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Education Film Festival
![actor Edward James Olmos with Jaime Escalante [1930-2010], the subject of the 1988 feature biopic "Stand and Deliver"](images/olmos-escalante.jpg "actor Edward James Olmos with Jaime Escalante [1930-2010], the subject of the 1988 feature biopic \"Stand and Deliver\"") |
brief essay
selected documentary films
|
"None of the world's problems will have a solution until
the world's individuals become thoroughly self-educated."
— R. Buckminster Fuller [1895-1983]
"The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next."
— Abraham Lincoln [1809-65]
The first experimental motion pictures, circa 1895, were all documentaries, until the short film "The Great Train Robbery" [1903], the first plotted (drama) motion picture. The genre of 'educational films' did not really take off until the appearance of home movie cameras and small electric projectors such as those made by Bell & Howell starting in the 1940s, for use in schools and at home. Such equipment was usually for 8mm or 16mm film.
Since the advent of public television, P.B.S. has produced a zillion hours of content, with P.B.S. and History Channel and Biography and National Geographic producing still more – and don't forget "Sesame Street".
The information included here covers three basic categories: educational films per se; documentaries about teachers and schools and the U.S. education system; and plotted (drama) films about schools and students and, again, the education system.
Books on the Subject
Too large of a subject for a useful Amazon link: the Education & Reference Category returns thousands
of atlases, dictionaries, test prep study guides, almanacs, law books, and career guides - whew!
 | "The Hollywood Curriculum: Teachers & Teaching In The Movies" [1999] by Mary M. Dalton 165 films: Peter Lang Publng 2nd revised edition 9½x6 pb [7/2010] for $38.95 116 films: Peter Lang Publng revised edition 8¾x6 pb [6/2007] for $32.95 58 films: Peter Lang Publng 8¾x6 pb [4/99] out of print/used |
 | "Mental Hygiene: Better Living Through Classroom Films, 1945-1970" [1999] by Ken Smith Blast Books 10x7 pb [11/99] for $18.27 |
 | "Change Your Underwear Twice A Week: Lessons From The Golden Age of Classroom Filmstrips" [2004] by Danny Gregory
Artisan 9½x8 pb [4/2004] for $18.95 |
 |
"Hollywood Goes To High School: Cinema, Schools, and American Culture" [2004] by Robert C. Bulman Worth Publrs 9x5¾ pb [12/2004] for $29.14 |
 | "Sesame Street and The Reform of Children's Television" [2005] by Robert W. Morrow Johns Hopkins Univ Press 9x6 pb [11/2008] for $25.00 Johns Hopkins Univ Press hardcover [11/2005] for $52.00 |
 | "Teacher TV: Sixty Years of Teachers On Television" [2008] by Mary M. Dalton & Laura R. Linder Peter Lang Publng 8½x6 pb [9/2008] for $35.95 |
 | "Academic Films For The Classroom: A History" [2010] by Geoff Alexander, director of the Academic Film Archive of North America [est. 2001] Traces the history of classroom educational films from the Silent Era through the 1980s, when video & digital media replaced film; includes profiles of 35 individual academic film-makers who made some of the roughly 110,000 16mm films used in classrooms across North America, with particular attention on auteur John Barnes and his largely-neglected body of work. McFarland & Co. 10x7 pb [9/2010] for $55.00 |
 | "Learning From Mickey, Donald, and Walt: Essays On Disney's Edutainment Films" [2011] Edited by A. Bowdoin Van Riper McFarland & Co. 9x6 pb [2/2011] for $40.00 |
 | "Thinking Through Film: Doing Philosophy, Watching Movies" [2011] by Damian Cox & Michael P. Levine Wiley-Blackwell 9¼x6 hardcover [9/2011] for $79.35 |
 | "Learning With The Lights Off: Educational Film In The United States" [2012] Edited by Devin Orgeron, Marsha Orgeron & Dan Streible Oxford Univ Press pb [1/2012] for $29.70 Oxford Univ Press hardcover [1/2012] for $99.00 |
Selected Documentary Films
Too large of a subject for a useful Amazon link: the Movies & TV / Educational DVD
Category returns 35,000+ line items
· ·
 | "High School" documentary [indep May 1968] Filmed inside NorthEast High School in Philadelphia; the faculty are given more attention than the students or parents. Produced & directed by Frederick Wiseman; listed on the Natl. Film Registry (1991) available on DVD at Wiseman's official movie site full credits at IMDb • official P.B.S. [aired 2001] movie site |
 | "The Story of English" TV movie [B.B.C./P.B.S. aired Sept-Nov 1986]
Nine-episode miniseries directed by William Cran; written by Robert MacNeil & Robert McCrum; narrated by Robert MacNeil; won Emmy Award for Best Writing series credits at IMDb; DVD/Blu-ray not available Homevision color VHS [9/2001] 5 tapes - out of prodn/used "The Story of English" [1989] by Robert McCrum, Robert MacNeil & William Cran Penguin 3rd edition 8x5¼ pb [12/2002] for $11.56 Faber & Faber 8¼x5¼ library hardcover [1989] for $26.00 |
 | "The Battle of City Springs" [P.B.S. aired Sept 2000] Later retitled "No Child Left Behind: The Case of City Springs"; a Baltimore, Maryland elementary school is given a year (1997-98) to produce acceptable test scores; the administration decides to use the radical 'Direct Instruction' method, which is difficult for staff & students alike, but produces good results that first year. 87-minute documentary, other details absent Monarch Films color DVD [12/2007] for $10.00 not listed on IMDb • distributor's official movie page |
