That was an excellent one.

Good movie but grossly overrated

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Twelve years earlier, Sidney Poitier played one of a classroom full of rowdy kids in a poor school taught by do-good-er Glenn Ford in Blackboard Jungle. In 1967, Sidney grew up and played the role of the noble teacher in To Sir, with Love. Well, to be honest, it's not exactly a remake of the 1955 film, but the premises are so similar, and the casting is pretty ironic. This marked one of Sidney's most iconic films and roles, partially because it was fun to see him in the reverse role, and partially because of the title song that skyrocketed to the top of the charts.One major difference between the two films is the setting; To Sir, with Love takes place in England. Sidney deals with the rough students with their Cockney accents, but there's more social problems for him to deal with than violence, as was the case in Blackboard Jungle. There's a bit of a student-teacher romance for him to juggle, as well as a flirtatious rapport with a colleague, and audiences get to watch him dance the "in" dance moves of the 1960s. Besides the fun stuff, there are lots of great scenes about maturity and teaching life lessons as well as academics. It's a must-see for Sidney Poitier fans, as well as those who like classroom dramas.

I loved this film from start to finish. From the very first scenes of Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) catching the LLU 829 bus, which passes through London on his first day as a teacher in a mostly white, working class school in the East End, to its very last scene, which I won't describe, it captured my interest unlike many other movies that I have seen lately. For me, this was one of Poitier's best films, and I am disappointed that he has never been appropriately acknowledged for his outstanding performance in it. Many of his more popular roles did not bring out the full range of his acting ability as this one did. A lively and thoughtful script by director James Clavell certainly helped Poitier in this achievement.I first viewed this film when it was released in 1967, fifty long years ago and the year that I graduated from high school, an institution that was only a notch above the environment of North Quay. For me, this motion picture has actually improved in time, perhaps because I finally understand the words of the East Enders.The use of the theme song "To Sir With Love" with all of its variations to match the mood of the moment was very successful. The montage sequence of still shots at the museum was also very effective, especially when one considers that the museum management refused to allow the crew from rolling their cameras inside. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade.Two major instances of irony left a strong impact on me. The first was that of a highly educated black man teaching a predominantly white, underprivileged group of working class students in the inner city. The second was the sight of Sidney Poitier, who played one of those underprivileged students in a New York City high school twelve years earlier during "Blackboard Jungle", standing in front of a similar class as the teacher. In both movies, the teachers were faced with the same, difficult choice of leaving their troubled schools for careers elsewhere.Although the subject of race arose with great restraint on several occasions during the movie, it did not bluntly expose itself until the moment when the mostly white students were asked to deliver flowers to the home of a bereaved non-white classmate. This was a moment of truth that was handled very well with a very moving and gratifying result.Although several other reviewers don't agree with me, this is a film which has withstood the test of time. Thanks to the outstanding performance of "Sir" Sidney Poitier, an excellent script, a very capable, British supporting cast, and overall direction by James Clavell that kept me involved in the action from start to finish, this is a very appealing movie that must be seen.

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.

There are so any things which date this film, you could lose count. Its outlook towards the generation gap, racism, sexism, music and more really do seem preserved in mid-60's aspic and while it has some vintage charm, it has many more embarrassing aspects of almost look-away gaucheness.In its favour are the exterior London locations, I suppose the feel-good nature of the plot and a mostly watchable star performance by Sidney Poitier as the "Sir" of the title. Supposedly the new teacher at a school for difficult near-adult pupils you too will be amazed at how he tames his class of young hooligans just by throwing away their text books and talking about life.Elsewhere clichés abound, from Poitier's encounters with the class rebel, who he eventually teaches a lesson in the boxing ring and the class beauty who eventually forms a crush on him, to the unconventional way he gives out lessons. Occasionally the film tries to grow up with some adult-banter on the bus at Poitier's expense or the strange ritual burning of a sanitary towel in class, but with its largely teenage cast and references to contemporary pop-culture, it seems definitely aimed at the younger movie-goer.Poitier is good right up until he does his silly one-on-one dance with the adoring Julie Christie lookalike Sally Geeson and you feel more could have been made of his relationship with Suzy Kendall as his white, female colleague who offers him support. The young cast of class pupils occasionally turn to wood but a very young Lulu does quite well in concealing her broad Scottish accent and singing the hit title tune.The direction tries to be hip too, never more so than with the photo-montage of the class trip to a museum, but the editing isn't always clear and you suspect many of the scenes are watered down for the benefit of the censor.Still it was nice to jump into my 60's time-machine and watch a reasonably entertaining film from that era