First, "Rock Around The Clock" seems like such a tame and innocent song to be used in a movie about vicious high school thugs. Glenn Ford does an outstanding job playing a genuinely concerned teacher dealing with students who have no interest in education. My question through the movie was why do these kids even bother to show up? Anyway, there is one really good scene when Ford's character, Mr. Dadier, gives all his fellow teachers a verbal lashing on how they keep their classroom under control. There is a message of hope when the hardship Mr. Dadier endures inspires another apathetic teacher to begin to reexamine his teaching methods. Everything finally comes to a head in the end when Mr. Dadier takes on Vic Morrow's character when it becomes evident the class's loyalty has shifted to that of the teacher and not a fellow student. I really wish Vic would've have gotten what he deserved; a thorough beat-down from Mr. Dadier.
Review of Blackboard Jungle
