Editorial Product Review:Amazon.com essential video: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 such recent films as
Dangerous Minds and
Mr. 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
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Buyer Reviews
Average Buyer Rating:
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Life imitates art and v.v.
True story here: I love this film, and when I was faced with the kind of class Mark Thackery is faced with in the film, I bought this video. On the day I showed it, the kids came in ignoring me, cursing, all attitude--their usual postures. I told them we needed a break, and that they'd be watching a video. They cheered. The movie began and they booed--everything: the soundtrack, the fashions, the teacher (especially). But... then they began to watch the story unfold (I think at the point where Thackery goes on his first tirade). Soon they were pointing out how similar they were to the kids in the class, assigning characters to specific students in my class. ("That girl is YOU, Denise, all the way!") It changed them. I'm not kidding. They saw themselves, and what they saw wasn't pretty. Girls were crying by the end of the film (which took two class periods to show, so for two days I didn't have to fight them to get them to work). My kids did not become model citizens overnight (I would later have to write carefully crafted character statements for two of them who were facing jail time), but they did begin to see me as a person worthy of respect. Whew.
Other reviewers have mentioned Poitier's incredible performance here, so I won't go on and on about him being the consumate actor. (Oh, if you haven't seen him in A Raisin in the Sun, add that to your wish list.) But I can honestly say this movie changed the behavior of a group of teenagers who had shut down, and for that I am eternally grateful.
Customer Rating: 
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HOW TO RUIN ONE'S LIFE
Good, not great tale of a Senior class in a London public school circa 1967. Poitier is excellent as Mark Thackeray, a first year teacher with an engineering degree, who takes on some of the toughest Dickensian type students that one can imagine. Everyone in the class is seriously deficient;no Oxford aspirants here. So, Mark literally throws away the books and attempts to teach social skills, much to the chagrin of many faculty members,too burned out or sarcastic, no longer able or willing to put up much of a fight. Inner city teachers circa 2008 please take note. The saddest commentary in the film is the further deterioration of the public schools since Lulu sang her last note. There is nary a knife to be seen, no guns, no bombs, no wanton gang atttacks. Thackeray does his best, receives a job as an engineer, then turns it down, hoping to save his little corner of the world. The romantics would think of him as a great sport. The realists, myself included, would fear that he's ruining his life. You decide.
Customer Rating: -
Timeless Classic!
TSWL has been a favourite of mine for many years. They picked a really great cast to make this film. Although made and set in 1960s London there are certain things that are still relevant to todays world; problem kids no teacher wants in his/her class, racial profiling & stereotyping. This film shows how one man (Poitier) made a difference in trying to tackle these problem at the time.
My other reason for liking this film is that I am into the "Swingin 60s.", its music, its art and fashion, etc.
If you like this film, you would enjoy the two British TV series also set in the 60s; Heartbeat and The Royal; although these are made in the 2000s.
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Fabulous
One of Poitiers' best ever!! With an assortment of great supporting cast, music, story and backdrop, To Sir With Love is a classic. Poitier is an out of work enginner who takes a job as a teacher in one of the worst schools in London. When at first he cannot seem to get through to the students with regular teaching methods, Poitiers character takes on a completly different way that teaches both the students and himself about the possibilities in life. Everyone should watch this movie, it was a favorite when I was young and still one today!!