'' is a
1955 Social Commentary film about teachers in an inner-city school. It is based on the
Novel Of The Same Name by
Evan Hunter .
Richard Dadier (
Glenn Ford ) is a teacher at an inner-city school where the anti-social behaviour of the pupils, led by Artie West (
Vic Morrow ) holds sway. Dadier challenges both staff and pupils but the conflict results in anonymous threats against his family. Dadier suspects a black pupil, Gregory Miller (
Sidney Poitier ), and issues of racial prejudice are explored as the plot is resolved.
The film has also been credited with sparking the .
In March 2005, the 50th anniversary of the release of the film, and the subsequent rise in popularity of Rock and Roll, was marked by a series of "Rock is Fifty" celebrations in
New York City and
Los Angeles , involving the surviving members of the original Bill Haley and His Comets. The film itself made its North American DVD debut on May 10, 2005.
''Blackboard Jungle'' was the first of what would become a popular '' (
1967 ; starring Poitier as a black teacher in a white school), ''
Stand And Deliver '' (
1988 ), ''
Lean On Me '' and ''
Dead Poets Society '' (both
1989 ), and ''
Dangerous Minds '' (
1995 ).
The cast included:
