Blackboard Jungle (1955)
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76% of critics liked it
(21 reviews) -
73% of users liked it
(3,561 ratings)
In this gritty urban drama, war veteran Richard Dadier (Glenn Ford) wants to begin his career as a teacher and is given an assignment at a boys high school in inner-city New York. However, he soon discovers the school is overrun by delinquents, led by Artie West (Vic Morrow), an insolent hood who… More In this gritty urban drama, war veteran Richard Dadier (Glenn Ford) wants to begin his career as a teacher and is given an assignment at a boys high school in inner-city New York. However, he soon discovers the school is overrun by delinquents, led by Artie West (Vic Morrow), an insolent hood who likes to call Richard "Mr. Daddy-O." Artie and his gang steal, destroy property, refuse to respect authority, and threaten the female teachers with rape. While most of the faculty have given up and meekly let the delinquents do what they want, Dadier is determined to bring order back to his classroom, even after Artie's thugs threaten Richard's pregnant wife. Keep your eyes peeled for a bit part by Jameel Farah, years before he would change his name to Jamie Farr. Blackboard Jungle was also the first major studio film to use rock & roll on the soundtrack; the film's success kick-started sales of "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets, which helped to spark the rock & roll boom of the 1950s. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Richard Brooks I
- Written By
- Richard Brooks
- Genres
- Drama, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Mar 25, 1955 Wide
- On DVD
- May 10, 2005
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Glenn Ford, Morrow and Poitier are so real in their performances under the probing direction by Brooks that the picture alternatingly has the viewer pleading, indignant and frightened before the conclusion.
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, Time Out
The studied pseudo-documentary atmosphere never quite convinces.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
It gives a blood-curdling, nightmarish picture or monstrous disorder in a public school. And it leaves one wondering wildly whether such out-of-hand horrors can be.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Writer-director Richard Brooks had a flair for sensationalism, and his adaptation of Evan Hunter's novel is loads of fun as a consequence, but don't expect much analysis or insight.
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Kim Newman, Empire Magazine
Originating the genre of 'dedicated teacher reaches troubled kids in a ghetto school', this is still affecting although heavy-handed.
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Cast
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Glenn Ford
as Richard Dadier
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Sidney Poitier
as Gregory W. Miller
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Anne Francis
as Anne Dadier
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Louis Calhern
as Jim Murdock
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Vic Morrow
as Artie West
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John Hoyt
as Mr. Warneke
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Maggie Hayes
as Lois Judby Hammond
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Emile G. Meyer
as Mr. Halloran
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Warner Anderson
as Dr. Bradley
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Basil Ruysdael
as Prof. A.R. Kraal
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Dan Terranova
as Belazi
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Rafael Campos
as Pete V. Morales
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Paul Mazursky
as Emmanuel Stoker
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Horace McMahon
as Detective
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Danny Dennis
as De Lica
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David Alpert
as Lou Savoldi
- Richard Deacon
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Jamie Farr
as Santini
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Robert Foulk
as Mr. Katz
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Paul Hoffman
as Mr. Lefkowitz
- Teddy Infur
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Richard Kiley
as Joshua Y. Edwards
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Tom McKee
as Manners
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Dorothy Neumann
as Miss Panucci
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Manuel Paris
as Proprietor
- Henny Backus
- Chris Randall
- Peter Miller
- Warren Hamilton
