To Sir With Love Teacher's Pet ProjectBuy this film here.

Year: 1967 Director: James Clavell Stars: Sidney Poitier, Christian Roberts, Judy Geeson, Suzy Kendall, Lulu, Faith Brook, Geoffrey Bayldon, Edward Burnham, Gareth Robinson, Graham Charles, Fiona Duncan, Patricia Routledge, Adrienne Posta, Ann Bell, Chris Chittell, Rita Webb, Fred Griffiths Genre: Drama Rating: 7 (from 2 votes) Review: Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) travels to his first day of work in Britain on a bus through the East End of London, amused at the saucy talk of the housewives around him. He's the new schoolteacher at North Quay and meets his first pupil inside the school gates as the teenager smokes and regards him with suspicion. Thackeray finds the staffroom where he is welcomed by the other teachers, although Mr Weston (Geoffrey Bayldon) tells him in no uncertain terms that he must be foolhardy to take such a job, especially as the previous man who held the post left because he couldn't handle the pressure anymore. When Thackeray finally enters the classroom to begin teaching, the pupils are nothing short of unruly, so will he be able to cope over the coming months? Of course he will, you don't hire Sidney Poitier and expect him to mess up, do you? To Sir With Love was adapted from the novel by E.R. Braithwaite by director James Clavell, and proved surprisingly popular in its day, particularly in America. It's not hard to see why with its star as the initial underdog who eventually succeeds and charms all those around him through his level headedness and integrity; there's a very traditional story here beneath the teen rebellion and daring (for the time) language - although nothing stronger than the odd "bloody" or "arse". It's also nice to see Poitier tackle the dramas of the schoolroom from the other side, as opposed to his role in The Blackboard Jungle a decade before. The film has remained popular through the years, perhaps because of its somewhat sentimental view of schoolkids who just need the right kind of guidance to set them on the path to contented adulthood, all this despite the first half hour of bad behaviour Thackeray has to endure. He has left life in British Guyana, after a spell in America (to explain his accent), and is hoping for a job in engineering, but this teaching post is the only one he can secure for the moment. Thankfully he doesn't have to put up with much racism: although ringleader of the rebels Denham (Christian Roberts) calls him "chimney sweep" and asks impolite questions about his background, mostly it's Thackeray's authority over them that annoys the kids. However, once he decides they'll learn nothing from dry textbooks and suggests a more progressive tack, Thackeray starts to win his class over. For a while the pranks get so intensive that you wonder when he's going to crack, but when he does it teaches him something, that when he loses his temper he loses his authority. So he starts telling them, in question and answer sessions, that as they're about to leave school at the end of the year he will be treating them like adults and he expects them to respond in kind. After that, it's all visits to the museum (presented in montage form with supporting actress Lulu warbling the title song over it) and one of the girls, Pamela (Judy Geeson) getting a crush on Thackeray. In fact, by the end, with even Denham convinced, the film plunges into the realms of fantasy with Poitier dancing while surrounded by the adoring pupils and teachers clapping along. Yet it's Poitier who carries this on his capable shoulders, rendering To Sir With Love as a neat nostalgia piece, if not a believable one. Music by Ron Grainer. 2.What a thought provoking story about prejudicial barriers as well as the importance teachers have on the lives of their students. To have had a teacher that taught you about yourself and helped you learn and believe in yourself is truly a gift. We often hear about how teachers touched someone's life in an extremely positive way, but this story is told from the vantage point of one of those teachers. I loved having a fly-on-the-wall view of this amazing teacher's journey with his class and learni...more like 1 like

