Ideological changes in post-Civil Rights movement America were at the heart of legendary African-American actor Sidney Poitier's films in the late 1960s. One such film is this powerful drama, which stars Poitier as Mark Thackery, an unemployed engineer who applies for a teaching job because he needs the paycheck. He lands a job at a school in London's East End that's full of unruly teenagers who are profoundly uninterested in learning. After several failed attempts to reach the students, Thackery abandons the textbooks and conventional teaching methods and, treating them as young adults, he prepares his students for the job market. His unorthodox style is effective--the students begin to respect Thackery and absorb his lessons. But his substantial accomplishments are weighed in the balance when he is finally offered the engineering job he had been waiting for.

Poitier's proud, defiant figure stands tall against the rowdy, aimless swinging-sixties London teens, but one of the film's strengths is the respect that is paid to the disruptive students as human characters worthy of a better future. Lulu, who delivers a strong student portrayal, also sings the popular theme song.

A black high school teacher struggles to connect with his classroom of all white British students. He finally makes progress when, after tossing the books aside, he teaches them how to survive in the real world.

Theatrical release: June 14, 1967.

Color by Technicolor.

Film debut for British pop singer Lulu.

British pop band The Mindbenders, who recorded the song "Groovy Kind of Love" play at a dance party.

DVD Features

Region 1 Encoding
Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.78
Audio:
Dolby Digital Stereo Surround - English
Additional Release Material:
Trailers - 1. TO SIR WITH LOVE
2. BUCK AND THE PREACHER
3. A RAISIN IN THE SUN
4. BROTHER JOHN
Interactive Features:
Scene Selections
Interactive Menus
Text/Photo Galleries:
Production Notes
Talent Files

Sidney Poitier: American Actor, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967)
 Lulu: British pop singer
Judy Geeson: British Actress
Christian Roberts: Actor
Suzy Kendall: British Actress
Faith Brook: British Actress
Geoffrey Bayldon: British Actor
Patricia Routledge: British TV Actress, "Keeping Up Appearances"

James Clavell: Author/Screenwriter/Director

James Clavell: Author/Screenwriter/Director

Ron Grainer: British TV/Film Composer

Peter Thornton: Editor

"...It captured a specific time..."