Line #4 Film/BlackboardJungle


1	[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/blackboard_jungle.jpeg]]
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3	->''We, in the United States, are fortunate enough to have a school system that is a tribute to our communities and to our faith in the American youth. Today we are concerned with juvenile delinquency--its causes--and its effects. We are especially concerned when this delinquency boils over into our schools. The scenes and incidents depicted here are fictional. However, we believe that public awareness is a first step toward a remedy for any problem. It is in this spirit and with this faith that Blackboard Jungle was produced.''
4	-->--OpeningScroll
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6	''Blackboard Jungle'' is a 1955 drama film set at an InnerCitySchool, written and directed by Richard Brooks ([[TheFilmOfTheBook based on]] Creator/EvanHunter's novel of the same name) and released by Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer.
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8	Richard Dadier (Creator/GlennFord) is a newly-graduated teacher who really wants to inspire young people. Unfortunately, he takes a job at North Manual Trades High School, where gangs are everywhere, nobody has respect for their elders, and the other teachers have long since burnt out. Mr. Dadier is initially met with hostility and violence, but by refusing to give up, treating his students with respect, and trying innovative ways of engaging his class, he slowly gets the students on his side, particularly unofficial class leader Gregory Miller (Creator/SidneyPoitier).
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10	At the time, ''Blackboard Jungle'' was notable for dropping the bombshell that high schools were ''not'' idealistic happy little teaching institutions where everyone behaved and no one would ever dare think of challenging authority, and that students could be angry, disillusioned, and have their own set of problems, almost like they were human or something. Suburban adults were horrified and suburban kids were inspired. This, along with the movies of Creator/JamesDean and Creator/MarlonBrando, ushered in the concept of the TroubledButCute teen rebel.
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12	''Blackboard Jungle'' is also famous for its theme song. Director Richard Brooks wanted to use a song that all the young folks would be into, and borrowed some of Glenn Ford's son Peter's records. Luckily Peter had good taste. Richard chose "Rock Around the Clock" by Music/BillHaleyAndHisComets and played it over the opening credits. RockAndRoll was still a niche genre, but "Rock Around the Clock" proved to be so popular that teenagers danced in the aisles when it came on and RockAndRoll turned mainstream.
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14	In 2016 the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry deemed the film "culturally significant".
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17	!!''Blackboard Jungle'' provides examples of the following tropes:
18	* ApatheticTeacher: All the teachers at North Manual Trade are tired of all the shit they have to put up with by the time Mr. Dadier arrives.
19	* AttemptedRape: One of the students tries to rape Miss Hammond in the school library. Dadier stops him.
20	* BreakTheCutie: At the start of the movie, Mr. Edwards is young, idealistic, and enthusiastic about teaching. But when Artie and the rest of Mr. Dadier's class breaks most of his rare jazz records ForTheEvulz (as detailed below), he has what appears to be a nervous breakdown.
21	* CoolTeacher: Mr. Dadier is at least cool enough to try and reach his students.
22	* GreaserDelinquents: All the students sport the greaser look and most of them are delinquents.
23	* KickTheDog: The students breaking most of Mr. Edwards' jazz records ForTheEvulz.
24	* MaliciousMisnaming: Dadier's class mutate his name into the mocking nickname "Daddy-o". Eventually it becomes an AffectionateNickname.
25	* MistakenForCheating: Mr. Dadier's wife Anne begins receiving anonymous letters and phone calls claiming he's having an affair with HotTeacher Miss Hammond, and she misinterprets his desire to stay at the school as a sign that it's true.
26	* NeverTrustATrailer: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA0_NRjx9KQ The trailer]], and some of the movie posters, make the movie look like lurid ExploitationFilm instead of a serious look at the problems affecting teenagers in high school.
27	* NWordPrivileges: Defied. Dadier name-drops several racial slurs he discourages his students from using and has to explain himself for it.
28	* SaveOurStudents: One of the earliest examples to the point of being the TropeCodifier.
29	* SinisterSwitchblade: [[spoiler: Artie wields a switchblade in the final confrontation, but the protagonists manage to snap the blade off the handle.]]
30	* SoundtrackDissonance: Mr. Dadier is beat up by some gang members while an upbeat jazz piece plays over the fight.
31	* TeensAreMonsters: Discussed and demonstrated throughout the film, though with the idea that not all teens are monsters, and if they are they can turn themselves around with support.
32	* TrailersAlwaysSpoil:
33	** The movie trailer shows the scene where Anne admits she was wrong for suspecting Richard of cheating on her, making that whole subplot pointless.

Context Film / BlackboardJungle