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Rating:  - A Stirring Tribute to From Crayons to Perfume
In TO SIR, WITH LOVE director James Clavell recreates a world that is timeless in its rich connotations of a collision of values between a working class and partly thuggish group of east London high school seniors and a dedicated teacher who is determined to give them vitally needed survival skills of which they are only dimly aware. Sidney Poitier is Mark Thackeray, an out of work engineer who agrees to teach only due to financial straits. What occurs in his class has been covered before and since in films like BLACKBOARD JUNGLE and DANGEROUS MINDS, but in Clavell's masterful hands, the result is a near perfect blending of many seemingly disparate elements that somehow fuse into a classic.
Poitier faces a group of tough kids who want to like him but have been conditioned to give all teachers a hard time. As if peeling away the many delicate strands of an onion, Poitier similarly reveals the teen angst that is surely a universal condition regardless of economic status. The film has too many moments of understated power that in the hands of a lesser director might have gone for the overkill, but Poitier, ably assisted by Judy Geeson as a beautiful Pamela Dare and Suzy Kendall as an equally lovely teacher co-worker, all manage to bounce off each other at just the right moment. Where the hoodlums in BLACKBOARD JUNGLE were vile, in Thackeray's class were hiding their inner fears under surface petty disruptions. From the opening reel to the last you simply knew that this was a magical film populated by idealistic types like Poitier and Kendall or unruly students whose unruliness was a mask.
Other reviewers have suggested that the look and feel of the film give it a dated aspect. This may be true but being dated need not be a flaw. In the closing scene at the graduation dance, all the pieces meld into a thoroughly enjoyable whole. The Beatle-type look of the band, the sixties-style frugging, the look on Judy Geeson's face as she dances with Poitier, and the stirring lyrics by Lulu all coalesce into a timeless tribute to the cusp between crayon and perfume. In its own way, TO SIR WITH LOVE is one of those magical movies that announce to an often unready and unlistening world that a new generation is about to make its mark.
Rating: - Better Than I Remembered
"To Sir With Love" (1967) could be considered a blue collar and contemporary "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969) or an urban "Mr. Holland's Opus". I was entertained but unimpressed when I saw it in a theatre at the time of its release. At the time the film was simply too obvious in its attempt to cash in on the hot issues that were being embraced at that time. Anything British was super cool, race relations was the "in" topic-especially things dealing with the plight of blacks, Lulu's hit title song was being played incessantly on all the pop stations, Judy Geeson was suddenly every guy's dream girl, and Christan Roberts was obviously intended to draw teen girl's to the theatre.
Surprisingly the film has held up remarkably well and somehow seems far less contrived. In part this is because I have learned that the novel (of the same title) from which it was adapted, was written by a cultured black man (E.R. Braithwaite) who taught similar students in a similar East End London public school. In addition, the story is timeless as educational systems continue to pigeon-hole students at an early age, steering the least promising into dead-end programs where little is done to tap whatever potential they may have for learning.
That's basically the film's story as out-of-work engineer Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) takes what he hopes will be a temporary job at an East End school. His class is the one nobody wants, full of students who have no apparent aptitude or interest in anything academic. They are in their last year (British schools set this type of student loose on the world at age 15 but these students look several years older) and just killing time until they can leave school at the end of the term. These are not the JD's of "Blackboard Jungle" (a 1955 Poitier film) but a real socio-economic segment of British society.
Thackeray quickly sizes up the situation and realizes that he can do nothing to make up for years of low expectations. So he starts teaching them basic manners, survival skills, and how to behave as responsible adults; things that will soon be useful to them. And they quickly recognize this and for the first time actually become attentive to a teacher and his lessons.
More importantly, he gives them a role model, a poor black man who worked hard, paid his dues, and transformed himself into someone they consider cultured and literate. They have been tagged as losers by the educational system but Thackeray opens their eyes to other possibilities.