 | "School: The Story of American Public Education" [P.B.S. aired Sept 2001] Episode 1: "The Common School, 1770-1890"; Episode 2: "As American As Public School, 1900-1950"; Episode 3: "Equality, 1950-1980"; and Episode 4: "The Bottom Line, 1980 to the present" Co-produced & directed by Sarah Mondale; co-produced by Sarah Patton; narrated by Meryl Streep P.B.S. Home Video color/b&w VHS [2001] 4 tapes out of prodn/used not listed on IMDb • P.B.S. official movie site companion book (transcript?) [2001] Edited by Sarah Mondale & Sarah Patton Beacon Press 9¾x7 pb [8/2002] for $21.07 Beacon Press 10x7¼ hardcover [9/2001] out of print/many used |
"Bowling For Columbine" documentary
[Dog Eat Dog/United Artists Oct 2002]
  | The highest-grossing documentary feature film, until beaten by Moore's own "Fahrenheit 9/11" in 2004; Moore sets out to explore the reasons why America has an astounding number of deaths by firearms (compared to other countries) and finds answers in the bigotry and anger and fear rampant in a nation with widespread gun ownership, a situtation fanned into recurring violence by corporate greed. Co-produced, written, directed & narrated by Michael Moore; featuring footage of John Ashcroft, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Bill Clinton, N.R.A. officer Charlton Heston, John Kerry, Joseph Lieberman, Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, Oliver North, Augusto Pinochet, Pat Robertson, Chris Rock, Donald Rumsfeld, Prince Charles Windsor, and students & staff & parents from Columbine High School in Colorado
M.G.M. Video widescreen color DVD [8/2003] for $7.48 M.G.M. Video color VHS [8/2003] for 49¢ }sic} 17"x11" wide poster {at left} available for $12.49 at AllPosters.com full credits from IMDb • official movie website |
 | "Stupidity" [Téléfilm Canada 2003] Co-produced & directed by Albert Nerenberg; extras include uncut interviews with Noam Chomsky, Giancarlo Livraghi, Bill Maher, director Albert Nerenberg, Avital Ronell & director Joel Schumacher Disinformation color DVD [7/2006] for $17.99 full credits at IMDb • official movie site |
 | "With All Deliberate Speed" documentary feature [Empire Pictures May 2004] "A look at the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education [court case]" Co-produced & directed by Peter Gilbert; narrated by Jeffrey Wright; featuring Julian Bond, Rev. Joe Delaine, Barbara Johns, Vernon Jordan, Alicia Keys, Terry Kinney, Thurgood Marshall Jr., Mekhi Phifer, E. Barrett Prettyman & Larenz Tate • full credits at IMDb Starz / Anchor Bay color DVD [1/2005] for $5.89 |
 | "Declining By Degrees: Higher Education At Risk" [P.B.S. aired June 2005] Two-hour documentary TV program about higher (college-level) education in America; featuring John Merrow & Richard H. Hersh P.B.S. Home Video color DVD [9/2005] for $26.99 not listed on IMDb • official movie site companion book [2005] Edited by Richard H. Hersh & John Merrow Palgrave Macmillan 9x6 pb [4/2006] for $12.96 Palgrave Macmillan 9½x6½ hardcover [5/2005] out of print/many used |
 | "Angeline Lillard Presents Montessori: The Science Behind The Genius" university-level lecture [Paladin Pictures Oct 2006] 104-minute lecture; a full century after Dr. Maria Montessori opened a school in a slum in Rome, Italy to test some new theories she had about children's learning & development, psychology research is showing that her educational theories were ahead of their time; featuring Dr. Angeline Lillard, PhD Northlea Enterprises color DVD [10/2006] for $34.95 not listed on IMDb • Dr. Lillard's homepage at University of Virginia • official book & movie site companion book [2005] Kindle Edition from Oxford Univ Press [8/2008] for $9.99 Oxford Univ Press 9¼x6¼ pb [8/2008] for $14.61 Oxford Univ Press 9¼x6½ hardcover [3/2005] out of print/many used |
 | "Brown vs. The Board of Education" documentary short [2008] 19-minute b&w short; not listed at IMDb Phoenix Learning Group DVD [8/2008] for $59.99 |
 | "Hard Times At Douglass High: A No Child Left Behind Report Card" [H.B.O. 2008] The filmmakers spent a year at the school (outside Baltimore, Maryland), during which time the school failed No Child Left Behind 113-minute documentary film produced & directed by Alan & Susan Raymond; written & narrated by Susan Raymond H.B.O. Home Video color DVD [8/2008] for $17.98 not listed on IMDb • H.B.O. official movie site |
"The Class (Entre Les Murs)" docudrama
[France Sept 2008, Sony Pictures Classics USA Dec 2008]
  | French title means 'Between The Walls'; the varying attitudes and expectations of the faculty and students over the course of a year. (Not so much dramatic or exciting as it is accurate and well-acted.) Co-written & directed by Laurent Cantet; co-adapted (from his book) by & starring François Bégau-deau; Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film; won Academy Award of Argentina, Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival, César Award of France, Image Award, Independent Spirit Award, 2 Lumiere Awards of France, Étoile d'Or Award of France; at end of 2011, holds #90 box office ranking, at $3,766,810 worldwide gross Sony Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color Blu-ray [8/2009] for $26.99 Sony Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color DVD [8/2009] for $9.69 full credits at IMDb • official movie site |
"The Cartel" documentary film [Bowdon Media Oct 2009]
 | "education + politics = $" A documentary film about corruption in American public education, using New Jersey and Arizona as examples. Per 2006 data, New Jersey spends the most dollars per classroom, yet the state's students are roughly average in reading & math test scores, and ranked 37th on SAT scores. Teachers are not being paid well at all, and 80-90 percent of school budgets go somewhere other than for teacher salaries. So where did all that money go?
