Monday, March 7, 2011

The Blackboard Jungle

Glenn Ford

Pretty dated film from 1955. The theme of new teacher/rough kids has been taken up many times since. At the time this must have been very powerful and even though the slang seems corny the menace of the kids still came across.

Ford was excellent...dedicated, a bit unsure of himself, strong sometimes, other times bewildered by the task in front of him. His one-on-one scenes with Sidney Poitier rang true...well-written and played.

Louis Calhern played a one-dimensional cynic, Anne Francis Ford's wife. Some of this slid into melodrama and because the code was still in effect the resolution was simple-minded and pat. The film has historical value only at this point.

5

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