Blackboard Jungle (1955)

A new English teacher at a violent, unruly inner-city school is determined to do his job, despite resistance from both students and faculty.

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Richard Brooks (screenplay), Evan Hunter (novel)

Stars:

Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, Louis Calhern

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Glenn Ford	...	Richard Dadier
Anne Francis	...	Anne Dadier
Louis Calhern	...	Jim Murdock
Margaret Hayes	...	Lois Judby Hammond
John Hoyt	...	Mr. Warneke
Richard Kiley	...	Joshua Y. Edwards
Emile Meyer	...	Mr. Halloran
Warner Anderson	...	Dr. Bradley
Basil Ruysdael	...	Prof. A.R. Kraal
Sidney Poitier	...	Gregory W. Miller
Vic Morrow	...	Artie West
Dan Terranova	...	Belazi
Rafael Campos	...	Pete V. Morales
Paul Mazursky	...	Emmanuel Stoker
Horace McMahon	...	Detective

Storyline

War veteran Rick Dadier is one of three new teachers hired at North Manual High School, an inner city boys school. This is his first teaching assignment, which he needs to support himself and his insecure pregnant wife, Anne. Despite Principle Warnecke's assertions to the contrary, Dadier quickly learns that the rumors of student discipline problems at the school are indeed true. The established teachers at the school try to counsel the newcomers, all inexperienced in such situations, as how best to handle the rowdy students. Regardless, Dadier tries to exert discipline in his class, which provokes a violent response. Dadier believes the student leaders against him are Artie West, but more specifically Gregory Miller, who he thinks uses the fact of being black as a means of racial provocation. Dadier has to decide either to leave and teach at a "real" school, or stay and figure out how to get through to his students. If he decides to stay, he has to figure out who the real disruptive ...

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Plot Keywords:

teacher | high school | teacher as protagonist | race relations | jazz | 

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Taglines:

SHOCKING! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Sidney Poitier's role as one of the troubled students preceded his breakout role as the teacher of troubled students in another classroom classic, "To Sir, with Love (1967)."

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Goofs

When the hoods break Josh's record collection, one of the kids starts playing a record and we hear music. During one part of the scene we see the phonograph arm playing the final groove of the record indicating that the record has finished playing, but we can still hear the music.

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Quotes

Richard Dadier: [catches some kids smoking in the restroom] What is this? The officers' club or something? I don't wanna catch you smoking in here again, you understand? Now get out! Come on, you heard what I said. Get out!
[3 kids leave, 2 remain]
Richard Dadier: What's the matter? You two guys privileged or something?
Gregory W. Miller: We only just got here, chief.
Richard Dadier: You did huh? Well , now just get out.
Gregory W. Miller: Can't a man wash his hands, chief?
Richard Dadier: Wash them and get out.
Gregory W. Miller: Sure, chief. You gonna watch me?
Emmanuel Stoker: Maybe he'd like to wash them for us.
Richard Dadier: What's your name? You, ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

"We, in the United States, are fortunate to have a school system that is a tribute to our communities and to our faith in American youth. Today we are concerned with juvenile delinquency -- its causes -- and its effects. We are especially concerned when this delinquency boils over into our schools. The scenes and incidents depicted here are fictional. However, we believe that public awareness is a first step toward a remedy for any problem. Is is in this spirit and with this faith that BLACKBOARD JUNGLE was produced."

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Alternate Versions

The film was originally rejected in the UK for containing "unbridled, revolting hooliganism" and having a "damaging and harmful effect (on teenagers)". Following protests from the distributor, it was viewed again but there was an even split between examiners in favor of banning it again or cutting it for an X (16) certificate. After further meetings where the distributor claimed it had a sincere moral purpose, a cuts list was drawn up which removed around five minutes of footage. This included the following:

• The foreword which absolved the US of blame regarding its realistic depiction - this was added specifically for foreign releases following the huge controversy it caused back home. It reads: "We, in the United States, are fortunate to have a school system that is a tribute to our communities and to our faith in American youth. Today we are concerned with juvenile delinquency -- its causes -- and its effects. We are especially concerned when this delinquency boils over into our schools. The scenes and incidents depicted here are fictional. However, we believe that public awareness is a first step toward a remedy for any problem. It is in this spirit and with this faith that BLACKBOARD JUNGLE was produced."
• Male pupils leering at women.
• A boy assaulting a female teacher.
• Dadier being attacked.
• Dadier being threatened by a knife-wielding pupil.
• The planning and execution of a van robbery.
• Dadier fighting back against a pupil.

Despite the heated conflict involving the BBFC and mixed reviews, the release of this X-rated cut version passed without incident and very little public feedback. No councils who viewed it chose to ban it. In 1996, it was submitted for a video release and passed uncut with a 12 certificate.

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Connections

Referenced in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Worst Films of 1996 (1997)

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Soundtracks

Auld Lang Syne
Traditional tune, lyrics by Robert Burns
Heard on the radio

User Reviews

Of the 50's but very actual

In the mid 50's, when this film was released my parents like many other people who had teenagers were very reluctant to permit them to spend their allowance money for a ticket to this one. The film is superb, very realistic , giving an in depth view over problematic educational situation. But not only this- it is also a social outcry about racial problems, poverty problems, and when I viewed this film again in 2005 (yes, I managed to enter the theater in the 50's after all..) I was very astonished to realize that later films about the same situation-and there were quite a few of those during the years to come- displayed the same situations , motives and dilemma's. One realizes a very outstanding fact , which, if you will, is heart touching: these violent juveniles can easily dodge school, nobody can make them to stay in class, they even dread to face an expulsion , because deep in their heart they know that education is essential for their future if they ever want to get out of the vicious circle of poverty and low class, that holds them inside it.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blackboard Jungle

Filming Locations:

El Segundo, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,168,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1