To Sir, with Love, James Clavell (U.S., 1967): Cool World

Film - Series | August 3 | 9:10 p.m. |  PFA Theater

Sponsor: Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

Sidney Poitier added class to the classroom, first in Blackboard Jungle (1955) as a young punk pushing other pupils to no-good, then as Mark Thackeray, concerned teacher, in the Lulu-driven drama, To Sir, With Love. And though Poitier was one half of The Defiant Ones, it was his composure that kept him cool. And cool is what he cultivates in the classroom of North Quay High School, where an unruly mob, known as students, rules the roost. A battle of wills ensues as the ever-caring educator dodges pranks and proddings. We know the outcome: along with Poitier, To Sir, With Love was number one with a bullet.

—Steve Seid

• Written by Clavell, based on the novel by E. R. Braithwaite. Photographed by Paul Beeson. With Sidney Poitier, Lulu, Christian Roberts, Judy Geeson. (105 mins, Color, 35mm, From Sony Pictures)

Tickets required: $5.50 BAM/PFA members and UCB students,  $9.50 Adults (18-64),  $6.50 UC Berkeley faculty and staff, non-UC Berkeley students, senior citizens (65 & over), disabled persons, and youth (17 & under)

Event Contact: bampfa@berkeley.edu, 510-642-0808