Of course Lulu sings the excellent title song, which is nicely connected to the actual story, and does a surprisingly good job of acting for the camera. The film's best moment is the field trip to the museum creatively illustrated by a montage of still photos accompanied by a version of the title song. "The Mindbenders", a contemporary pop group ("Groovy Kind of Love") contribute a couple songs and actually appear briefly at a dance gig.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
Those schoolgirl days, of telling tales and biting nails are gone, But in my mind, I know they will still live on and on, But how do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume? It isn't easy, but I'll try,
If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters, That would soar a thousand feet high, To Sir, with Love
The time has come, For closing books and long last looks must end, And as I leave, I know that I am leaving my best friend, A friend who taught me right from wrong, And weak from strong, That's a lot to learn, What, what can I give you in return?
If you wanted the moon I would try to make a start, But I, would rather you let me give my heart, To Sir, with Love
Rating: - Polished Acting from Poitier
In 1967 Mark Thackery is in England and unable to find a job as an engineer. To make ends meet he begins teaching in an east end school in London for problem children. He takes over an unruly class of difficult teenagers but instead of giving up works to open them up. Thackery takes them to outings and expands their minds while teaching them life skills to be adults. The class blossoms and Thackery gains their trust. When graduation day comes he ends up not taking an engineering job in the midlands opting to stay and reform more trouble East End London kids.
Rating: - POITIER PLAYS THE TEACHER THIS TIME AROUND! A CLASSIC!
Highly entertaining drama about a new teacher who's first teaching job is at a rough London school. Poitier played a street tough in an earlier film called "Blackboard Jungle" which was very similar to this film. This time he is the teacher! hmmm......Karma? This is a true classic with great music from LuLu and Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. Poitier is at his best here and this should not be missed. The DVD transfer in very good.
Rating: - Mr. Poitier simply owned Hollywood in 1967!
Has there ever been actor who had a better year than Sir Sidney did in 1967? It's hard to believe that he wasn't even nominated for an Oscar that year. The man starred in three classic films - "In the Heat of the Night", "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" and of course this enjoyable, little gem - "To Sir With Love" all in 67.
"To Sir With Love" is one of those films that is almost impossible not to like. You may argue if it deserves the label of a true classic, but there's no denying how sweet and entertaining this fine film is. Based on the true story by E.R. Braithwaite (I highly recommend the book as well), Sidney Poitier absolutely shines in the role of Mark Thackeray (a.k.a. 'Sir'), a young man who after searching unsuccessfully for work as an engineer opts to take a job as a teacher at a rough, East End London high school. The rookie teacher immediately finds himself in a hornet's nest, as his poor, obnoxious students try their very best to break the man. However, Sir is not a man to be broken, and eventually he is able to transform the beastly brutes and tasteless tarts into real gentlemen and ladies. Poitier simply lights up the screen as 'Sir', a man who is able to teach these troubled, frustrated, angst-ridden youths what it means to be a dignified, respectful member of the human race.
I love this movie. Yes, it's a bit dated, and those churlish of critics might wish to scoff at it being too schmaltzy and saccharine for their tastes. However, even the most callous of critics agree that as overly sweet as this film is, it's still thoroughly enjoyable. On top of the great work of Sir Sidney, you've got the adorable Judy Geeson turning in a fine performance as Pamela Dare, the class beauty who can't help but fall head-over-heals for the sophisticated 'Sir'. Lulu may not be the greatest of actresses, but she sure can sing and who among us doesn't love that unforgettable title song. "Why is it Sir, that children grow up to be people one day..."
Just a side note, in the actual book by Braithwhite, Sir and Gillian Blanchard (played by the stunningly beautiful, Sharon Tate look-alike Suzy Kendall) fall in love and end up getting married. However, we all know that Sidney and Hollywood were already pushing the envelope that year with "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". So in this film, the two remain close friends, but there is unfortunately no romance. Alas, another sign of those turbulent times of the 60's...
This is a film that your whole family can watch and enjoy together. It's a shame they don't make 'sweet' movies like this anymore. Every once in a while, we disenchanted folk need upbeat, cheerful films like this to keep us sane and bring us a little good cheer. This one I can guaranty will put a smile on your face. And that is worthy of five stars alone!
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