To Sir, with Love (1967)

Novelist James Clavell wrote, produced, and directed this 1967 British film (based on a novel by E.R. Braithwaite) about a rookie teacher who throws out stock lesson plans and really takes command of his unruly, adolescent students in a London school. Poitier is very good as a man struggling with the extent of his commitment to the job, and even more as a teacher whose commitment is to proffering life lessons instead of academics. The spirit of this movie can be found in such recent films as Dangerous Minds and Mr. Holland's Opus, but none is as moving as this one. Besides, the others don't have a title song performed by pop star Lulu. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com essential video

DVD Defect?

My dvd had a GODZILLA movie instead of the widescreen version of "TS,WL". The Full-screen version was ok but I detest full-screen butchering so I wanted this in wide-screen... Because there is a Godzilla movie on the disc instead of "To Sir, With Love" could be why it's been discontinued. Hopefully there will be a special ed coming out soon including as a bonus a clip of LuLu belting out the title song when she mentored on "American Idol" - she tore it up! December 6, 2008

What is your problem Columbia.....Bring this classic back in Print...

I find it frustrating with the economy being so bad to pay $74.00 to $100.00 dollars for a dvd especially a popular classic like this. This movie is amazing and one of my favorites. I higly recommend this movie. as for columbia dvd going out of print fast is nerve wrecking because u get greedy creeps who yank up the price like gas.anyhow hopefully columbia will re-issue this,it is a popular and cherished classic.... November 28, 2008

Unimpressed

2.5 stars. Poitier is Poitier. I'm starting to believe his whole charm was that he looked good in sixties-styled clothing. But as far as having any depth I've only seen a glimmer of it in A raisin in the sun. The rest, well, they all seem like the same character. Really, there's no difference between this performance and that of A patch of Blue or Guess who's coming to Dinner. Plus if this was the depth of problems in the late sixties then truly it was a generation of spoiled brats. I just wasn't impressed.


November 17, 2008

Why So Much ?????

Can anybody tell me why this DVD is so costly starting at $74.00? I know many people that would love to have a copy of "To Sir With Love" on DVD, but the steep price is a real deterrent to making that purchase. October 24, 2008

Life imitates art and v.v.

True story here: I love this film, and when I was faced with the kind of class Mark Thackery is faced with in the film, I bought this video. On the day I showed it, the kids came in ignoring me, cursing, all attitude--their usual postures. I told them we needed a break, and that they'd be watching a video. They cheered. The movie began and they booed--everything: the soundtrack, the fashions, the teacher (especially). But... then they began to watch the story unfold (I think at the point where Thackery goes on his first tirade). Soon they were pointing out how similar they were to the kids in the class, assigning characters to specific students in my class. ("That girl is YOU, Denise, all the way!") It changed them. I'm not kidding. They saw themselves, and what they saw wasn't pretty. Girls were crying by the end of the film (which took two class periods to show, so for two days I didn't have to fight them to get them to work). My kids did not become model citizens overnight (I would later have to write carefully crafted character statements for two of them who were facing jail time), but they did begin to see me as a person worthy of respect. Whew.

Other reviewers have mentioned Poitier's incredible performance here, so I won't go on and on about him being the consumate actor. (Oh, if you haven't seen him in A Raisin in the Sun, add that to your wish list.) But I can honestly say this movie changed the behavior of a group of teenagers who had shut down, and for that I am eternally grateful. September 14, 2008

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