Most of the 'troubled youth' pictures from the 1950s feel condescending today. They were cast with adult actors behaving how they *thought* rebellious teenagers might without any apparent first hand knowledge. The result was usually unconvincing. One of the strengths of 'Blackboard Jungle' is that the troubled youth in the film actually seem troubled. Granted, kids are much more explicit today, but I still wouldn't, want to be alone with the kids in this film.
Yet further proof that the Eisenhower years were not the idyllic era we'd like to think they were, 'Blackboard Jungle' must have been a real wake call in its day. Glenn Ford's performance is the glue that holds the whole film together, portraying a man who is neither weak nor strong but is simply determined not to give up or make a difference despite seemingly insurmountable odds. Vic Morrow also does an outstanding job playing the remorseless heavy without becoming a caricature.
Having written that, 'Blackboard Jungle' is still a little too heavy handed (the overt foreshadowing of the records' fate) and corny (the doctor coming in at just the right moment, telling the Dadiers their child is going to be okay, and then switching on the radio 'Auld Lang Sign').
Yet further proof that the Eisenhower years were not the idyllic era we'd like to think they were, 'Blackboard Jungle' must have been a real wake call in its day. Glenn Ford's performance is the glue that holds the whole film together, portraying a man who is neither weak nor strong but is simply determined not to give up or make a difference despite seemingly insurmountable odds. Vic Morrow also does an outstanding job playing the remorseless heavy without becoming a caricature.
Having written that, 'Blackboard Jungle' is still a little too heavy handed (the overt foreshadowing of the records' fate) and corny (the doctor coming in at just the right moment, telling the Dadiers their child is going to be okay, and then switching on the radio 'Auld Lang Sign').