Co-produced, written, directed & hosted by Bob Bowdon; featuring Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Tom Brokaw, Pat Buchanan, Gov. Jon Corzine, Lou Dobbs, Bill Maher, many others
home edition color Blu-ray [undated] for $21.99 via producer's website home edition color DVD [undated] via producer's website {mis-coded 3/2012?} full credits at IMDb • official movie site |
 | "We Are The People We've Been Waiting For" [New Moon TV, U.K. 2009] Landmark 90-minute documentary confronts our expectations of what education systems ought to be doing for our children, by exploring the extent to which young people around the world are being failed by education systems created at the time of the Industrial Revolution. Exec produced by David Puttnam; directed by Daryl Goodrich; featuring Richard Branson, Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Germaine Greer, Sir Ken Robinson & Henry Winkler FREE DVD available at the official website, shipped worldwide !! full credits at IMDb • official movie site |
 | "Waiting For Superman" documentary feature [Paramount Vantage Oct 2010] Follows a handful of promising kids through a system that discourages academic growth; an exhaustive review of America's public education and its complex and seemingly unsolvable problems. Co-written & directed by Davis Guggenheim; co-written by Billy Kimball; featuring educators Geoffrey Canada, Michelle Rhee & Bill Strickland, with the Black Family, the Esparza Family & the Hill Family; won Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival DVD/Blu-ray not yet available full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia • official movie site |
"Teach: His Toughest Role Yet" 'reality' TV series [A&E Oct-Nov 2010]
 | Before his boxing career and his acting career, Tony Danza got a degree in history; at age 59, he decided to try his hand at teaching, and spent an entire academic year teaching high school - albeit with a TV crew following him around; A&E aired seven 1-hour episodes, the DVD runs 90 minutes
Directed by Donny Jackson; featuring Tony Danza, Principal Linda Carroll, Asst. Principal Margaret Denaples, Asst. Principal Sharon McCloskey, Football Coach Chris Riley, and the students of Northeast High School in Philadelphia
A&E TV Networks color DVD-R [3/2011] for $24.29 full credits at IMDb • official series site |
 | "I'd Like To Apologize To Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year As A Rookie Teacher At Northeast High" [2012] by Tony Danza
An absorbing account of a year spent teaching tenth-grade English at Northeast High, featuring indelible portraits of students and teachers alike that reveal just how hard it is to keep today’s technologically savvy and often alienated students engaged, and makes vivid how a modern high school works Kindle Edition from Random House Digital [9/2012] for $11.99 Crown Archetype 9½x6½ hardcover [9/2012] for $16.31 |
 | "American Teacher" documentary [First Run Features Sept 2011] Inspired by the New York Times bestseller "Teachers Have It Easy"; the stories of four teachers in different areas of the country, revealing the frustrating and heartbreaking realities of today's teachers. Co-produced by Dave Eggers; co-produced & directed by Vanessa Roth; co-directed by Brian McGinn; narrated by Matt Damon First Run Features widescreen color DVD [2/2012] for $16.99 full credits at IMDb • official movie site |
"Bully" aka "The Bully Project"
[Weinstein March 2012]
 | The dolts at M.P.A.A. gave this important documentary film an 'R' rating: they are saying that it is okay for kids to suffer bullying in the schools, but don't dare let them see this alert to the nationwide problem, not even with parental guidance. Weinstein agreed to 'tone down' the profanity to obtain a PG-13 rating just prior to release. The most common form of violence that young people in America experience is peer-to-peer bullying. Written & co-produced by Cynthia Lowen; co-produced & directed by Lee Hirsch
sign up to be notified when DVD is available on Amazon full credits at IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia |
 | companion book to the film: "An Action Plan For Teachers, Parents, and Communities To Combat The Bullying Crisis" [2012] Edited by Lee Hirsch, Cynthia Lowen & Dina Santorelli includes much material from the movie, but also the story of the petition that got the M.P.A.A. rating corrected, commentary about life after "Bully" by the filmmakers and the families in the film, and essays from experts, authors, government officials, celebrities, and educators Kindle Edition from Weinstein Books [9/2012] for $10.33 Weinstein Books 9x6 pb [9/2012] for $10.87 |
"The Revisionaries" documentary [Kino Lorber Oct 2012]
 | "An enthralling look at the resistance to the theory of evolution among prominent members of the Texas Board of Education"; announced 7/2012: the film will open nationwide in early October, with Independent Lens (P.B.S.) broadcasting the film in early 2013, when it will also be released on DVD and across all major digital platforms. Co-produced, co-written & directed by Scott Thurman; featuring creationist Don McLeroy, anti-education fundamentalist Cynthia Dunbar, progressive activist Kathy Miller, and scientist Ron Wetherington; won a Special Jury Prize for Best Documentary at Tribeca Film Festival
Kino Lorber Films widescreen color DVD [4/2013] for $17.35 full credits at IMDb • official movie site • watch trailer [2:04] at YouTube |
"Scholarslip" [indep Dec 2012]
 | A 27-minute documentary examining the student loan debt crisis in the United States with a focus on local issues specific to Arizona (by interviews with three students) by aspiring journalists Alex Lancial, Tara Molina, and Jake Stein {working as JAT3 Productions}.
