Blackboard Jungle
1955  NR  DRAMA  1h 41min
CAST— Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, Vic Morrow, Louis Calhern, Sidney Poitier, Richard Kiley, Warner Anderson, Margaret Hayes, Emile Meyer, John Hoyt, Rafael Campos, Paul Mazursky
MUSIC— Max C. Freedman  DIRECTOR— Richard Brooks  BASED ON— Blackboard Jungle (novel), by Evan Hunter

     Glenn Ford delivers a strong performance in this solid urban drama. Here he plays an idealistic teacher focusing on his new job: teaching at one of New York’s toughest public high schools, in a neighborhood where street gangs are prevalent, crime is rising, and the echoing sound of police sirens is the norm. His classroom deals with hardened seniors, those who think they’ve seen all and know all. As problems begin to escalate, the response is often met with violence. No amount of discipline seems to get through to them, no amount of caring seems to be noticed. Being ever the optimist, their teacher diligently strides on, determined to find the secret of taming these animals found in his jungle. The strong cast includes Sidney Poitier in a memorable performance as a young tough. Surprisingly, the film still delivers an impact years later, in an age of tumult light years beyond this caliber. Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.
OUR RATING— ***