Synopsis
Richard Dadier is a teacher at North Manual High School, an inner-city school where many of the pupils frequently engage in anti-social behavior. Dadier makes various attempts to engage the students' interest in education, challenging both the school staff and the pupils. He is subjected to violence as well as duplicitous schemes.
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Cast
- Glenn FordRichard Dadier
- Anne FrancisAnn Dadier
- Louis CalhernJim Murdock
- Margaret HayesLois Judby Hammond
- John HoytMr. Warneke
- Richard KileyJoshua Y. Edwards
- Emile MeyerMr. Halloran
- Warner AndersonDr. Bradley
- Basil RuysdaelProf. A.R. Kraal
- Sidney PoitierGregory W. Miller
Recommendations
- 88
USA Today
Consistently fun, and even sporadically powerful. [08 Dec 1989, p.3D] - 75
TV Guide Magazine
Vic Morrow is excellent as the leader of a gang of thugs, as is Poitier in a star-making performance, though at age 31 he unfortunately doesn't convince as a high school student. - 70
Chicago Reader
Writer-director Richard Brooks had a flair for sensationalism, and his adaptation of Evan Hunter's novel is loads of fun as a consequence, but don't expect much analysis or insight. - 70
Time
More important, however, than the letter of the film is the spirit. It seizes a burning issue, and lets the sparks fall where they may. - 70
Variety
Glenn Ford, Morrow and Poitier are so real in their performances under the probing direction by Brooks that the picture alternatingly has the viewer pleading, indignant and frightened before the conclusion. - 70
The New Yorker
Once again, a "daring" Hollywood movie exposes social tensions--touches a nerve--and then pours on the sweet nothings. But along the melodramatic way, there are some startling episodes (and one first-rate bit of racial interchange), and recordings by Bix Beiderbecke, Stan Kenton, Bill Holman, and others set quite a pace. - 63
Slant Magazine
Poitier’s acting is scalding hot. If The Blackboard Jungle is worth anything, it’s for bearing witness to a major star in the making. - 60
Empire
Originating the genre of 'dedicated teacher reaches troubled kids in a ghetto school', this is still affecting although heavy-handed.