 see review Shinjan Oct 09, 2011 Shinjan rated it 5 of 5 stars review of another edition Recommends it for: Maninee Maity; Ishita Mallick Recommended to Shinjan by: Sonali V This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. like 2 likes see review Jeannie Aug 01, 2011 Jeannie rated it 5 of 5 stars Shelves: lost-in-the-great-termite-incident I read this book many years ago for a unit I was assigned to teach my eighth grade classes during my student teaching experience. We watched the movie at the end of the unit. The book was much better. It inspired me to work hard to be the best teacher that I possibly could become. Maybe it spoke to me so clearly because this book isn't really about the methods--it's more about the heart behind the methods. It really isn't so much about academics either. Braithwaite's focus is on the moral and s...more like see review Ankur Kakkar Apr 30, 2010 Ankur Kakkar rated it 4 of 5 stars I first heard about this novel in my 7th grade when we were told to read it as part of our holiday homework (which I never bothered to do). The name somehow never left my memory and that was the reason I bought a copy for myself about a week back on my last visit to the nearby book store. As I relaxed on my couch to begin what was going to be an enlightening journey, I had no idea that this would be the first book I was going to read at a stretch. (I am not in a habit of reading books ...more like 2 likes see review Shelby Hanson Sep 01, 2009 Shelby Hanson rated it 3 of 5 stars This book is about a black man that can't find a good job, so he has to be a teacher because of his skin color. This story is set in Greenslade Secondary School in the east London disrict.This black man in E.R. Braithwaite and he is the author of this book. The school he works in is in a rough neighborhood and his class is less than disiplined. So throughout the book the realtionships with Braitwaite and his students grow more and more through respect and guidance; that includes overcoming ra...more like see review Patti Jan 12, 2012 Patti rated it 3 of 5 stars I expected the book to be a lot like "Up the Downstaircase", instead it was a different take on the theme of teaching. "To Sir, With Love" focuses on Braithwaite's experiences of racial discrimination in London. Even when Rick feels that he's making headway with his students,he realizes that a lifetime of influence is hard to overcome. Many parts of the book were very moving. We scoff at how "PC" our work environments have become, forgetting how difficult i...more like see review Risa

Aug 20, 2010 Risa rated it 3 of 5 stars review of another edition Shelves: 2010, collections-own I must have been around eleven or twelve years old when I watched To Sir With Love (1967). It was a movie that moved me a great deal, not to mention Sidney Poitier's excellent acting! I never got to see it again after that first time, and was quite excited to come across only last week at a local book store. There was just one copy of the book with a very dignified Poitier gazing out from its cover. I grabbed it. Read it. It is a story about the experience Braith...more like see review Mike (the Paladin) Jan 05, 2010 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 3 of 5 stars review of another edition This may not be exactly the edition I read "back when". This is another book my girl friend from high school gets credit for me reading. In the heated racial atmosphere of the 60s and 70s this was a well read book (and of course inspired a well known movie, whose theme became a hit song). Unlike a a couple of romances I read more sticks with me from this book. The scenes of the teacher confronting the (at first) rowdy "youths" he is attempting to teach and the fran...more like see review JocelynRose Aug 24, 2011 JocelynRose rated it 4 of 5 stars This book was like a movie - you like it because the good guy wins. Aside from that, it also plays out like a movie. Everything happens as you would expect. There's only one part that doesn't play out like a movie and it's maddening. But this is a true story, and true stories rarely stick to a plot. Just the way the story is told is interesting. It's blunt, but adorned. It's inspirational and eye-opening. It's truly one of those stories called "the triumph of the human spirit". ...more like see review Alison McGavran Jun 21, 2010 Alison McGavran added it Shelves: child-s-lit-annotations-eng353 To Sir, With Love tells the story of a black man who was barred from every other job, except being a teacher, because of the color of his skin. It is at his new teaching job in the east London district that he has an opportunity to change the lives of forty-six students from being defiant delinquents, to literate self-respected members of society. This is a coming of age story, and one of great character development from all characters. It shows struggle in a time of diversity and hope in a time...more like see review Denise Jan 25, 2012 Denise rated it 5 of 5 stars My favorite book! I first read it when I was 11 years old, having found the book in a pile of old books my grandmother was going to burn in the trash barrel. Lucky escape for both me and the book. I'm positive that this book is the reason I never learned to be prejudiced. The frankness in the

conversations between Sir and his students about being black and HUMAN just like them, (especially when they "discover" his blood is red!)was something that stuck with me. I've just reread it and...more like see review Kate Apr 27, 2011 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars Kind of like Stand and Deliver, but in England after WWII. Good, gripping story, well written, and my only complaint was that it was too short! I liked that not only did he talk about the racism, casual and not, that he experienced, but also of his own experiences overcoming his first glance biases against the children in London's 'tough' East End. Does not get excessively preachy and made me feel like a positive outcome is possible when fighting racism. That said, it is a product ...more like see review Amalie Oct 05, 2010 Amalie rated it 5 of 5 stars review of another edition Recommends it for: Teachers Shelves: autobiography This book is one of my all-time-favourites simply because its inspiring. First time I read it I was just finishing my school days and wondered what it would be like to have a teacher like him, though Ive come across several caring and inspiring teachers, Braithwaites story rented a special place in my heart. The story is set in the East End of London and it is based on real events concerned with Braithwaite taking up a teaching post in a school there. Though the main problem is n...more like 1 like see review Maxine Mathew Jul 02, 2011 Maxine Mathew rated it 5 of 5 stars review of another edition Shelves: non-fiction, young-adult To Sir With Love is an autobiographical novel,dealing with the authors Experiences in his first year of teaching in East London. Filled with disappointment and anger at being rejected in all his previous interviews because of the colour of his skin, E. R. Braithwaite enters as a teacher in Greenslade Secondary School in the slums of East London. Expecting to find well-mannered and disciplined children, he is shocked to find the school filled with rough and undisciplined students. To Sir With Lo...more like see review Bettie Jul 16, 2010 Bettie rated it 4 of 5 stars review of another edition Recommends it for: BBC7 listeners Shelves: summer-2010, britain-england, published-1959, biography, racism, play-dramatisation This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. like see review Marielle Jian Aspa Jul 13, 2010 Marielle Jian Aspa rated it 5 of 5 stars review of another edition I loved reading this book mostly because it contains elements of racism and discrimination and it offers a glimpse in the life of a resourceful black man who can't get a job because of the color of his

