Nobody likes a downer but the reality is summer vacation is almost over and school has already started or is about to start for many students around the world. What better way to usher in the school year here At The Movies than with the classic film, “To Sir, With Love”.
American Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) recently received his degree in engineering but cannot find work. To make ends meet, he takes a job as a teacher in a rough London East End school populated mostly with troublemakers who were rejected from other schools for their behavior. While the students at first see Thackeray as just another teacher open for ridicule and bullying, his calm demeanor and desire to see them succeed gradually earn him their respect.
Released in 1967, “To Sir, With Love” is based on the 1959 autobiographical novel by E. R. Braithwaite and offers dynamic insight into the politics of race and class in postwar London.
Scottish singer and actress Lulu performed the title song whose lyrics poignantly describe life in the U.K. in the 60s and the teenage revolution that was gaining full momentum at that time.
Here now is the movie’s trailer with Lulu singing the excellent title song.
A great song and terrific movie! Sidney Poitier was a powerful presence in every role he undertook.
With the end of summer drawing near and September knocking on our doors, I have a school-related question for you today:
Did you have a favorite teacher and/or subject?
My favorite subject was 11th Grade English Lit. I was an excellent student (in that subject) and the teacher, Mr. Voight, was my favorite. He introduced our class to fantastic books which we discussed in class. He showed us great movies which have become classics, films such as On the Waterfront, The Pawnbroker, Dr, Zhivago. We didn’t get to goof off and watch movies, though; we had to write reports about them and have class discussions. It’s amazing how much more you discover about a book or movie when you compare thoughts with other people! Thank you, Mr. Voight!
Thanks for joining me today At The Movies; I’ll be here again next week with a great flick, terrific music and some news! You don’t want to miss it.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
The Elephant's Trunk 
I’ve never seen this movie, but if I had a dollar for every time I played Lulu’s song on the radio, I could retire! I have a few favorite teachers, many of them I kept in touch with long after graduation. My band director and I always were in touch up until his unexpected passing a year or so ago. He was a great man, and a great friend.
On a side note, I want to thank you and those who have asked about my young son’s surgery. It went well, but left us with more questions. He’s healed up and is back to his old self. However, we’re looking into some stuff with Neurology to see why some of his speech is slipping away. We won’t know much until after that appointment next month. I did want to than your readers for sending positive thoughts his way. 🙂
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Thanks for the update, Keith. The health of our children and grandchildren is always on our minds, no matter how old they are. Your little man has been through a lot and there maybe more down the road for him. May whichever higher being you believe in keep watch over your family, your son and his doctors. I hope you can clear your mind of useless worry and remain positive. Kids are incredibly resilient!
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Thank you so much, my friend. That means so much to me and my family.
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Mi piacere, amico mio
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One of my favorite movies! He was definitely one of the greats.
My sixth grade teacher Mr. Jobin was pretty great. He had a period every week that was sort of ask me anything, and sometimes teach me anything, One day, one of my classmates taught him how to put his hair up in curlers, and he was a great sport about it. Now, that was a lesson in and of itself, especially to the boys in the class.
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What a great comment, D! Mr Jobin sounds like a pretty amazing man, certainly someone who can relate well with kids and be very comfortable in his own skin. His “ask me anything” period could be iffy (you know kids!) but I’m sure he handled the questions well and you all had lots of wonderful times together!
Thanks for taking us for a stroll down memory lane!
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Oh, we asked him everything! And he answered them all in a matter of fact way that made us comfortable.
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Now I need to watch that movie again, it’s been many years!
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Glad I was able to set off a spark! Thanks for the comment, Tiffany.
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I’ve never seen the movie, but I know the song very well. So beautiful. I think I might look it up, and see if I can learn to play it.
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Morning, Deb.
It is an enchanting song and Lulu does a great job; she was also in the movie. I hope you can watch the film some day; something tells me you’d definitely enjoy it.
Yeah! Go for it and have fun learning how to play the song. It’s wonderful having a great love of music as you do!
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Have you see “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”? It’s also a brilliant movie with Sidney Poitier.
