To Sir With Love
A novice teacher faces a class of rowdy, undisciplined
working-class punks in this classic film that reflected some of
the problems and fears of teens in the '60's.
 Sidney Poitier gives one of his finest performances as Mark
Thackeray, an out-of-work engineer who turns to teaching in
London's tough East End.
The graduating class, led by Denham (Christian Roberts), Pamela
(Judy Geeson) and Barbara (Lulu), sets out to destroy Thackeray as
they did his predecessor by breaking his spirit.
But Thackeray, no
stranger to hostility, meets the challenge by treating the
students as young adults who will soon enter a work force where
they must stand or fall on their own.
The students are undisciplined "problem" youngsters
who do not fit in with normal school curriculum. They are in their
final term - the last chance a teacher will get to impart any kind
of lasting influence. Thackeray tries to see past their unruly
rebellious behaviour and treats them as young adults and not
brats.
Gradually, and after being forced to physically fight the class
bully, he gives them a new outlook and awareness of their
responsibility. When offered an engineering job, Thackeray must
decide if he wants to stay.
 The warm, human story is sometimes dramatic, occasionally sad
and often wildly funny. Its approach is modern and upbeat.
Academy Award winner Sidney Potier scored his first film
success as a belligerent student in The
Blackboard Jungle. In To Sir With Love he returned
to the classroom - but to the other side of the desk - to portray
a teacher in charge of a rough and rowdy bunch of British
Teenagers.
Making her screen debut, Lulu
(The hippest 13 year old ever to break the top 10 charts on both
sides of the Atlantic) also sings the title song and a number of
other great songs along with the band, The Mindbenders.
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