The dedicated but tyrannical Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner-city school he is determined to improve by any and all means.The dedicated but tyrannical Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner-city school he is determined to improve by any and all means.The dedicated but tyrannical Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner-city school he is determined to improve by any and all means.
- Awards
- 4 wins & 5 nominations
- Thomas Sams
- (as Jermaine 'Huggy' Hopkins)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe real-life Joe Clark resigned as principal of Eastside High School shortly after the film was released. Around the time the film debuted, he was suspended by the school board for one week, after scheduling an assembly in which dancers stripped down to their G-strings. Clark said he hadn't known about it in advance. Ironically, the man who suspended him was Dr. Frank Napier. After Clark left Eastside, he became an author, and motivational speaker. In 1995, he was hired to run a juvenile detention center in Newark, New Jersey, a position he held until he resigned in 2002. During his time there, he once again came under fire for his controversial methods.
- GoofsThe practice exam booklet reads "New Jersey Minimun Basic Skills Tests"...probably the last place the school board (or the film's producers) would want a spelling error.
- Quotes
Joe Clark: I'll tell you what I do see here...
Ms. Levias: No! I'm talking now! Let me finish! Everybody here may not like you as a person, but we all applaud your efforts. But what you don't understand is the same people that support you are the ones you're beating up! You don't even take the time to say 'Thank you. Job well done'. Nothing! You just step on their necks! Constantly abuse them!
Joe Clark: Ms. Levias...
Ms. Levias: Criticize them!
Joe Clark: What do you want from me?
[Faces her]
Joe Clark: What the HELL do you want?
Ms. Levias: I want you to get this straight! Most of the teachers here are here because they care! About those children out there! This school, this fight, they are in it with you! They take it home at night, the same as you! They are a part of those children's lives! You are thoughtless and cruel, and it hurts! And none of them deserve it! They are sick of it, and so am I!
- SoundtracksLean on Me
Performed by Thelma Houston and The Winans
Produced by Richard Perry
Courtesy of Qwest Records
Written by Bill Withers
This story infuriates the left and teachers unions. Even more so now that we have the data and we now know Clark was very effective.
- random-70778
- Apr 20, 2022
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Der knallharte Prinzipal
- Filming locations
- The Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, USA(school where Joe Clark is teaching)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $10,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $31,906,454
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,032,605
- Mar 5, 1989
- Gross worldwide
- $31,906,454
- Runtime1 hour 48 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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