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Nodding in agreement…..
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I don’t think so. I was a reader when I was younger, though I did see ET
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Sidney Poitier is fab in everything he does. He’s also a Le Cordon Bleu qualification. As for teachers, I wish I’d had a teacher that made a memorable impression on me, but I didn’t.
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Morning, Misky!
Well, that’s very interesting about Sidney Poitier and Le Cordon Bleu; I had no idea! He certainly commanded the stage and screen, didn’t he?
I don’t have any doubts that somewhere there’s a very old teacher sitting in a rocking chair, maybe thinking about his days shaping the young minds of his students, and he fondly remembers you. How could he not? You are one of a kind!
I can easily imagine adolescent you and me drooling over a very young Omar Sharif as we watched “Dr. Zhivago” in the auditorium at school, passing silly notes to one another. Well, mine would be silly; yours would already be profound poetry! ❤︎
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You’re so very kind to say so, sis, but I don’t remember my school days with any affection. It wasn’t until I was an adult, and could study what I wanted, that I found pleasure in it. The problem was that I come from a family of truly brilliant minds, and mine just wasn’t. I see things differently than a lot of people, but that’s just me. A bit different.
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It’s refreshing to see things differently than a lot of people, I find. Oh, don’t give me that BS about brilliant minds! You’re crackerjack! ☺️
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ps: And yes, we would’ve had a lot of fun, you and me.
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😂 👩🏻🤝👩🏼
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I’ve given this more thought, sis. I want to be Julie Christy and find a Zhivago that doesn’t look to be on the verge of tears all the time. I’m not attracted to men who cry more than I do.
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😂 😂
Yes, those big brown rheumy eyes. 🥺
It was 800º below zero, sis; poor Yuri was freezing his Russian you-know-what off!
🥰
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Yes, well there is the whole colder-than-the-dark-side-of-the-moon thing going on, but a bottle of vodka should sort that out quick-like while he slaps-up an igloo. That guy was obviously not a 1st class Boy Scout.
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🤣 Now I’ve got Pink Floyd on the brain.
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😂
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I have faint memories of this song been played on a 45 vinyl!
What a film indeed, Nancy. One could say that with Dangerous Minds (1995) they form a B/W portrait of that theme.
Andreas Mitsou… my English language teacher at the first year of highschool. Long blond hair, beard, the softest voice… I think he and Mr Voight are related! In spirit, most definitely!!
I still remember the analysis of Sailing by Rod Stewart; he was quite a contrarian also: imagine having a teacher asking you to call him Andrew…unheard of… but the freedom he trusted to us never resulted in loosing control of the classroom, since we were all just enthralled by the journey he was taking us with. Needless to say, he was “too progressive” for the conservative minds, teahers and parents alike.
Met him 35 years later at a book presentation of his – he was an multi-awarded writer and I didn’t know… so with all the love and excitement from that one year with him at highschool, I approached him… he goes “I know those eyes”… I only reminded him of the year he was my teacher and his reply… ” Nicola!” Nuff said.
[Thank you, Nancy, for bringing forth all this in me with your feature… only thing we have to do, is pour our heart in whatever we do)
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Good morning, Nick … or should I say “Nicola”!!
I could sense the excitement in your voice as I read your comments. How great for you as a young high schooler to have such an inspiring teacher and friend in Andrew! When you met him 35 years later and you spoke with him, I’m sure you saw reflected in his eyes the pride he felt for his young student, now a grown man with a passion for life. There’s not a doubt in my mind that his memories of you were ones of great fondness.
Thanks for sharing this moving recollection!
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I agree, this film is excellent. I was lucky enough to have watched it again not long ago. Poitier is superb.
In answer to your question, my Math teachers Ed Wiltshire and Bill Robinson instilled in me a love of numbers which has been pivotal in my life. Career has always been important to me and I wouldn’t have progressed as far as I have without that love.
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Morning, Pete.
Wonderful answer! It’s great to fall in love with a subject and have it become your life’s work. Not everyone has the privilege. Thanks for sharing your positive thoughts about your Math teachers.
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