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available no credits at IMDb • watch 12/2012 film [26:46] at YouTube |
"180 Days: A Year Inside An American High School" docufilm [2013]
http://www.amazon.com/180-Days-Inside-American-School/dp/B00BQI4AJ2/
"If You Build It" [Long Shot Factory Jan 2014]
 | Two architect-activists spent a year in North Carolina's poorest county designing and implementing an innovative teaching program based on carpentry skills; filmed in Windsor, Bertie County, NC. Directed by Patrick Creadon; featuring Emily Pilloton, Matthew Miller, and ten students; film won award at Newport Beach Film Festival
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available full credits at IMDb • official movie site • watch official trailer [2:26] at Vimeo |
"Ivory Tower" docufilm [indep 2014]
 | "Is college worth the cost?" • 90-minute documentary about the student loan debt crisis; co-produced, written & directed by Andrew Rossi DVD/Blu-ray not yet available bare credits at IMDb • official movie site watch 4/2014 official trailer [2:23] at YouTube |
Selected Drama Films
{ in chronological order }
The idea of building this separate Education Film Festival Page had many possibilities, though care must
be taken to avoid such popular trash as "Beverly Hills, 90210", "The O.C.", "Glee", or the musical
"Grease" [1978] – but that still leaves plenty to consider . . .
1930s, 1940s, 1950s • 1960s & 1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000 • 2010
jump to NEW movies, coming soon
1 9 3 0 s, 1 9 4 0 s, 1 9 5 0 s
"Zéro de Conduite: Jeunes Diables au Collège" [France April 1933]
aka "Zero For Conduct" [U.S.A. June 1947]
 | Banned until 1946: Bored & oppressed at their boarding school, the students revolt. Written & directed by Jean Vigo [1905-34]; starring Louis Lefebvre, Gilbert Pruchon, Coco Golstein, Gérard de Bédarieux, Jean Dasté, Robert le Flon, Du Verron, Delphin, Léon Larive, Madame Émile, Louis de Gonzague & Raphaël Diligent Timeless Multimedia b&w VHS [12/94] out of prodn/used full credits at IMDbmovie entry at Wikipedia |
"Hohe Schule (High School)" [Austria 1934] /tt0025258/
"Goodbye, Mr. Chips" [1939] /tt0031385/
"Goodbye, Mr. Chips" remake [1969] /tt0064382/
"High School" [1940] /tt0032595/
Directed by George Nichols Jr.; starring Jane Withers, Joe Brown Jr., Paul Harvey
http://www.amazon.com/High-School-Jane-Withers/dp/B00C2U6EEC/
"Cheers for Miss Bishop" [1941] /tt0033459/
Edmund Gwenn,William Gargan,Sterling Holloway Martha Scott (Actor), Tay Garnett (Director)
http://www.amazon.com/Cheers-Bishop-William-Sterling-Holloway/dp/B000LXGY0Q/
http://www.amazon.com/Cheers-Miss-Bishop-Martha-Scott/dp/B00019GHMA/
"Curley" [Hal Roach 1947]
Starring Larry Olsen, Frances Rafferty, Eilene Janssen /tt0039292/
http://www.amazon.com/Curley-Larry-Olsen/dp/B00141596E/
"Our Miss Brooks" TV Series [1952–56] /tt0044287/
"Our Miss Brooks" feature film [1956] /tt0048459/
"Blackboard Jungle" [1955]
Directed by Richard Brooks, based on the book by Evan Hunter; starring Glenn Ford
"High School Hellcats" [1958]
http://www.amazon.com/High-School-Hellcats-Yvonne-Fedderson/dp/B004X63SBK/
"High School Confidential" [1958]
http://www.amazon.com/High-School-Confidential-Michael-Landon/dp/B00L3ZB3ZW/
"Up The Down Staircase" [1967] /tt0062425/
from the novel by Bel Kaufman
http://www.amazon.com/Up-Down-Staircase-Sandy-Dennis/dp/B000UPMZ0I/
"To Sir With Love" [1967] /tt0062376/
http://www.amazon.com/Sir-Love-Sidney-Poitier/dp/B00003L9C1/
"If...." [1968] /tt0063850/
