Teaching: the Hollywood version

Bill Knight column for Aug. 3, 4 or 5, 2020

           

Concerns about safely reopening schools cause new appreciation for teachers, who are working on lesson plans for fall even as they wonder about risks to their students and themselves.

Hollywood’s best films featuring teachers seem to echo a comment by author and teacher James Baldwin, whose words still resound decades after his death. Baldwin – born this week in 1924 and the subject of historian Eddie Glaude’s new book “Begin Again” – said, “It is very nearly impossible … to become an educated person in a country so distrustful of the independent mind.”

Against such odds (and dwindling resources), teachers make connections with students, communicate in give-and-take ways, motivate, and impart knowledge and – most importantly – the attitude that learning is possible and positive – on the big screen, too. Typically, obstacles that cinema teachers and pupils share include poverty (urban and rural), crime or social tension, career crises, and learning itself.

Most such films are dramatic, but some have been comedies, suspense and even horror pictures (“Kindergarten Cop,” “187,” “The Faculty”). There’s usually less “action” and more dialogue from teachers and students, principals and janitors, secretaries and parents.

So, for you teachers – hang in there! For the rest of us – check out a dozen inspiring films:

“Conrack” (1974). Novelist Pat Conroy’s touching “The Water Is Wide” provided wonderful fodder for this Jon Voight vehicle about a teacher trying to modernize a poor rural school, where kids are almost illiterate. Paul Winfield, Madge Sinclair and Hume Cronyn co-star.

“Dangerous Minds” (1995). Based on the autobiography by LouAnne Johnson, an ex-Marine who became a terrific inner-city high school teacher, this drama also is a fine vehicle for Michelle Pfeiffer. As the vet, she fights the status quo as well as more mundane aspects of education. It co-stars Courtney B. Vance.

“Dead Poets Society” (1989). Robin Williams is an idealistic English teacher in a prep school in the 1950s, when the pursuit of creativity and individuality seemed alien to some administrators and parents. Ethan Hawke co-stars in director Peter Wier’s drama.

“Goodbye, Mr. Chips” (1939). Greer Garson’s screen debut as the romantic interest of a shy teacher (Robert Donat) was outstanding in this classic version of James Hilton’s novel. After a tragedy, the sentimental story unfolds to show the teacher rededicating himself to his students. Remade in 1969 (with Petula Clark and Peter O’Toole), this original co-starring Paul Henreid and John Mills is worth watching.

“Lean on Me” (1989). Morgan Freeman stars as no-nonsense principal Joe Clark, who’s determined to improve a deteriorating school in an inner-city neighborhood. Robert Guillaume co-stars.

“Mr. Holland’s Opus” (1995). Richard Dreyfuss stars as a musician who becomes a teacher to support his family while escaping the wedding-reception gigs he hates. Eventually, he thinks, he’ll finish the symphony he dreams of composing. Instead, over decades, he falls in love with teaching, and has a great effect on the talents he mentors. Sentimental without being saccharine, it co-stars Glenne Headly, Olympia Dukakis and William H. Macy.

“The Principal” (1987). Jim Belushi stars as a ne’er-do-well teacher punished for being a maverick by being “promoted” to lead a troubled school. Although brash, he’s also a dedicated educator and disciplinarian. He and a stern custodian (Lou Gossett Jr.) unite against young gangsters and motivate students with compassion and respect. Esai Morales and Rae Dawn Chong co-star.

“Stand and Deliver” (1988). Edward James Olmos is gripping as a frumpy but inspired math instructor in a barrio school who gives up a lucrative electronics job to teach a classroom of misfits. They see the light – and calculus! Based on a true story, it co-stars Lou Diamond Phillips and Andy Garcia.

“The Substitute” (1996). Tom Berenger stars as a mercenary who goes undercover as a substitute teacher after his girlfriend is attacked by high school drug dealers. Co-starring Ernie Hudson, the action yarn is thin on plot and heavy on gunplay, but it’s entertaining escapism.

“Teachers” (1984). Nick Nolte is excellent as a teacher nearly overwhelmed by a system rewarding incompetence – teachers and students, administrators and parents. The “dram-edy” has a fine cast: Judd Hirsch, Lee Grant, Ralph Macchio, Morgan Freeman, Crispin Glover and Laura Dern.

“To Sir with Love” (1967). Sidney Poitier is a teacher in London, where his lessons come from experience as much as textbooks. Based on E.R. Braithwaite’s novel, the picture resonates with Poitier’s performance, but also benefits from a cast including Judy Geeson, Christian Roberts and Lulu (whose title tune was a pop hit).

“Up the Down Staircase” (1967). A new teacher (Sandy Dennis) is naïve about the challenges of teaching literature to poor students. Then a bridge and breakthrough take place. Eileen Heckart and Jean Stapleton co-star in the film based on Bel Kaufman’s novel.