skin. The little things from this book captured my interest, at how the author kept encountering unexpected kindness from everyday life and how he's always thankful for it. Also, his view of the children that he taught in greenslade and of life in general kept me reading on and on until I finished...more like see review Alana Hosein Jul 29, 2011 Alana Hosein added it review of another edition Two things: !. Never judge a book by its cover; and 2. Never judge a man by his colour.

My attempts to read this book were always belaboured mainly because the cover did not offer any invitation to venture further. Yet, it eventually became the last book to read in my collection of borrowed books.

As a teacher, I found it to be a timely read and also quite motivating. I heard there is a movie but I havent been able to source it. like see review Velvetink Sep 21, 2010 Velvetink rated it 4 of 5 stars review of another edition Shelves: fiction, film, film-dvd-saw-it, z-1970-s The nun's at my high school thought our class incorrigible. They hoped this book would save us, (well in combination with the movie) starring Sidney Poitier as Thackeray and Lulu as Barbara "Babs" Pegg and the film's title song "To Sir, with Love", sung by Lulu, - it did save quite a few of us. Some of us still read books! Only those who passed the English exam (included an essay on the book) were allowed the excursion to see the film. like 2 likes see review Shabbeer Hassan Mar 22, 2011 Shabbeer Hassan rated it 4 of 5 stars review of another edition An excellent book on the hyocrisy of Britain in terms of racial discrimination....In America, people openly agreed about this problem, but as this book shows UK was in a special place.....Denying the exisence of racial discrimination yet having pretty much of it underneath.... Readers would think that the situation is long gone, but as we see even now this book seems relevant with entire Europe turning more xenophobic.... Kudos to Braithwaite for this excellent book, 4/5 like see review Mr. Kovach Feb 18, 2012 Mr. Kovach rated it 4 of 5 stars It was interesting to read this book not long after I read Up the Down Staircase, so I could compare the two schoolroom dramas. I guess I'll have to read The Blackboard Jungle next! To Sir, With Love follows a new teacher in a poor English school district through his first few months with his ragamuffin charges, whom he comes to love. It's a good story, well-written, but kind of the "same old" as school dramas go. It was published in 1959 but the issues involved with teaching, and lear...more

like see review Susan Apr 24, 2011 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars It was really hard for me to tell if this book was fiction or non-fiction. It's both - it's a memoir based on the author's life. But it is technically fiction. It's not exactly a quick read, but I liked it. I do think that teachers can have this type of power to really change their student's lives. But I also think that it is sad that schools and students are in such a bad situation to need teachers like this. like see review Dhawal Feb 09, 2011 Dhawal rated it 5 of 5 stars In the league of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, this novel gives a vivid insight into the journey of a teacher in post war London - his victories, his challenges, his notoriously wild easr end students and most importantly the ideals he succeeds in imparting in a bunch of teenager students who would have otherwise been lost to disrepair and ruin. Inspirational. like see review Tridisha Jyoti Mar 08, 2011 Tridisha Jyoti rated it 5 of 5 stars excellent book...!! Reading this book we can realize the suffering of those peoples who are discriminated on the basis of race,color,religion etc. The character of the teacher played in the story is very very important.It helps us learn a lot about the qualities we need to posses being a human being...!!!! 5 star book..!!! like see review Ellen Apr 09, 2011 Ellen rated it 3 of 5 stars Shelves: memoirs-biographies I liked it a lot. I always had the image of Sidney Poitier in mind while reading it. The kids weren't as bad as I had expected. There was quite a bit of description of the interaction among the teachers. It had a surprise for me, too. I wonder if he kept on teaching. He was trained as a technical person. like see review Samodh Battichcha Jan 18, 2010 Samodh Battichcha rated it 5 of 5 stars Excellent novel, presents an idealistic picture of a teacher in realistic terms confronting the almostilliterate students of a multi-ethnic town in England. The students are grown up, yet illiterate, even hardly comparable to 'WANAATHA' students. How the teacher gradually perceives their simple ambitions,how he overcomes their crude-inherited behaviour, at last complies with them and teaches them simple values and exhibits their talents to themselves are very nicely and poignantly featured. Th...more like see review Christina Jun 02, 2009 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars Shelves: teaching Quick read. Enjoy his writing style. I read half the book thinking it was fiction and then the second

