To Sir, with Love II (1996) (TV)

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writers (WGA):

E.R. Braithwaite (characters from book)
Philip Rosenberg (written by)

Release Date:

7 April 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

After thirty years teaching in London, Mark Thackeray retires and returns to Chicago. There, however...

Plot Keywords:

Institute | TV Sequel To Theatrical Movie | Teacher | Chicago Illinois | Sequel

Cast

Sidney Poitier	...	Mark Thackeray
Christian Payton	...	Wilsie Carrouthers
Dana Eskelson	...	Evie
Fernando López
Casey Lluberes	...	Rebecca Torrado
Michael Gilio	...	Frankie Davanon
L.Z. Granderson
Bernadette L. Clarke
Jamie Kolacki
Saundra Santiago
Cheryl Lynn Bruce	...	Emily Taylor
Lulu	...	Barbara Pegg
Judy Geeson	...	Pamela Dare
Daniel J. Travanti	...	Horace Weaver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Beasley	...	Greg Emory
Christopher Birt	...	Mark Taylor
Antonia Bogdanovich	...	Lynn Guzman
Pauline Brailsford	...	Very British Woman
Dante Burress	...	Wilsie's Gang Pal
Delle Chatman	...	Florist Driver
Neil Flynn	...	Detective Dennis
Joe Forbrich	...	Rob Doerr
Jeffrey Baldwin Gibson	...	2nd Dignitary
Irma P. Hall	...	Old Woman
Mel Jackson	...	Tommie Rahwn (as Melton Jackson)
Doug Johnson	...	Bill Plummer
Joan Kohn	...	Helen Goldfarb
Paulette McDaniels	...	Secretary
Kenneth Northcott	...	1st Dignitary
David Pease	...	Mr. Yallick
Juan Ramírez	...	Det. Alvarez (as Juan Ramirez)
Russ Reed	...	Old Man
Nicholas Rudall	...	3rd Dignitary
Juan Sanchez Jr.	...	Tommie's Gang Pal
Eddie Bo Smith Jr.	...	School Guard (as Eddie 'Bo' Smith Jr.)
Jeff Still	...	Sergeant Giametti
Peter Talhame	...	Louis
Jackie Taylor	...	Mrs. Carrouthers
John M. Watson Sr.	...	Publisher (as John Watson Sr.)
Jason Winer	...	Leo Radatz
Kris Wolff	...	Billy Lapatynski
Cedric Young	...	Cabbie

Also Known As:

To Sir, with Love 2 (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Iceland:L | Netherlands:16 (video premiere) | UK:15 (video premiere) | Spain:7

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

TriStar Television

Trivia:

Both Lulu and Judy Geeson who played major parts in the original To Sir, with Love (1967) reprised their roles in this sequel.

Quotes:

Mark Thackeray: What we saw yesterday is that to a considerable extent, we control how we are perceived. "Yo!" Gets you one response, "Excuse me, sir," another. When we address someone with respect, we are more often than likely to GET respect - not always, but more often than you think, and if you're smart, that ought to be enough. Common courtesy - "please", "thank you", "excuse me"... magical words, magical words.

Movie Connections:

Follows To Sir, with Love (1967)

Not So Hot

I guess movie sequels just support the old saying that "you can't reheat a soufflé'." Films such as Jaws II, 48 Hrs. II, the Exorcist II or the French Connection II are just futile attempts to replicate blockbuster success of the original films by repeating popular scenes and characters, but it just doesn't work.

Unfortunately, "To Sir With Love II" is no miraculous exception. This made-for-TV movie, which in itself would indicate the quality expected, reprises Poitier's classic 1967 role of Mark Thackeray, a black engineer turned teacher who miraculously transforms teenage ruffians into respectable and responsible adults. However, the charisma and power of Poitier's original performance, set in London, just doesn't seem to resonate in this second film, which takes place in a Chicago school district. And cameos by Judy Gleeson and LuLu, stars from the original film, pack minimal bite as well. But the good news is that this was produced for TV, so in viewing it, you can't waste your money.