"The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" [1969] /tt0064840/
http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Miss-Jean-Brodie/dp/B0001US78G/
"Room 222" (TV Series 1969–1974) /tt0063948/
http://www.amazon.com/Room-222-Season-Lloyd-Haynes/dp/B001LRL4Y2/
"Pretty Maids All In A Row" [1971] /tt0067610/
Directed by Roger Vadim, starring Rock Hudson, Angie Dickinson
"The Paper Chase" [1973] /tt0070509/
http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Chase-Timothy-Bottoms/dp/B00008UALL/
"American Graffiti" [1973]
"Cooley High" [1975] /tt0072820/
http://www.amazon.com/Cooley-High-Glynn-Turman/dp/B000035P59/
"The Pom Pom Girls" [1976] /tt0075086/
starring Robert Carradine, Jennifer Ashley, Michael Mullins /B00001YXAY/
"Harper Valley P.T.A." [1978]
"Rock 'n' Roll High School" [1979]
"Fast Times At Ridgemont High" [1982]
"High School U.S.A." [1983]
Directed by Rod Amateau; starring Michael J. Fox & Nancy McKeon
http://www.amazon.com/High-School-USA-Michael-Fox/dp/B0001WTVGG/
http://www.amazon.com/High-School-U-S-Michael-Fox/dp/B00009P9MY/
"Valley Girl" [1983]
"Valley Girl: In Conversation" [2003 video documentary short] /tt0372593/
"Teachers" [1984] /tt0088242/
"The Breakfast Club" [1985]
"Pretty In Pink" [1986] /tt0091790/
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" [1986]
http://www.amazon.com/Ferris-Buellers-Day-Bueller-Blu-ray/dp/B001S86J1C/ >> unsung
"Summer School" [1987] /tt0094072/
Starring Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, Robin Thomas
http://www.amazon.com/Summer-School-Mark-Harmon/dp/B0001O3W4G/
"Three O’Clock High" [1987] /tt0094138/
Directed by Phil Joanou; starring Casey Siemaszko, Richard Tyson, Jeffrey Tambor,
Philip Baker Hall, Paul Feig; features a wicked synth score by Tangerine Dream
"Stand and Deliver" [Warner Bros. April 1988]
 | The true story of Jaime Escalante [1930-2010], a math teacher who came to a gang-filled Los Angeles high school and inspired 18 students to take – and pass – the advanced placement calculus test, in the process teaching them pride in themselves and control of their own futures. Directed by Ramón Menéndez; starring Edward James Olmos, Lou Diamond Phillips, Andy Garcia & Rosanna DeSoto; Oscar nomination for Best Actor [EJO], won 6 Independent Spirit Awards, Nosotros Golden Eagle Award
Warner color DVD [10/98] for $11.54 Warner color VHS [9/93] for $6.55 Warner color VHS [9/98] for $9.94 Warner color VHS w/Spanish subtitles [9/93] out of prodn/used Varese soundtrack CD [8/94] out of prodn/used 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $2.55 {sic} full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia |
"Heathers" dark comedy [New World Pictures March 1989] /tt0097493/
"Heathers" TV sequel [Bravo broadcast 2013?]
Announced 9/2012: Twenty years after the events of the movie, Veronica returns to Sherwood with her teenage daughter,
who must contend with the Ashleys – the daughters of the surviving Heathers • not yet listed at IMDb
"Dead Poets Society" [1989] /tt0097165/
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Poets-Society-Robin-Williams/dp/6305144168/
"Lean On Me" [1989] /tt0097722/
http://www.amazon.com/Lean-Me-Keep-Case-Packaging/dp/B002VWNICM/
"Separate But Equal" [ABC-TV April 1991]
 |  | The true story of the long battle by the N.A.A.C.P. to challenge racial school segregation in the Brown vs. Board of Education court case. Their efforts destroyed the legal validity of racial segregation in general and proved to be the start and the first major victory of the Civil Rights movement.
