TO SIR WITH LOVE!
Director James Clavell wrote and released this film in 1967--just five years after penning the screenplay for "The Great Escape". In this film, Sidney Poitier plays Engineer Mark Thackeray who arrives to teach a totally undisciplined and discombobulated class at a tough East End London school. He starts laying down his own brand of classroom discipline: forcing the pupils to treat each other with respect. Inevitably he begins getting involved in the students' personal lives, and must avoid the come-on of a student while winning over the tough-minded class. When he arrives at this post, it is but a temporary job to tide him over until his "break" in Engineering materializes. What will he decide when the engineering job comes through? Watch and see. Though I admit this is dated, the scope of Poitier's acting is certainly worth a serious look. Completed on a budget of just $640,000, "To Sir, With Love" (as with "Lilies of the Field") was drafted by contract to give Poitier a share of the gross profits to compensate for his greatly reduced salary. Writer-Director Clavell also worked under this same arrangement. Think of what Steve McQueen could have earned if he took this type of business deal with "The Blob". I'm serious! Clavell was selected because he genuinely loved the story. The rights had passed from studio to studio, and been offered to numerous stars before finally getting the green light when in the hands of Columbia Pictures President Mike Frankovich. Sidney Poitier notes in his autobiography the similarities in terms of racial issues between America and England at the time. Filmed entirely in London, the picture featured a number of minorities, many of whom, Poitier observed, would be unable to find work outside of the confines of the movie. However a sad reality, for his time spent with the cast, he was delighted to be in their company. Sidney plays one of his most famous characters. I think any teacher in the "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" audience will rediscover this film. The Cast: Sidney Poitier: Mark Thackeray; Christian Roberts: Denham; Lulu: Barbara 'Babs' Pegg; Faith Brook: Grace Evans.
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AS USUAL...ENJOY!
posted by Michael Manning @ 12:00 AM
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13 Comments:
LOVE that movie.
And got to watch another movie I love the other night - The English Patient. Which reminded me I hadn't read the book in ages, so am in the middle of that now. Hugs to you sir.
Lulu!
My mom liked Sidney Poitier when I was growing up so we watched quite a few of his movies. As an adult I see my mother had very good taste in actors because he was quite talented.
One of my favorites was In The Heat of the Night.
I love this movie! Such a great pick. And the title song is one of my favorites to sing at karaoke!! :)
Keri: lol! You make me laugh because your comment reminded me Steve McQueen driving Frank Sinatra in that Army Jeep in "Never So Few". Sinatra says: "And cut the Sir detail". McQueen: "Yes sir, sir".
D-Man: I think Neil Diamond may have dated her!
Monica: If you like Sidney's work, stay tuned! I have some surprises left in the last four months of the year.
Heather: I'd love to hear you sing! lol!!:)
I cannot imagine any movie that could be made for $640k or even what that inflation rate would be right now, with the stars' bloated fees.
Interesting! And I may have to rewatch this movie. I don't remember it that well now, so it's time for the rerun, lol!
BTW, is that Clavell the same one who wrote "Shogun"?
I think my favorite Sidney Portier movie is In the heat of the night. All of his movies were classics. And thank you for your comment.
I recently watched The Blackboard Jungle with Glen Ford where Sidney Poitier plays one of the students. That's a great movie too.
I'll have to rent "To Sir, with Love" again to reaquiant myself with this movie. I watched it years ago and just remember Mr. Thackeray dancing with the students.
Becky: I agree! Millions for one film! Bogie was not paid like that according to Lauren Bacall's books.
Carolyn: Yes, the mini-series Shogun. That was Clavell. He died in 1994.
Cosmicrayola: Stay tuned (Wink-Wink) and shoot me your e-mail if you have one! :)
Knitti-Me: I just saw that movie too! You are so right! Glen Ford was also an interesting actor. Good to hear from you!
OK, I thought so. I loved Shogun. I think it was Clavell's greatest work. BTW, I remember the young Poitier in a movie called "A Patch of Blue", where he meets a blind white girl in the park and visits her daily. Movie was filmed back in the day when black/white friendships were a no-no. That was a good movie. I saw it again a few months ago and still enjoyed it, although it's pretty "tame" now in content.
Carolyn: He is a great actor! No doubt!! I can remember my sister taking me to at theater as a tot to see Richard Basehart in Clavell's "The Satan Bug".
P.S. I have to admit, Sidney looked funny in that dancing sequence that is so 60's with "The Mindbenders" playing on stage! At least I know who Lulu is now!
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