You know that feeling when an old movie pops into your head and you just gotta rewatch it? That's me with To Sir, with Love film every couple years. Saw it first time back in college during a rainy Tuesday film studies class. Professor dimmed the lights, projector whirred, and bam – Sidney Poitier walks onscreen in that crisp suit. Didn't expect it to stick with me this long.
Funny thing is, I only searched "teacher movies" that day. Now look at me writing a whole guide about it. Shows how one search can lead you places.
What Really Went Down in To Sir, with Love
So here's the meat of it: Engineer Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) can't find engineering work in 1960s London. Takes a teaching job at rough East End school as temporary gig. These kids? They'll make your hair turn gray. Spitballs, pranks, outright disrespect – classroom warzone.
But here's where To Sir, with Love movie gets interesting. Instead of yelling or quitting, Thackeray switches tactics. Ditch the textbooks. Starts teaching them real-world stuff: How to act in restaurants. Why respect matters. Even basic hygiene lessons (that comb scene lives in my head rent-free).
Gradual change happens. Not overnight. Not sugar-coated. Kids test him constantly. Pamela Dare (Judy Geeson) flirts shamelessly. Denham (Christian Roberts) practically breathes rebellion. But bit by bit, they come around. That final scene where they gift him the "To Sir, With Love" engraving? Yeah I teared up. Don't judge.
Personal rant: What gets me is how quiet the transformation is. No big speeches until the end. Just small moments – like when Potty (Lulu's character) stops chewing gum during lessons. Real change whispers, you know?
Key Classroom Moments That Actually Matter
- Newspaper lesson: Thackeray burns textbooks day one. Students stare like he's crazy. "These are dead," he says. Pulls out newspapers instead. Still gives me chills.
- The museum trip: Kids act up, woman complains. Thackeray doesn't scold. Just asks: "Is this who you want to be?" Silence. Gut punch moment.
- Seagull's funeral: Weird but brilliant. Students bury dead bird, share feelings. First time they show vulnerability. Might skip this scene on first date night though.
Cast Who Made the Magic Happen
Let's talk players. Without this crew, To Sir with Love film would've flopped hard.
| Actor | Role | Where You Know Them |
|---|---|---|
| Sidney Poitier | Mark Thackeray | Oscar winner (Lilies of the Field), In the Heat of the Night |
| Judy Geeson | Pamela Dare | British TV royalty (Mad About You, EastEnders) |
| Christian Roberts | Denham | Mostly stage work after this |
| Lulu | Barbara "Potty" Pegg | Yeah, THAT Lulu - sang the theme song! |
| Suzy Kendall | Gillian Blanchard | 60s It-girl (Up the Junction) |
Poitier carried this whole thing. Man barely blinks through chaos. Fun fact: He nearly turned it down! Thought the script was "sentimental." Producer James Clavell (same guy who wrote Shōgun) convinced him. Thank God.
Lulu was pure accident. Director James Clavell saw her singing on TV. Called her next morning: "Be at Pinewood Studios by noon." She showed up in school uniform without reading script. That final concert scene? Shot in three takes. Natural talent.
Where to Actually Watch It Today (No Scams)
Alright, practical stuff. Where can you really stream To Sir, with Love film? Searched high and low so you don't have to.
| Platform | Price | Quality | Special Features? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Prime | Rent $3.99 / Buy $14.99 | HD | None (basic version) |
| Apple TV | Rent $3.99 / Buy $14.99 | 4K available | Bonus trailer |
| Criterion Channel | Subscription ($10.99/mo) | Restored 4K | Director commentary, 1967 interviews |
| DVD (Amazon) | $18.40 | Standard def | Making-of documentary |
Honest opinion? Spend extra for Criterion if you're a film nerd like me. Their restoration makes 1967 London pop. Colors are richer, sound less tinny. Otherwise, Prime rental gets job done.
Warning: Avoid shady "free streaming" sites. Tried one last year - got Portuguese subtitles I couldn't remove and 47 pop-up ads. Not worth the malware risk.
The Lulu Song That Took Over the World
Can't discuss To Sir with Love movie without the anthem. That title track? Lulu recorded it in one take. ONE. Went to #1 in US for 5 weeks straight. Billboard called it "surprise hit of 1967."
Funny story: Producers almost cut it! Thought ballad didn't fit graduation scene. Test audiences disagreed. Loudly. They kept it, song outsold the film soundtrack. Irony at its finest.