Co-produced, written & directed by George Stevens Jr.; starring Sidney Poitier, Burt Lancaster, Richard Kiley, Cleavon Little, John McMartin, Mike Nussbaum & Tom Aldredge; won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Special & for Best Casting, 6 other noms
Republic Pictures color DVD [5/2003] 2 disks - out of prodn/used Republic Pictures color VHS [1/96] 2 tapes for $28.98 full credits at IMDb |
"Ciao, Professore !" (1992) director Lina Wertmuller /tt0107225/
http://www.amazon.com/Ciao-Professore-Paolo-Villaggio/dp/B0000DZ3BJ/
"Dazed And Confused" [1993)
Steeped in nostalgia; the film begins and ends in the 24 hours of the last day of school before
the long summer break in a small town in Texas
"P.C.U." [1994] starring Jeremy Piven & Chris Young
http://www.amazon.com/PCU-Jeremy-Piven/dp/B00009WVSJ/
"Dangerous Minds" [1995] /tt0112792/
starring Michelle Pfeiffer, George Dzundza, John N. Smith
http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Minds-Michelle-Pfeiffer/dp/6305428271/
"Clueless" [1995]
"Mr. Holland's Opus" [1995]
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Hollands-Opus-Richard-Dreyfuss/dp/6305428352/
"The Substitute" [1996] /tt0117774/
"The Substitute II: School's Out" []
"High School High" [1996]
http://www.amazon.com/High-School-Jon-Lovitz/dp/0767804236/
"Romy and Michele's High School Reunion" [1997]
"Rushmore" [1998]
http://www.amazon.com/Rushmore-Jason-Schwartzman/dp/6305428239/
http://www.amazon.com/Rushmore-Criterion-Collection-Jason-Schwartzman/dp/B00003Q42P/
"Not One Less" (1999) /tt0209189/
Minzhi Wei (Actor), Huike Zhang (Actor), Zhang Yimou (Director)
http://www.amazon.com/Not-One-Less-Minzhi-Wei/dp/0767853512/
"October Sky" [1999] /tt0132477/
title is anagram of "Rocket Boys" book; Laura Dern as schoolteacher
"Election" [1999] /tt0126886/ with Reese Witherspoon
http://www.amazon.com/Election/dp/B005DN7W78/
http://www.amazon.com/Election-Matthew-Broderick/dp/B00001MXXJ/
http://www.amazon.com/Election-Blu-ray-Matthew-Broderick/dp/B001GMH8UG/
"The Piano Teacher" [2001]
Starring Isabelle Huppert, Annie Girardot, Benoît Magimel /tt0254686/
http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Teacher-Unrated-Isabelle-Huppert/dp/B00006LPER/
http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Teacher-R-Rated-Isabelle-Huppert/dp/B00006LPES/
"A Walk To Remember" [2002]
"The Emperor's Club" [2002] /tt0283530/
"Mona Lisa Smile" (2003) Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst /tt0304415/
http://www.amazon.com/Mona-Lisa-Smile-Julia-Roberts/dp/B0001ADAVK/
"Elephant" [2003]
Gus Van Sant's minimalistic, meditative take on the Columbine High School massacre
"Napoleon Dynamite" [Fox Searchlight June 2004] /tt0374900/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Dynamite
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/napoleondynamite/
"Napoleon Dynamite" animated TV series [FoxTV Jan-March 2012]
6-episode animated TV series /tt1743880/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Dynamite_(TV_series)
http://www.fox.com/napoleon-dynamite/
| | "The Chorus (Les Choristes)" /tt0372824/
[Pathé France 3/2004, Miramax Films USA 12/2004] Co-written & directed by Christophe Barratier; adapted from a 1945 film; starring Gérard Jugnot, François Berléand, Jean-Baptiste Maunier, Maxence Perrin & Grégory Gatignol; won Audience Award at Austin Film Festival and at Ljubljana and at Sant Jordi, Golden Kinnaree Award at Bangkok, 2 César Awards of France, European Film Award, Jury Award at Ft. Lauderdale, Crystal Heart Award, Lumiere Award of France, Étoile d'Or Award of France; #1 movie at the French box office in 2004, with more than 8.6 million admissions; at end of 2011, holds #94 box office ranking, at $3,635,164 worldwide gross |
http://www.amazon.com/Chorus-Choristes-G%C3%A9rard-Jugnot/dp/B0007NMJPO/
"The Making of Les Choristes" [2004 video] /tt1754108/
"Walkout" TV movie [H.B.O. March 2006]
 | The true story of a high school student who in 1968 organized 10,000 others at five East Los Angeles high schools to stage a walkout in protest of educational conditions and anti-Mexican educational bias. Produced by Moctesuma Esparza; co-produced & directed by Edward James Olmos; starring Alexa Vega, Michael Peña, Yancey Arias, Laura Harring, Efren Ramirez, David Warshofsky, Holmes Osborne, Tim DeKay, Tonantzin Esparza & Bodie Olmos; nominated for DGA Award
H.B.O. widescreen color DVD [3/2007] for $19.99 full credits from IMDb |
"The History Boys" [2006]
http://www.amazon.com/History-Boys-Samuel-Anderson/dp/B000NIVJFO/
"The Ron Clark Story" [2006] /tt0473389/
91-minute TV movie directed by Randa Haines, starring Matthew Perry
"Chalk" comedy mockumentary [indep April 2007]
 | Filmed in Austin, Texas; improvisational 'mockumentary' film about faculty members at a high school. Co-produced, co-written & directed by Mike Akel; co-written by & starring Chris Mass; also starring Troy Schrem-mer, Janelle Schremmer, Shannon Haragan, Jeff Guerrero, Jerry Jarmon, Kaytea Brock, Dan Eggleston, Glen Lewis, Wendy Campbell & Jacqueline Seaborn; won awards at Austin, Florida, Gen Art & Los Angeles film festivals Arts Alliance America widescreen color DVD [9/2007] for $17.99 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia watch official trailer at YouTube |
