Seeing as how it combines two of my least favorite sub genres...the Inspirational Teacher and The White Savior of Black Folks...I am surprised that I liked this film as much as I did. A lot of my positive reaction is due to a typically intelligent screenplay by veteran scenarists of the American south, Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr. Not only do they endow all the characters, even the chief antagionists (well played by Madge Sinclair and Hume Cronyn), with doses of likability and perceptiveness, but they avoid over sentimentalization, with an ending that is bittersweet rather than cloying, Triumph Of The Human Spirit stuff, a la "Dead Poets". And Jon Voight has never been better. Ironic that this right wing nut job shines as a paragon of Southern liberalism, but that's good acting for ya.
My main criticism revolves around the reason I dislike most Inspirational Teacher movies, namely that it is just too damn easy for the title character to win over his wayward students. I mean, where is the struggle? Where is the "snakepit" that the principal tells Conrack he's in? Literally, fifteen minutes into the film he's got his kids loving him. And they never stop. So 90% of the conflict in the film is between Voight and the admin. Not a recipe for a very engaging pedagogical tale. So I guess having praised the Ravetches above, I have to rap 'em on the knuckles for this poor story decision. Give it a B minus.
My main criticism revolves around the reason I dislike most Inspirational Teacher movies, namely that it is just too damn easy for the title character to win over his wayward students. I mean, where is the struggle? Where is the "snakepit" that the principal tells Conrack he's in? Literally, fifteen minutes into the film he's got his kids loving him. And they never stop. So 90% of the conflict in the film is between Voight and the admin. Not a recipe for a very engaging pedagogical tale. So I guess having praised the Ravetches above, I have to rap 'em on the knuckles for this poor story decision. Give it a B minus.