- Chart facts: Topped charts in 15 countries, sold 6 million copies
- Movie version: Different from single release - hear students' chatter in film mix
- Lulu's cut: Made just £70 for recording session (yes, seventy pounds)
Why Teachers Still Screen This in 2024
Taught high school English for eight years. Showed To Sir, with Love film every semester. Here's what students always notice:
"He doesn't pretend to be their friend. Doesn't beg for respect either. Just sets boundaries like brick walls." - Javier, 11th grade
The racial dynamics hit different now. Poitier's Thackeray faces quiet prejudice (landlady's "no coloreds" sign still stings). But script flips expectations - students' bigotry fades faster than staff's. Feels earned, not preachy.
Biggest lesson? Change takes relentless consistency. Thackeray wears same suit daily. Keeps voice calm through chaos. Students realize he won't snap or quit. That reliability builds trust. Modern teachers tell me they steal his tactics:
- Addressing students as "Mr./Miss" last name (signals adulthood)
- Replacing useless curriculum with life skills
- Calling out bad behavior without humiliation
Not perfect though. Let's nitpick:
- Too neat? Real classrooms rarely have Hollywood endings
- Teacher savior trope: White writers scripting Black teacher's struggles always feels... complicated
- Dated moments: That "girls cook/boys build" lesson aged like milk
What Critics Got Wrong (And Right) in 1967
Original reviews were... mixed. Surprising now, given its legacy.
| Publication | Verdict | Hot Take |
|---|---|---|
| New York Times | Positive | "Poitier radiates moral authority" |
| Variety | Mixed | "Formulaic but saved by star power" |
| Time Magazine | Negative | "Sentimental hogwash" (ouch) |
| Chicago Tribune | Positive | "The youth rebellion movie we needed" |
Modern critics see more layers. BFI's 2020 reappraisal called it "accidentally radical" for showing:
- Working-class teens as complex humans (not just hoodlums)
- Authority figures learning from students
- Racial tension without explosive violence
Personally? Time Magazine was dead wrong. Sentiment works because it's earned. When Denham finally calls him "Sir," you believe it.
Frequently Asked Questions About To Sir With Love
Is To Sir, with Love film based on real events?
Kinda! Author E.R. Braithwaite based it on his teaching experience in London's East End. But Hollywood tweaked things:
- Real Braithwaite taught adults (movie uses teens for drama)
- Book grittier - more racism, less singing
- Actual school was bomb-damaged building (studio used pristine sets)
Why does the school look so clean in the movie?
Budget thing. Real 1967 London schools were crumbling. But MGM shot at Pinewood Studios - same place as Bond films. Art department scrubbed every surface. Always bugged me - where's the graffiti? The gum under desks?
Did Sidney Poitier actually like making To Sir with Love?
Mixed feelings. Loved the message but hated sentimentality. In his autobiography, he wrote: "Some scenes made me cringe... but the children's honesty saved it." Also complained about London weather nonstop. Can't blame him.
Could this film get made today?
Not without changes. Studios would demand:
- More diverse casting (original had zero Asian/Indian students)
- Less "white savior" vibe (Braithwaite was Guyanese but film downplays this)
- Modern soundtrack (Lulu's ballad would be auto-tuned pop)
Core story could work though. Good teaching transcends eras.
The Cultural Ripples You Might've Missed
This ain't just some dusty old film. Its DNA is everywhere:
In music: Pink Floyd referenced it in "Another Brick in the Wall" - that "Hey! Teacher!" scream? Direct nod to Denham's rebellion.
TV's child: Welcome Back, Kotter basically remade it as sitcom. Vinnie Barbarino = Denham with better hair.
Classroom cinema: Every "inspirational teacher" movie since owes it debts. Dead Poets Society. Freedom Writers. Even School of Rock steals the "win over tough kids" arc.
Personal story: My niece's school did "To Sir With Love Day" last year. Teachers wore 60s clothes, discussed the film. Kids thought Thackeray's rules were "cringe but low-key smart." High praise from Gen Z.
Should You Actually Watch It? Final Take
Look, if you want explosions or TikTok pacing, skip it. To Sir, with Love film moves slow. Lets moments breathe. But that's its power.
Watch it for Poitier's masterclass in quiet strength. For Lulu's raw, pre-fame performance. For that bittersweet graduation scene where everyone pretends not to cry (liars).
It's more than teacher movie. It's about dignity sticking its roots in concrete. About how respect isn't given - it's grown.
Still got doubts? Try this: Skip to the museum scene (about 45 mins in). If Thackeray's speech doesn't hook you, bail guilt-free. But bet you'll stay.
Final thought: Saw it with my dad once. He wiped his eyes after and said, "They don't make 'em like this anymore." He's right. They really don't.
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