"Hamlet 2" [Focus Features Aug 2008]
 | "The comedy hit of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival". A failed actor turned inept high school drama teacher rallies his students in staging a politically-incorrect musical sequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet. {Mostly filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.} Co-written & directed by Andrew Fleming; starring Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, David Arquette, Elisabeth Shue & Amy Poehler
Universal Studios widescreen color DVD [12/2008] for $20.99 full credits at IMDb • official movie site {requires Flash} |
"Front of The Class" TV movie [Hallmark/CBS-TV Dec 2008]
 | Dramatized true story of a man who overcame his Tourette's syndrome and became a schoolteacher. Filmed in HD widescreen; directed by Peter Werner; telescript by Thomas Rickman, based on the book by Brad Cohen & Lisa Wysocky; starring James Wolk, Treat Williams, Dominic Scott Kay, Sarah Drew, Kathleen York, Joe Chrest, Patricia Heaton, Johnny Pacar, Charles Henry Wyson Hallmark Collector's Edition widescreen color DVD [5/2009] for $33.95 full credits at IMDb |
"American High School" [2009]
http://www.amazon.com/American-High-School-Aubrey-ODay/dp/B001PKHS2W/
"Easy A" [2010]
http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Emma-Stone/dp/B0036TGSIK/
"Rock 'N' Roll High School" [2010]
http://www.amazon.com/Rock-N-Roll-High-School/dp/B0035CVB1W/
"Bad Teacher Bad Student" short film [indep Oct 2010]
| 5-minute short about a student and a teacher playing 'a game'
Fathead Films color DVD [11/2011] for $20.00 full credits at IMDb • producers's official website |
"Larry Crowne" [2011] /tt1583420/ http://www.larrycrowne.com/
Tom Hanks and teacher Julia Roberts meet cute at night school
"Prom" [Rickshaw/Disney April 2011]
 | "Who Are You Going With?" The intertwining stories of high school seniors anxious about their prom, with couples breaking up and re-pairing and hopes met and hopes shattered, and finally the Big Night where everything comes together . . . Directed by Joe Nussbaum; written by Katie Wech; starring Aimee Teegarden, Thomas McDonell, Yin Chang, DeVaughn Nixon & Jared Kusnitz
Walt Disney Pictures widescreen color Blu-ray/DVD combo [8/2011] 2 disks for $22.99 Walt Disney Pictures widescreen color DVD [8/2011] for $14.99 full credits at IMDb • official movie site |
"Bad Teacher" [Columbia Pictures / Mosaic Media June 2011]
 | When her wealthy fiancé dumps her, gold digger Elizabeth returns to teaching middle school, to earn money for breast-implant surgery. When she hears that there's a bonus for the teacher whose class scores highest on the state exam, she stops showing films and sleeping in class, and the competition for the bonus and for wealthy & handsome new teacher Scott quickly escalates. {The 'Unrated' version contains "over six minutes of raunchy footage not seen in theaters".} Directed by Jake Kasdan; written by Gene Stupnitsky & Lee Eisenberg; starring Cameron Diaz, Lucy Punch, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake, Phyllis Smith, John Michael Higgins, Dave Allen, Jillian Armenante
Sony Pictures Home Ent. 97-min. UNRATED widescreen color Blu-ray [10/2011] for $15.49 Columbia Pictures widescreen color Blu-ray/DVD combo set [10/2011] 2 disks for $16.49 Columbia Pictures UNRATED widescreen color DVD [10/2011] for $10.50 full credits at IMDb • official movie site |
"Bad Teacher" TV series [Sony Pictures TV/CBS-TV 2014] /tt2714046/
Announced 10/2012: C.B.S. has given script orders to a half-hour comedy based on the 2011 feature, to be written
by Gene Stupnitsky & Lee Eisenberg; added 1/2013: veteran Hilary Winston will write & co-produce the pilot
"Monsieur Lazhar" [Canada Oct 2011, USA April 2012]
 | In French, with subtitles. When a 55-year-old Algerian immigrant reads in the Montreal newspaper of the sudden death of an elementary school teacher, he volunteers as substitute teacher, and is gladly hired; he finds that the school is in crisis, and the shaken students need time to grieve, all while keeping secret his own painful past and the risk of his being deported at any moment. Adapted & directed by Philippe Falardeau, based on "Bachir Lazhar", a play by Evelyne de la Chenelière; starring Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, Émilien Néron, Danielle Proulx, Brigitte Poupart; Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film; won 6 Genie Awards, 2 prizes at Valladolid Film Festival
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available full credits at IMDb • official movie sites: French and English |
"Detachment" [Tribeca Films release March 2012]
Announced 9/2011: Indie distributor Tribeca Film plans a simultaneous theatrical-VOD-digital release in 2012.
