone	...	Security Guard (as Martin Pistone)
Richard Dupell	...	Buddy (as Richard Duppell)
Peter Fitzsimmons	...	Buddy
Joe Flood	...	Terhune
Annabel Armour	...	Mrs. Ripton (as Ann Armour)
Tony Haney	...	Police Officer
Sharon Thomas Cain	...	Kimberly (as Sharon Thomas)
Daniel Royal	...	Will
Delores Mitchell	...	Mrs. Coswell
Zoltan Gray	...	P.E. Teacher
John Allen Vick	...	Frank Valdis
Sean Michael Allen	...	Rolf (as Sean Allen Barnes)
Yuri Lane	...	Lance Woodbury
Steve Birger	...	Stevie B. (as Steve W. Birger)
Gus Dimas	...	Gus
Leo Downey	...	George Pierce
Tom Winston	...	Principal O'Connor
Kathryn Knotts	...	Jan Buchanan
Marshall Jones	...	Gang Member
Josh Wood	...	Charles Lester
Mark Anger	...	Desk Officer
Frank Deese	...	Mr. Petersen
J.J. Johnston	...	Will (as J.J. Johnson)
Doug White	...	Eric
Wat Takeshita	...	Maintenance Man
Elliott S. Valderrama	...	Drug Dealer
Joel Valentin	...	Kid
Jessica Wilson	...	Girl
Kaprice Wilson	...	Girl
Bridgette Rodriguez	...	Girl
Tom Bryant	...	Shocked Teacher
Danny Kovacs	...	Substitute Teacher
Charmaine Anderson	...	Hilary's Student
Terry Coleman	...	Student
Melissa Lee Holloman	...	Student
Luis Zuno	...	Student
Nemon Wade	...	Student
Eural Wills	...	Student
James Edward Griffin	...	Gang Student
David Williams	...	Gang Student
Melanie G. Muters	...	Alley Girl
Linda Trowbridge	...	Nurse
Danny Williams	...	Dangerous Danny
Bill Yarbrough	...	Randall

Directed by
Christopher Cain

Writing credits
Frank Deese		(written by)

Produced by
Thomas H. Brodek	....	producer

Original Music by
Jay Gruska

Cinematography by
Arthur Albert		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jack Hofstra

Casting by
Penny Perry

Art Direction by
Mark Billerman

Set Decoration by
Rick Brown

Costume Design by
Marianna Åström-De Fina		(as Marianna Aström-DeFina)

Makeup Department
Steven E. Anderson	....	key makeup artist
Karoly Balazs	....	makeup advisor (as Balazs)
Candace Neal	....	hair stylist

Production Management
James T. Davis	....	unit production manager
Trevor Jolly	....	post-production supervisor
Ted Zachary	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Myers	....	first assistant director (as Charles D. Myers)
W. Thomas Snyder	....	second assistant director (as Tom Snyder)

Art Department
F.X. Crowley	....	assistant property master (as Frances X. Crowley)
Jeffrey P. Cude	....	set dresser
Sean Everett	....	property assistant (as Sean E. Markland)
Jack Kostelnik	....	leadman
Teresa Nielsen	....	set painter
Daniel J. Nilles	....	set dresser
Michelle Souza	....	set dresser (as Michelle L. Souza)
J. Michael Speakman	....	assistant property master
Philip Steuer	....	property master
I.J. Van Perre	....	construction coordinator (as I.J. Van Perre Jr.)

Sound Department
Stephen Balliet	....	boom operator
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dave Campbell)
Gordon Daniel	....	sound editor
G.W. Davis	....	sound editor
Denis Dutton	....	sound editor
Dan Gleich	....	boom operator
John Paul Jones	....	foley editor
Horace Manzanares	....	assistant sound editor (as Horace Manzaneres)
Gilbert D. Marchant	....	supervising sound editor
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer (as John Reitz)
Gregg Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Edward L. Sandlin	....	sound editor (as Edward Sandlin)
Richard Stewart	....	assistant sound editor
Andy Wiskes	....	production sound mixer
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Douglas Cattaneo	....	special effects
Allen S. Gross Jr.	....	special effects
David Pier	....	special effects supervisor

