Blackboard Jungle (1955)

Don't listen to the negative reviews

best movie i've ever seen.

Admirable film.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Probably the granddaddy of all those films about a headstrong teacher who's able to break through to a bunch of underprivileged kids when everyone else has given up on them and, though the oldest, the toughest and most biting of the ones I've seen.Unlike other movies of its kind, where the teacher pretty much becomes the best friend of everyone in his/her class, "Blackboard Jungle" doesn't wrap things up as cosily or tidily. Glenn Ford's teacher certainly earns his class's respect, but not completely their trust. And Ford is not the saint in teacher's clothing that you might think a film from 1955 would make him. In one key encounter with an African-American student (Sidney Poitier) who he has singled out as having the makings of a leader, Ford's character exposes the racism that he knows he shouldn't feel but does anyway. In a decade of films not known for their nuance or subtlety, "Blackboard Jungle" handles the question of race in a somewhat delicate manner and makes a much more complex study of it than audiences who are used to many of the other cinematic offerings from around the same time period would expect.Another thing that struck me about the film was its handling of the World War and its aftermath. In the 1950s, a film could perhaps be critical of war in the abstract, but it would find itself on thin ice if it tried to be too critical of America's involvement in World War II, and it certainly could not suggest that there were serious social problems as a result of the war. This was a decade in which people wanted to believe in the American Dream, that men were proud to serve their country and settle into lives as worker drones and that women were happy to be doting housewives. What to make of a film like "Blackboard Jungle," then, that outright blames the absentee parenting brought about by the social upheaval of the war for juvenile delinquency? And the film is honest too about America's treatment of draftees to its wars. The kids in this film, poor and disenfranchised, know that they'll be the first ones drafted into Korea or whatever war America will be fighting next, treated like grunts, and disposed of when their usefulness expires.Glenn Ford gives a truly terrific performance in "Blackboard Jungle," an award-worthy one that nevertheless went unnoticed for awards attention. The film did garner four Academy Award nominations though it won none of them: Best Screenplay (Richard Brooks, who also directed), Best Art Direction (B&W), Best Cinematography (B&W) and Best Film Editing.Grade: A

Teachers deserve a lot of credit. Of course, if we paid them well they wouldn't need all that credit. Such is the life of new English teacher Richard Dadier (Glenn Ford) who at one point lists the salaries of municipal workers in comparison to teachers. "You didn't prepare me for this," he laments to one of his University professors. He's speaks with the frustrated tone of a desperate field marshal in formation for a losing battle. Such is the life of today's overworked, underpaid inner city professional educators. It was the same way back in 1955 as it is now in 2014.Mr. Dadier or "Daddio" as the kids call him comes to school as a bright-eyed novice English teacher. His wife is pregnant with their first child so he's eager to be a success in a school where according to the principle, there are no discipline problems. Within the first five minutes of the first class however, Dadier discovers just how dangerous things can be. Can he reach his students which include streetwise Gregory Miller (Sidney Poitier) and simmering gangbanger Artie West (Vic Morrow)? Or will he succumb to the cynicism and laziness of his fellow peers? Blackboard Jungle (1955) has the look and feel of an after-school special only with the added bonus of salty language and adult situations. Everything happens to this poor teacher throughout the year from being beaten down by students to being accused of racism to risking the loss of his would be son. The film exposes problems associated with urban schools in a concentrated amount of drama, played for keeps. If you yourself haven't experienced this kind of mayhem, you may find the entire exercise hyperbolic.Yet there's no denying problems in the American Public School system need to be addressed. Speaking from personal experience I think it's a shame that the issues exposed in Blackboard Jungle are very much the exact same issues schools, particularly urban schools still face today. Gang violence, bad learning conditions, discipline problems it's all there and effects potential childhood development. Blackboard Jungle doesn't presume to know the answers to these problems and the only solid victory that Dadier is given is inspiring other teachers to try to reach their kids again.Okay, I'm off my soapbox: what of the acting, cinematography, etc. Well for starters Glenn Ford does a find job. In an ideal classroom his Dadier would command attention yet in his classroom, his imposing stride is out of place among ruffians. Any first year teacher would identify with Ford's Dadier. He's always thinking and occasionally slow to react, mostly shocked by the attitudes and comments of his class. Another standout is Sidney Poitier who became a breakout star after his role as the too-cool-for school Miller. It's ironic to think that only twelve years later, Poitier would play an inner-city teacher himself in the film To Sir, With Love (1967).I sometimes put director/writer Richard Brooks in the same category as William Wyler and Robert Wise. All filmmakers were immensely successful during their time and did a lot behind the scenes to change the face of Hollywood. Yet their styles are incredibly malleable almost to a fault. Their stories and their actors take precedence over the movie and the director's specific style. As a result I never knowingly watch a Richard Brooks movie like I would, say a Martin Scorsese joint. I can only tell only by his writing style which is descriptive and complex without being verbose or overbearing. You can draw parallels from Vic Morrow's sly character to Edward G. Robinson's character in Key Largo (1948) and Burt Lancaster's Elmer Gantry in the film Elmer Gantry (1960).What you get out of Blackboard Jungle largely depends on your experience in grade school and beyond. To the average and the uninformed, the social problems in Blackboard may seem exaggerated. To the informed, the film is preaching to the choir. Though for teachers Blackboard Jungle may be the call for solidarity they need.https://www.theyservepopcorninhell.blogspot.com

"Blackboard Jungle" is the movie that describes all teachers aggravations. The kids, making assignments, dealing with family,even a pregnant wife,and the stress of other bias teachers. But being a veteran then becoming an English teacher Richard Dadier has a new type of war coming. It's the inner-city school kids that he has to worry about. This movie showed the affect on kids in a poor living environment and not so caring school system. They all put peer-pressure on each other and thinking who wants to be a nerd anyways? Well teacher Mr. Dadier has to figure a way to get these kids to care about getting education. Not so easy but Mr. Dadier wasn't a soldier for nothing. He can handle being roughed up by a few kids. Trying to make his points and show his ways of teaching don't seem to work after all. This movie is the perfect way to show that caring for people can go only a long way. They have to believe it for themselves and this teacher tries with all his heart to show these kids how it feels to be educated. But already with the thoughts of school being not important these kids could care less.

In Blackboard Jungle, you start out with the main character Richard Dadier (Glenn Ford) who is a war veteran trying to make a living teaching delinquent teens at an inner-city high school in New York. The kids at the school were ruthless, deviant, and couldn't be controlled by any authority. Dadier was determined to change the minds of his students though. Artie West (Vic Morrow)is the oil igniting the flame behind this whole school's problem. Artie and his gang destroyed property, ignored authorities and threatened the female teachers with rape. The reason this whole school is a mess is because the rest of the faculty is either too scared to control the kids or have no passion to do it. After awhile, Dadier started to connect with the kids and they were becoming interested in learning finally. Dadier almost gave up at one point when his pregnant wife is threatened by letters sent by the delinquents. His determination overcomes the bump in the road and he gains respect from the students and faculty at North Manual High School. The main reason I rated this movie pretty high is because it's actually an old movie that can be enjoyed by younger generations like me. It was interesting to see such controversial scenes that you wouldn't expect from a movie made in the 1950's. I thought it was a little strange that there were no girls portrayed in this movie as students, but I think it was fine with or without girls. I don't usually get any feelings for characters in old movies, but they did a really good job making me hate or love certain characters. The events in this movie are probably true for the most part and are defiantly relevant nowadays in schools. I would recommend this movie to people that are into learning more about inner-city school troubles or just to anyone who likes this kind of drama in movies.