To Sir With Love [VHS]
Novelist James Clavell wrote, produced, and directed this 1967 British film (based on a novel by E.R. Braithwaite) about a rookie teacher who throws out stock lesson plans and really takes command of his unruly, adolescent students in a London school. Poitier is very good as a man struggling with the extent of his commitment to the job, and even more as a teacher whose commitment is to proffering life lessons instead of academics. The spirit of this movie can be found in more recent films such asDangerous MindsandMr. Holland's Opus, but none is as moving as this one. Besides, the others don't have a title song performed by pop star Lulu.--Tom Keogh