To Sir, with Love (1967)

Idealistic engineer-trainee and his experiences in teaching a group of rambunctious white high school students from the slums of London's East End.

Director:

James Clavell

Writers:

E.R. Braithwaite (novel), James Clavell (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Sidney Poitier, Judy Geeson, Christian Roberts

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sidney Poitier	...	Mark Thackeray
Christian Roberts	...	Denham
Judy Geeson	...	Pamela Dare
Suzy Kendall	...	Gillian Blanchard
Ann Bell	...	Mrs. Dare
Geoffrey Bayldon	...	Theo Weston
Faith Brook	...	Grace Evans
Patricia Routledge	...	Clinty Clintridge
Chris Chittell	...	Potter (as Christopher Chittell)
Adrienne Posta	...	Moira Joseph
Edward Burnham	...	Florian
Rita Webb	...	Mrs. Joseph
Fiona Duncan	...	Euphemia Phillips
Fred Griffiths	...	Mr. Clark
Mona Bruce	...	Josie Dawes

Storyline

Engineer Mark Thackeray arrives to teach a totally undisciplined class at an East End school. Still hoping for a good engineering job, he's hopeful that he won't be there long. He starts implementing his own brand of classroom discipline: forcing the pupils to treat each other with respect. Inevitably he begins getting involved in the students' personal lives, and must avoid the advances of an amorous student while winning over the class tough. What will he decide when the engineering job comes through?

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Plot Keywords:

high school | african american | dedicated teacher | london england | racist | 

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Taglines:

A story as fresh as the girls in their minis. . .and as cool as their teacher had to be!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 June 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Al maestro con cariño

Filming Locations:

Tower Bridge, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$640,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$42,432,803

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Columbia British Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The producers sought permission to film in the British Museum for the outing sequence, were denied only a few days prior to filming, although stills photography was permitted. Stills photographers Laurie Ridley and Dennis C. Stone were given a free hand, following the cast throughout the museum, creating the iconic montage sequence for the movie.

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Goofs

After Thackery punches Denham in the stomach during the boxing match, he tells Denham to put his head down. Denham then bends over at the waist. When the shot changes to a more forward view Denham is more upright & Thackery again tells him to put his head down. There was not enough time for Deham to have straightened up.

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Quotes

Mark Thackeray: It seems you know so little, and are so easily amused, I can look forward to a very happy time.

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Crazy Credits

In the end credits, Michael Des Barres name is misspelled as "Micheal."

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Corpse Vanishes (1989)

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Soundtracks

Stealing My Love From Me
Lyrics & Music by Mark London (as Marc London)

User Reviews

Great, landmark teacher-student relationship film

The school movie against which all other school movies are measured. Sidney Poitier was on a roll in 1966-67(A PATCH OF BLUE, GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT)and TO SIR, WITH LOVE crowned that succession of great films. Poitier's Thackery is meticulous and elegant, something of a revelation to the unwashed juvenile deliquents and teen sluts who populate his class. Yet this unemployed engineer has his work cut out for him, as his motley crew will try just about anything(including burning tampons in the classroom stove!)to run him off. Instead of exploding like the kids wish, Thackery takes a different tack; treating them like adults and talking about things they have questions about. The ploy works, and along the way Thackery learns to deal with indifferent fellow teachers, racism, lovestruck female students, and a hard decision that will determine his future . . . A great inspirational movie, TO SIR, WITH LOVE also boasts British songstress Lulu in her first film role, as well as prominent soundtrack artist(The Mindbenders are the others). The process by which Thackery molds these wild, rebellious teens into mature and thoughtful adults--and the teens' resulting respect for Thackery, quite possibly the first respect they've ever felt for an adult--is touching. Definitely a classic film worth seeing.