Idealistic young Sandy Dennis (as Sylvia Barrett) gets her first teaching job, as an English and homeroom teacher at "Calvin Coolidge High School" in New York City. She can quote Emily Dickinson and Charles Dickens, but Ms. Dennis not prepared for an overcrowded and unruly classroom. Dennis gets some of the stereotypical students you've seen, probably, in more movies than high schools. Additionally, she must contend with shrill office secretary Jean Stapleton (as Sadie Finch) shouting orders demanding paperwork; and, everyone has to listen to what has to be the worst bell you will ever hear in a high school setting. No wonder Dennis goes "Up the Down Staircase"...
Eileen Heckart, Ruth White, and Frances Sternhagen are credible school personnel. Outstanding (in more ways than one, as he doesn't arrive in time to claim one of the classroom's limited seats) is handsome Jeff Howard (as Joe Ferone), a misunderstood delinquent who mistakes Dennis' teacherly interest as sexual. Also notable is awkward Ellen O'Mara (as Alice Blake), who has a crush on frustrated writer-turned-teacher Patrick Bedford (as Paul Barringer). Highly intelligent and ethnic, but low academic performers fill in other seats. The students call Dennis "Teach" (that's short for "Teacher") derisively, as the school year rolls along...
Warner Bros. must have had high hopes for "Up the Down Staircase", with accomplished director Robert Mulligan steering Sandy Dennis immediately after her award-winning performance in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966). Unfortunately, this film was blown out of the theaters by Columbia Picture's immensely popular Sidney Poitier film "To Sir, with Love", which was released almost simultaneously. Another problem was the fact that the high school teenagers in "Up the Down Staircase" do not possess the level of infectious juvenile delinquent appeal present in "To Sir, with Love", "Blackboard Jungle" (1955), and others...
"Up the Down Staircase" was entered in Moscow's film festival, where its depiction of slummy American schooling enjoyed guarded praised. Ms. Dennis received "Best Actress" nominations from the "Film Daily" (she placed third) and the "New York Film Critics" (she placed seventh). Moody newcomers Jeff Howard and Ellen O'Mara received "Film Daily" nominations in the juvenile award category, and the trade publication placed the film itself at #7 for the year. Definitely a passing grade.
****** Up the Down Staircase (7/19/67) Robert Mulligan ~ Sandy Dennis, Patrick Bedford, Jeff Howard, Eileen Heckart
Eileen Heckart, Ruth White, and Frances Sternhagen are credible school personnel. Outstanding (in more ways than one, as he doesn't arrive in time to claim one of the classroom's limited seats) is handsome Jeff Howard (as Joe Ferone), a misunderstood delinquent who mistakes Dennis' teacherly interest as sexual. Also notable is awkward Ellen O'Mara (as Alice Blake), who has a crush on frustrated writer-turned-teacher Patrick Bedford (as Paul Barringer). Highly intelligent and ethnic, but low academic performers fill in other seats. The students call Dennis "Teach" (that's short for "Teacher") derisively, as the school year rolls along...
Warner Bros. must have had high hopes for "Up the Down Staircase", with accomplished director Robert Mulligan steering Sandy Dennis immediately after her award-winning performance in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966). Unfortunately, this film was blown out of the theaters by Columbia Picture's immensely popular Sidney Poitier film "To Sir, with Love", which was released almost simultaneously. Another problem was the fact that the high school teenagers in "Up the Down Staircase" do not possess the level of infectious juvenile delinquent appeal present in "To Sir, with Love", "Blackboard Jungle" (1955), and others...
"Up the Down Staircase" was entered in Moscow's film festival, where its depiction of slummy American schooling enjoyed guarded praised. Ms. Dennis received "Best Actress" nominations from the "Film Daily" (she placed third) and the "New York Film Critics" (she placed seventh). Moody newcomers Jeff Howard and Ellen O'Mara received "Film Daily" nominations in the juvenile award category, and the trade publication placed the film itself at #7 for the year. Definitely a passing grade.
****** Up the Down Staircase (7/19/67) Robert Mulligan ~ Sandy Dennis, Patrick Bedford, Jeff Howard, Eileen Heckart