half marveling at his lovely language. Issues of prejudice/race/expectations/judgment illuminated and prodded. like see review Rigveda Kadam Sep 27, 2011 Rigveda Kadam rated it 3 of 5 stars Bought the book after I loved a chapter that was present in the school curriculum. It is an inspiring story, heart warming and non sappy. The ending could have been a bit better though. like see review Sherry (sethurner) Apr 10, 2009 Sherry (sethurner) rated it 4 of 5 stars Shelves: nonfiction, teachers-and-teaching, books-to-movies Based on a true story of a black teacher coming into a white London school and turning kids' lives around. It's probably dated in some ways, but a person can't help but be inspired. like see review Grp Aug 27, 2011 Grp rated it 5 of 5 stars A truly magnificent piece of work that is such a pleasure to read - while giving a whole new perspective to teaching, it is also a beautiful lesson in management...simply superb! like see review Vinita May 27, 2008 Vinita rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommended to Vinita by: Krishnan Its a very simply written book and a well written one. I expected it to be a melodramatic, overly expressive book, but it wasn't. The simple descriptions gave a wonderful picture of the environment in which the children were brought up, their school and also a good idea of how east London looked. There are a lot of movies on the same theme and I believe we begin to in a way subconsciously expect the same kind of drama in older books. And that's what I was afraid of when I picked it up. This boo...more

3.Articles/Movie Reviews/Other/To Sir With Love (1967) The book that this movie was based upon was written by an author named E.R. Braithwaite. The book was adapted into a screenplay by James Clavell, who also chose to direct the resulting film. With funding from UK-based investors, the film was produced on a budget of around $600,000 and became a major financial success. The story follows a black man named Mark Thackeray, who has a bachelor's degree in engineering but is having trouble finding a job. He ends up taking on a temporary job as a teacher in a rough part of east London. The school he starts working at is known for having lawless classrooms where the kids disobey the teachers and do their own thing, but Mark decides that he isn't going to tolerate it. Mark immediately lays down the law in his classroom and establishes himself as the alpha male. When the students fail to show interest in poetry, he decides to teach them about practical things. He also instructs them on how to act with courtesy and manners.

His students grow to respect him a great deal as a result of his practical method of teaching and courage. The ladies in the classroom go from "sluts", in his own words, to proper ladies, and the men go from ruffians to well-dressed gentlemen. The transformation is quite impressive and inspires his coworkers to believe that there actually is potential in these lower class students. Suddenly, he finds a job with an engineering firm and is faced with a difficult decision. Should he abandon his respectable teaching profession for a higher-paying job as an engineer? Or should he continue reforming the youth that appear to be corrupted beyond repair? The main character of Mark is played by Sidney Poitier, who has now mostly retired from filmmaking. Most of the other actors are unknowns, but include Christian Roberts, Judy Geeson, Suzy Kendall, and Faith Brook. Despite the fact that most of the cast is not well known, they all perform very well and make for convincing students. Most of the music in the film is typical late 1960s hippy music. Although it dates the film, it does fit the era at least and sounds decent. One of the songs borrows its chorus from the title of the film and proves to be rather moving when the class sings it for Mark. The movie was made on a low budget, but that didn't prevent it from getting some good camera work. The camera shots are mostly practical, but there are a few closeups for the more tense parts of the movie. There is also an interesting montage of shots from a museum when the class goes on a field trip. What really brings this film together is Sidney Poitier's great acting. I have always admired his work, and this has proved to be no exception. If you get the chance to watch this movie, I highly recommend it. Teachers, in particular, should watch this film as inspiration. 4. Memorable quotes for To Sir, with Love (1967) More at IMDbPro ad feedback Mark Thackeray: [entering classroom and seeing smoke] All you boys, out. Girls stay where you are. Out. [closes door] Mark Thackeray: I am sick of your foul language, your crude behavior and your sluttish manner. There are certain things a decent woman keeps private, and only a filthy slut would have done this and those who stood by and encouraged her are just as bad. I don't care who's responsible - you're all to blame. Now, I am going to leave this room for five minutes by which time that disgusting object had better be removed and the windows opened to clear away the stench. If you must play these filthy games, do them in your homes, and not in my classroom! Share this quote Pamela Dare: Do you two... [wiggling her hips] Pamela Dare: Do you two shake? Share this quote Barbara Pegg: Who does he think he is there? Cheeky devil. Share this quote Pamela Dare: [reading from her school book] And he had learned to love, I know not why, for this in such as him seemed strange of mood. But thus it was and though in solitude's small part the nipped affections have to grow, in him this glowed when all beside had ceased to glow. Share this quote Mark Thackeray: It seems that you know so little, and are so easily amused, that I can look forward to a very happy time. Share this quote Barbara Pegg: If you want to dance wif me, you bleedin' well ask proper! Share this quote