Tony Kaye directed; written by Carl Lund; Adrien Brody stars as a disillusioned substitute teacher who rediscovers
his ability to connect with students when he’s assigned to a beleaguered public school; also starring James Caan,
Bryan Cranston, Blythe Danner, Marcia Gay Harden, Christina Hendricks, Tim Blake Nelson, Lucy Liu &
William Peterson •
latest info at IMDb
"Mac & Devin Go To High School" [2012]
http://www.amazon.com/Mac-Devin-Go-High-School/dp/B007VYEE0A/
"High School" [Parallel Media June 2012]
 | Filmed in Howell & Detroit, Michigan; when school officials decide to test large numbers of students at the high school for m*rijuana and other drugs, the college plans of several stoners are jeopardized; they devise a plan, to get everyone on campus stoned, so that the test results will be thrown out. Directed by John Stalberg; co-produced & co-written Erik Lin-thorst, John Stalberg & Stephen Susco; starring Adrien Brody, Sean Marquette, Matt Bush, Colin Hanks, Adhir Kal-yan, Mykelti William-son, Michael Chiklis, Luis Chávez, Max Van Ville, Brett Kelly, Joseph Julian Soria, George Back, Alicia Sixtos, Andrew Wilson, Camille Mana, Erica Vittina Phillips, Arcadiy Golubovich, Julia Ling, Cody Longo, Mary Birdsong, Yeardley Smith, Curtis Armstrong, Alex Biats, Rhys Coiro, Mike Eshaq, Terri Lyn Rodriguez & Robert Bailey Jr.
Starz/Anchor Bay widescreen color Blu-ray [9/2012] for $13.09 Starz/Anchor Bay widescreen color DVD [9/2012] for $5.66 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia watch 4/2012 official redband trailer [2:49] online at YouTube • watch full movie [1:39:33] online at YouTube |
"Won't Back Down" [Walden Media/Fox Sept 2012]
 | A busy working single mother and a teacher battle the teacher's union and the school's principal and district bureaucracy to keep a failing inner city school open. CAVEAT: While the story and the trailer are inspirational, the movie was financed by fascist Colorado billionaire Phil Anschutz and his Walden Media, is anti-labor, and promotes A.L.E.C.-driven propagandized education for America's children.
Co-written & directed by Daniel Barnz; co-written by Brin Hill; starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ving Rhames, Holly Hunter, Viola Davis, Oscar Isaac, Rosie Perez, Bill Nunn, Lance Reddick, Emily Alyn Lind, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Ned Eisenberg, Sara Lindsey, Liza Colón-Zayas, Franklin Ojeda Smith & Jennifer Massey
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available full credits at IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia watch 5/2012 trailer [2:31] at IMDb |
"Struck By Lightning" hischool movie [2012] Chris Colfer
official trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAakou4Kdhw [2:49]
"Palo Alto" [Tribeca Film May 2014]
Adapted & directed by Gia Coppola, from stories by James Franco
full credits at IMDb •
official movie site
"Words and Pictures" [Roadside Attractions May 2014]
 | Filmed in Vancouver, BC, Canada; an English teacher at an upscale prep school and the new art teacher engage in a high-spirited courtship, which is doubled by their challenge to students to prove whether words or pictures are more important. Co-produced & directed by Fred Schepisi; starring Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche, Valerie Tian, Bruce Davison, Navid Negahban, Amy Brenneman, Christian Scheider
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available full credits at IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia watch 3/2014 official trailer [2:40] at YouTube |
"A Brilliant Young Mind"
[U.K. March 2015, Samuel Goldwyn Films USA Sept 2015]
 | Original title "X+Y"; tagline "Is there a formula for love?"; a socially-awkward British teenage math prodigy finds new confidence and new friendships when he lands a spot on a team vying for the International Mathematics Olympiad in Taiwan. Directed by Morgan Matthews; written by James Graham; starring Asa Butterfield, Rafe Spall, Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Jo Yang, Martin McCann, Jake Davies, Alex Lawther, Alexa Davies, Orion Lee, Edward Baker-Close, Percelle Ascott, Suraj Rattu, Jamie Ballard, Clare Burt, Adam Foster, Lee Zhuo Zhao, Shannon Beer & Tasha Connor
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available • full credits at IMDb • official movie site watch 8/2015 official U.S. trailer [2:04] at YouTube |
"Ashby" high school movie [Sept 2015] Mickey Rourke, Emma Roberts, Nat Wolff /tt3774466/
official trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4QAQVWvFcE [2:24]
"Speech & Debate" [VOD release April 2017] 
 | Frustrated by their parents, teachers, and the school board, three teenagers brought together by a series of mishaps set out to revive a defunct speech and debate club and take on the world to make their voices heard
Directed by Dan Harris; script by Stephen Karam, based on his wickedly funny hit Off-Broadway stageplay; starring Sarah Steele, Liam James, Austin P. McKenzie, Roger Bart, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kal Penn, Janeane Garofalo, Sarah Baker, Skylar Astin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Darren Criss DVD/Blu-ray not yet available • full credits at IMDb • official movie site • stageplay entry at Wikipedia watch 3/2017 official trailer [2:32] at YouTube |
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