Blackboard Jungle (1955)

Look, I cut movies a lot of slack.  Film isn’t real life ‘kay?  But sometimes a movie is so unrealistic  I can’t overlook it.  And that’s what happened with Blackboard Jungle.  For example:

• The HS “kids” are simply too old. Sidney Poitier is 27 (and played a Doctor when he was 23!),  and Vic Murrow (Artie) and Dan Terranova are around 25 - and look it.  Not to mention, there’s an old/odd looking “Kid” with coke-bottle glasses who looks like a Screenwriter. 
• All these 25 y/o “kids” finally have their eyes opened to learning when Ford shows them a “Jack in the Beanstalk cartoon”.  Really.
• Ford & another teacher are caught in a dark alley and beaten up by Artie, and five other students. Ford spends a week in the Hospital, but refuses to press charges.  Why? 
• Anyway, after playing a mild-mannered teacher for 80 minutes, Glenn Ford suddenly turns “macho man” and -with his bare hands - beats the crap out of knife-wielding Vic Murrow (who overacts shamelessly). Why didn't Ford just leave the classroom and get the Principal when Artie wanted to fight? Today, that kind of thing would end in a Million dollar settlement - for Artie!

Positives?  Good performances by Ford, who brings a quiet strength and convincing naivete to the role, and Louis Calhern.  Summary:  Too cornball, too dated, and too unrealistic.  Blackboard is one square movie that flunks out of class – Daddy-O.  Rating 2 of 4.