Stunts
Mickey Alzola	....	stunts
Bobby Angelle	....	stunts
Michael Bransfield	....	stunts
Lyle Byrum	....	stunts
Everett Creach	....	stunt coordinator
Everett Creach	....	stunts
Laurie Creach	....	stunts (as Lauri Creach)
Gregg Dandridge	....	stunts
Kirk Elam	....	stunts (as Kirk A. Elam)
Taylor Gilbert	....	stunts
Len Glascow	....	stunts
Scott Howell	....	stunts (as Scott A. Howell)
Eileen Lane	....	stunts
Shawn Lane	....	stunts (as Shawn Patrick Lane)
William T. Lane	....	stunts
Tyann Means	....	stunts
Eddie Mulder	....	stunts
Norma Nobile	....	stunts
Kristen Suzanne Raden	....	stunts (as Krissy Raden)
Michael Raden	....	stunts (as Mike Raden)
Don Ruffin	....	stunts
Vicki Swindell	....	stunts
Shirley Walker	....	stunts (as Shirley A. Walker)
Tom Wright	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Sharon Alley	....	second assistant camera
Anthony F. Balderrama	....	first assistant camera
Gary M. Brickley	....	best boy
Gregory M. Childers	....	best boy grip
Greg Davies	....	gaffer
Philip Holahan	....	additional photographer
Barbara Lakin	....	still photographer
Dennis Pope	....	dolly grip
Jani Vournas	....	electrical best boy

Casting Department
Terri Pappas	....	extras casting
Cate Praggastis	....	extras casting
Mae Williams	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Judy Feil	....	costumer
Barbara Kassal	....	costumer
Sue Miller	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Denise Cochran	....	apprentice film editor
Marlys James	....	apprentice film editor
Frank Kniest	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Jellybean Benítez	....	music supervisor (as Jellybean)
Ian Eales	....	music recordist
Ken Johnson	....	music editor
Steve Livingston	....	music editor
Timothy R. Sexton	....	executive in charge of music
Daniel J. Johnson	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Jon Thorgusen	....	transportation captain
Randy White	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Nandi Bowe	....	production assistant
Randi Lynn Braun	....	titles
Jane Bucklin	....	assistant: Mr. Brodek
Dulanie M. Ellis	....	script supervisor (as Dulanie Ellis)
Terry Gusto	....	location manager
Barbara Gutman	....	assistant accountant
Doris Hellmann	....	assistant production coordinator
Arlene Johnson	....	assistant: Mr. Cain
Jennifer Neiman	....	production accountant
Steve Scheutzow	....	production assistant (as Stephen Scheutzow)
Peter Steinfeld	....	physical trainer: Body by Jake
Lauren Beth Strogoff	....	unit publicist
Eugene M. Texeira	....	craft service (as Eugene Texeira)
Elliott S. Valderrama	....	production assistant (as E.S. Valderrama)
Thomas Vranesich	....	production assistant
Laurel Walter	....	production coordinator
Dara Weintraub	....	production assistant (as Dara L. Weintraub)

Production Companies

• Dorica Film
• ML Delphi Premier Productions
• TriStar Pictures

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• TriStar Pictures
• Videosonic Arts (1989) (Greece) (VHS)

Other Companies

• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting
• Lion's Gate Studios  post-production facilities
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Panavision  lenses and Panaflex® Camera by (as Panavision®)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Alameda, California, USA

Company:

Dorica Film

Trivia:

In the movie James Belushi (Ricky Latimer) is supposed to be much older than Michael Wright (Victor Duncan). In actuality they are less than 2 years apart in age. Belushi was born in June of 1954 and Wright was born in April of 1956.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene when Rick Latimer and Jake Phillips first meet, Jake takes his hat off, then in the next shot his hat is on, and finally in a third shot his hat is off again and we see him put it back on.

Quotes:

Victor Duncan:This school here is MY school. And I make the rules.
Rick Latimer:Not anymore.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe (1990)

Soundtrack:

Morning Light

Do Not Mess With This Administrator

James Belushi stars as a teacher with a short fuse who gets to become the principal of the roughest high school in the city. He turns out to be just what the doctor ordered and just what the students and employees needed. "The Principal" is a very violent film that could be best described as "Lean on Me" or "Stand and Deliver" gone stark-raving mad. Belushi is solid here and so is high school security guard Louis Gossett, Jr. in a supporting role. 4 stars out of 5.