Dangerous Minds (1995)

An ex-Marine turned teacher struggles to connect with her students in an inner city school.

Director:

John N. Smith

Writers:

LouAnne Johnson (book), Ronald Bass (screenplay)

Stars:

Michelle Pfeiffer, George Dzundza, Courtney B. Vance

6 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Louanne Johnson
George Dzundza	...	Hal Griffith
Courtney B. Vance	...	Mr. George Grandey
Robin Bartlett	...	Mrs. Carla Nichols
Beatrice Winde	...	Mary Benton
John Neville	...	Waiter
Lorraine Toussaint	...	Irene Roberts
Renoly Santiago	...	Raul Sanchero
Wade Dominguez	...	Emilio Ramirez
Bruklin Harris	...	Callie Roberts
Marcello Thedford	...	Cornelius Bates
Roberto Alvarez	...	Gusmaro Rivera
Richard Grant	...	Durrell Benton
Marisela Gonzales	...	Angela
Toni Nichelle Buzhardt	...	Nikki

Storyline

Louanne Johnson is an ex-marine, hired as a teacher in a high-school in a poor area of the city. She has recently separated from her husband. Her friend, also teacher in the school, got the temporary job for her. After a terrible reception from the students, she tries unconventional methods of teaching (using karate, Bob Dylan lyrics etc) to gain the trust of the students.

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Plot Keywords:

teacher student relationship | ex marine | pregnancy | high school principal | reference to dylan thomas | 

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Taglines:

She Broke The Rules... And Changed Their Lives.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 August 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

My Posse Don't Do Homework

Filming Locations:

Burlingame, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$23,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,931,503, 13 August 1995, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$84,919,401

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$179,519,401

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Via Rosa Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Released under Michelle Pfeiffer's production company, the movie's success bolstered Pfeiffer's reputation as an actress/producer.

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Goofs

When Louanne walks in on the first day Nikki (girl in the overalls) is sitting, the next scene she is standing, then back to sitting.

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Quotes

Louanne: What should i tell them? If they dont want to die remember to knock?

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Connections

Referenced in Jails, Hospitals & Hip-Hop (2000)

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Soundtracks

MESSAGE FOR YOUR MIND
Written by Freddie Perren, Fonce Mizell (as Alphonzo Mizell), Berry Gordy, Deke Richards, Rappin' 4-Tay
Performed by Rappin' 4-Tay
Courtesy of Chrysalis/EMI Records/Rag Top Records

User Reviews

very nice

Well..for me it was very interesting to watch a movie like because it shows how a bright person can change a ''dangerous mind'' and make them active rather than rejecting them and drive them to the streets selling drugs and the likes...the ideas is this movie were very awesome and hitting on the core of the American society in the early 90's,so that it criticizes the whole daily life in an inner city as a prototype...family,relationships,fear,fights,power,those are some of the crucial themes the movie .Actually, the teacher did a good job with the collaboration and curiosity of those students,because they feel that there is something special about the new teacher which they lacked with the previous one and also because she gave them more freedom and behaved toward them as friends not students,,,:) well done teacher!!!