Blackboard Jungle (1955)

Novelist Evan Hunter burst America's postwar bubble when he described an inner-city school terrorized by switchblade-wielding juvenile delinquents. Director-screenwriter Richard Brooks's 1955 adaptation of Blackboard Jungle still packs a tremendous wallop (even if it was shot mostly on the back lot). A forerunner of Rebel Without a Cause and West Side Story, this black-and-white classic--set to Bill Haley and His Comets' "Rock Around the Clock"--is part exposé, part melodrama, part public-service announcement. "It is the frankest, the toughest, the most realistic film since On the Waterfront," ballyhooed MGM at the time.

Glenn Ford, at his slow-to-rile best, plays Richard Dadier, an incoming English teacher at North Manual High School. An idealist who knows how to handle himself in a dark alley, Dadier stands his ground and earns the begrudging respect of school thugs led by Vic Morrow and Sidney Poitier. Anne Francis plays Ford's especially vulnerable wife; Richard Kiley (later in Brooks's Looking for Mr. Goodbar) is the timid math teacher with the priceless jazz-record collection; Louis Calhern and John Hoyt are among the more cynical North Manual High veterans. See if you can ID Jamie Farr and director Paul Mazursky as gang members. The film was nominated for four Oscars. --Glenn Lovell Amazon.com

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Review of Blackboard Jungle DVD

Blackboard Jungle I saw this movie in the theatre when I was in high school, and of course, was impressed with the opening rendition of "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets. It's a classic representation of the 1950s adult view of "Juvenile Delinquents," or incorrigible high school students in an Eastern (New York), mixed ethnic neighborhood, where an all-boy school is taught by teachers who try to reach these boys who seemingly "don't want to learn." Glenn Ford is the "new teacher on the block" who is at first "shocked" at the behavior of these "hoodlums," but becomes determined to try and reach them somehow. Sidney Portier is excellent as the apparent leader of Glenn Ford's class who gradually comes to recognize that this teacher really cares about them. Vic Morrow is the disruptive force in the group who tries to undermine Glenn Ford's efforts to teach this group the value of education. Kind of a "sleeper" movie of its day, with deeper implications for its time than originally felt by those who saw it. September 9, 2008

Teaching at the Bottom Rung

Is there a problem with "juvenile delinquency" in our schools? Is "rock and roll" destroying the youth of America? Would Hollywood exploit this concern? The film starts by showing an elevated subway train in New York city. Richard Dadier applies for job as an English teacher at North Manual High School. "There is no discipline problem." The students assemble to meet the new teachers. Some students have an attitude problem. Dadier takes charge of his class. Later he rescues a new teacher from unwanted attention, and establishes a reputation. One teacher is devoted to jazz music; is he too naive? Two teachers take a short cut and are ambushed. The police arrive to rescue them. It was too dark to identify anyone.

Dadier sees other classes where students care about their education. Dadier wants to reach young minds. Unattended children do not get a decent home life, and join gangs for companionship. Is it just a lack of parental control? They have to work long hours and can't be home all day. [No church or relatives?] Some students hijack a newspaper truck. A teacher brings rare recordings to class - someone gets an education about this. The teachers have different ways of coping with their students. Dadier is challenged by this school. The students have a discussion about "Jack and the Beanstalk". What is the real meaning of this story? Can students be reached by "visual education'? What about reading, writing, and arithmetic? One scene shows Miller working on a 1930s car, a side-valve six with an oil bath air cleaner.

Dadier's wife is brought to the hospital. Ann has some worries about something. Their son is born premature. Richard learns about the poison pen letters and considers quitting. Their pay rate then was $2 an hour, many earned far more. [Teacher's unions have solved this problem.] A crisis develops when West is caught cheating. Most of the students back Dadier, and two will be brought to the Principal. "Everybody learns something in school, even the teachers."

"Evan Hunter" went on to write many more novels, as well as "Ed McBain". But Aldous Huxley wrote an earlier novel about a class-based educational system - "Brave New World". Were there such schools in the 19th century? This film has remained entertaining and educational. Was it based on the author's experiences? The name "Hunter" may be a tribute to his college.
August 30, 2007

"DO YOU LIKE SWING"? A CLASSIC....... OH DADDY O!

Blackboard Jungle is an interesting film that features Glen Ford and some young new talent that would find bigger fame in later years. Sidney Poitier,Vic Marrow and Jamie Farr(Jameel Farrah then) all play teens in this tale of juvenile delinquents in a lower class school that Ford comes to teach in. Still holds up well considering it's age. Poitier would later do "To Sir With Love" and switch roles by playing the teacher. This film is basically a remake of that film, but not exactly. The DVD transfer looks very good and there are a few extras. August 20, 2007

a clasic

this movie began rock and roll in movies.with 1st rate actors the story is strong and played well.if over 50 i recommend. June 10, 2007

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