This will be short - the same situations are occurring daily in our big city schools today. There are more of us than ever signing up to teach in our most poverty-stricken schools. Glen Ford (with his screen wife Anne Francis) portrays one of the earliest. Now, unfortunately, the classes are majority African-American rather than mixed, not mostly Caucasian as in "Blackboard Jungle."
The movie is realistic - I am 66 and since viewing this movie the first time in 1955 have "seen it all" as they say. I am happy to report that there are not as many firearms nor knives as in the past, nor is there as much hatred in the eyes of minority students - whether Hispanic, African-American or any other so-called minority. Also, there is a huge influx of African-American men teaching in our schools who are definitely making a difference.
It is sick today that so many adults forget that many of us forget that we were all "the minority" at one time or other - save the Native Americans who we so disgracefully displaced.
This movie is based on an excellent and authentic novel by Evan Hunter.
_________________________________________
Comments by Actor / Writer
Roy C. PetersonThis is one of the best movies of the 1950s. It's black and white and lacks the California eye candy we find in another 1955 troubled youth film Rebel Without a Cause. I love both movies, but I love this one better because it leaves you with the knowledge that heroic idealism has intrinsic value just for it's own sake. The teacher Richard Dadier, brilliantly played by Glenn Ford, is a real all American good guy. A true inspirational role model for all people in daily life.
The script and all around acting are superb. The scene where Vic Morrow as Artie West pulls a horn handle switchblade stiletto on the teacher and challenges him to come take the test paper away from him is one of the classic moments in American motion picture history. Where else would such a thing happen except America? A place with bad growing pains caused by rapid population influx and a postwar boom not necessarily experienced by all inner city residents. See this movie just for the sake of your faith in mankind.