Mark Thackeray: I believe one should fight for what one believes. Provided one is absolutely sure one is absolutely right. Share this quote Barbara Pegg: Oooh, look at me! I am a lady, I am! [sticks out tongue] Share this quote Denham: [to Pamela Dare] I know what's bothering you! You fancy him! Share this quote Gillian Blanchard: [talking to Mark about Pamela Dare on the bus] Make no mistake about Pamela... she's a woman in every sense of the word. Share this quote Mark Thackeray: One of the girls should go over and bring flowers. [awkward silence] Mark Thackeray: What is it? Denham: The girls can't go with flowers. Did you see him? Do you know what people would say? Pamela Dare: I'll go. I don't care what they say. Share this quote Pamela Dare: Sir, would you dance with me tonight? Mark Thackeray: Of course, but nothing too fast. I'm getting much too old for that sort of thing Miss Dare. Pamela Dare: We'll make it something special, promise? Mark Thackeray: Promise. Pamela Dare: Sir, would you call me Pamela tonight? Mark Thackeray: Yes... Pamela. Share this quote Barbara Pegg: You ever been broke, Sir? Real broke? Skint? Mark Thackeray: Yup. Many, many, many times. Ingham: Oh, I don't understand you a bit Sir. I mean, you're a toff, and you ain't. Mark Thackeray: Huh? Moira Joseph: Sir, what he means is, blimey, I can't sorta put it into words, or anything, but... Barbara Pegg: Well, Sir, you're like us, but you ain't, I mean, you're not. It's kinda scary, but nice. You know what I mean, don't you? Mark Thackeray: Well, I... I don't know how to answer you, except to say that I teach you truths. My truths. Yeah, and it is kinda scary, dealing with the truth. Scary, and dangerous... Share this quote Mark Thackeray: If you apologize because you are afraid, then you're a child, not a man. 5. Engineer Mark Thackeray arrives to teach a totally undisciplined class at an East End school. Still hoping for a good engineering job, he's hopeful that he won't be there long. He starts implementing 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 advances of an amorous student while winning over the class tough. What will he decide when the engineering job comes through? Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com> After searching unsuccessfully for work as an engineer, Mark Thackeray accepts a teaching position at a rough, East End London high school. His colleagues warn him about the impossible brutes he will encounter there, but still he enters his classroom unprepared for their horrible defiance. A classic portrayal of teen angst, where these impoverished, battered kids, who have turned out badly, are determined to brutalize everyone around them. The teachers let them dance between classes to vent some of their aggressive energy, but they all treat the classroom as though it were an unsupervised sandbox. With transcendent dignity, Thackary tames them and teaches them self-respect. As sentimental as the plot may be, the kids' transition is touching, and Poitier is as cool and classy as ever. Written by alfiehitchie

An engineer by trade, Mark Thackeray, a black man, gets a teaching post until he can find an engineering job. His posting is to teach the senior class at North Quay Secondary School in East London, a school in a tough neighborhood where even the most troubled of students are sent. The school is in a primarily white neighborhood where there is a strict moral code amongst the residents of race relations between whites and blacks. Encouraged by his female colleagues but given a sense of resignation by his male colleagues, Thackeray is having trouble with his class, who are openly disruptive. He is having issues with two students in particular, Denham and Miss Dare, issues which he will have to resolve carefully. After an incident which he considers the last straw, he comes to the realization of what his class really does need to learn. Written by Huggo