That was an excellent one.

Disappointment for a huge fan!

Crappy film

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

I finally watched this "Classic" earlier this week. I made it all the way through which is saying something given my short attention span. Although it was defiantly enjoyable, (certainly compared to some other classics) I found parts quite parochial. For example, why does Sir freak when he finds burning tampons - was knowledge of menses and it's accessories not well known? Sir resorts to calling his girls behavior slutty on several occasions, and Sir tells his students no one wants a girl who has been used or something like that. Sir leads by example - which is good but somehow his students behavior does not seem quite so menacing compared with today or even the 80s (think of the Students behavior in "The Substitute"). Also it seems quite unrealistic that the hardest case to win over (Denham) is suddenly converted by letting him beat up on Sir. Well the 60s music, dress, slang, dancing was all very interesting to see and the acting was mostly quite good.

Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier)accepts a job as a teacher at a tough school in the East End Of London. Initially, Thackeray intends to just use this job as a 'stop-gap' as his real passion in life is to be an engineer. Thackeray has a hard time with his students at first who are intent on making his life as difficult as possible, but Thackeray slowly starts reaching out to his students and begins to make them see things from an entirely different perspective....Sidney Poitier made 3 films in 1967 (Guess Who's coming to dinner, In The Heat Of The Night & To Sir with Love). Whilst To Sir With Love is arguably the least important of the 3 films he made in that year, for me, it still has some social relevance today.Dangerous Minds was an American film which I presume was loosely based on To Sir With Love and both films share the same general theme - misguided youths who have no real direction in life and see teachers as the enemy. Thackeray turns this scenario on its head by treating the school kids as young adults which in turn means that a mutual respect starts to develop between students and teacher - they generally say that to get respect you have to give respect and I think that this is merely one of the points that is made in this film.The acting is generally good and Sidney Poitier is effortlessly able to switch from being quiet, placid and mild-mannered into a raging torrent of emotions - at one point he gives a rather chilling steely-eyed stare. Some of the performances from the young actors was good and it was interesting to see a young Chris Chittell (who is best known to UK audiences for playing Eric Pollard in Emmerdale for a number of years and a young Patricia Routledge who is best known for playing Hyancinth Bucket or Bookay in Keeping Up Appearances).One other thing I liked about it is that I felt that Thackeray had learnt as much from the students as they had from him. They clearly learnt about respect and had been prepared for life as adults, but Thackeray also learnt that he was actually a good role model and learnt that as a teacher he could actually make a positive difference to people's lives. The final scene in the film perfectly demonstrates this point and was a wonderful way for the film to end.There are some flaws here and there such as a slightly repetitive and tedious first half. I also felt that some of the school children could have been developed better - aside from one child we learn little about them which did keep me at arms length from them a lot of the time. Still minor flaws aside this is a very good film with generally positive themes and messages and is well worth watching.

1967 Was Sidney Poitier's annus mirabilis. He starred in three remarkable films: "In the Heat of the Night", "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", and this wonderful film, which became an unexpected hit based upon his popularity."To Sir, with Love" was released years after "Blackboard Jungle" and, though it falls within the same genre as various other films about teachers inspiring "hopeless" students, it is different from many of them due to Poitier's gentle demeanor. "Stand and Deliver" is similar in that way.There are many thankless teaching jobs and it is always inspiring to see a film that shows what a dedicated and caring teacher can accomplish. Mark Thackeray (Poitier) starts as a teaching neophyte whose plans are to get out of teaching as soon as he can locate an engineering job. After some misfires, he finds that he has some natural teaching talents.The music is current to 1967 as are the dancing styles. The film is shot on location in London's East End, lending authenticity. The other actors, especially the kids, do a great job. With an economy of film and story, TSWL takes the viewer on an enjoyable journey as the students learn lessons about life. Montage is used judiciously and effectively in two instances. I saw this film when it was released. I enjoyed it then and I enjoy it still.

I've seen this film several times over the years and I really don't think that it dates much. Poitier is brilliant and the supporting cast of mostly untried youngsters are all excellent. It may not be 'Blackboard Jungle' but it's still bloody good, with great performances from the principals and today's teenagers could learn a lesson or two from it, if they could be bothered to watch and learn. Some of the odd support, such as the ubiquitous Rita Webb, do their usual turns and the 1960s East End atmosphere is well re-created. Judy Geeson is an excellent, though much too old, female lead as a besotted kid in the classroom, while Suzy Kendall is much more suited to her role as an awed teacher. Having been at school in the 1960s, I can see so much that resonates that I'm always attracted to this film. Great music too with Lulu making a name for herself as both a singer and a half-decent actress.As a by the way, it's quite amusing to see 'Mrs Bucket' as one of the teachers in her earlier days, as well as 'Catweazle' without his make-up. It all just goes to show how life can change over the years.