Up the Down Staircase (1967)

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

As a former teacher in Title 1 School Districts I can attest that this movie fails to mirror reality on numerous levels. With "Up the Downstair case" we have simply established a meek, fragile and naive teacher attempting to begin her teacher career in a rough inner-city school district. Perspicously this is a fish out of water story where an idealistic person ventures into a realm far alien to her natural element. So the intrigue is to see how her challenges unfold in an environment filled with reprobates, corrupt faculty and chaos.In the end the ultimate conclusion brings forth a committed and dedicated soul who feels the altruistic need to nurture these young dregs. And when the situation arises she can rise to the occasion and make a difference in the lives of some people. Sandy Dennis is one of those actresses that always seems to be suffering from some form of anemia, as if she always has a cold. The casting is correct when you match her slight, waspish, and frail appearance next to the coarse creatures who inhabit the school, and she does look very out of place. Although her performance was admirable I didn't find it realistic nor believable that she could have subsisted an entire year in those conditions.Inner city schools today are literally hopeless and an anathema to American society. Completely dysfunctional and replete with juvenile delinquents, Title 1 schools are virtually gang lands where decadent and anti-social behavior breed. Up the downstair case barely scratches the surfaces of today's problems and conundrums pervading our urban landscapes. I am still waiting for a film that will accurately display an honest, forthright and succinct story where viewers can see the truth. The Principal (1987) with James Belushi focused more on the violence and ever present dangers in inner city schools, unfortunately a bit over the top it captures the feel and environment more truthfully. Up the Downstair case may be a valiant effort on one level of idealism, but it fails to present the real picture.

Rivals "To Sir, With Love" (released around the same time) as the best teacher film of all time. The difference: Sandy Dennis.Dennis was one of those actors they don't make anymore (or at least don't showcase in Hollywood in 2007). She was strange, quirky, not conventionally pretty and she had that quality a lot of new female teachers have-that deer in the headlights look that makes the viewer root for her to make it "work" with those tough students.The story is strong with some good subplots with the troubled students. It is dated but I would say the same issues facing Dennis here face contemporary teachers.I take Dennis to Robin Williams in "Dead Poets Society" anyday.

Watching SANDY DENNIS cope with the things any schoolteacher has to deal with when working in an overcrowded city school in the worst part of town, has to seem familiar to all those who've seen GLENN FORD face the same kind of hurdles in the much earlier THE BLACKBOARD JUNGLE.This time the schoolteacher is a woman, a very naive, well-intended schoolteacher who wants to bring out the best in a classroom full of bored misfits who would rather be anywhere else than school. It's based on a rather sketchy novel by Bel Kaufman, but Tad Mosel's screenplay pulls all the strands together nicely and puts the central focus squarely on Miss Dennis (where it belongs) and her crusade to bring meaning into the lives of some needy students.Dennis is entirely up to the demands of such a role and gives one of her best portrayals. Eileen Heckart and Jean Stapleton do well in supporting roles but it's Dennis who must carry the film and she does so with honesty, integrity and her own brand of quirky charm. The school atmosphere is well captured with much of the filming done inside a real city school that serves as Calvin Coolidge High School.Summing up: An altogether winning little film, largely forgotten, that should be more appreciated--still timely and relevant.

Sandy Dennis was realistic as the young idealistic teacher trying to cope in a traditional urban setting in "Up the Down Staircase," based on Bel Kaufman's best seller.You really have to be a teacher or at least know one to have any idea of what is going on in our public schools.Jean Stapleton's Sadie Finch was perfect. As the school secretary, she thought she ran the place. She literally did being constantly on the intercom stating to ignore the continuously ringing fire alarms.To this very day, sadly, there is no solution to the problems of urban education. We try this program, this initiative, this idea-but nothing really works, when you have groups of students dedicated to the belief that nobody learns when they're around in school. Having taught in the NYC school system for 32 years before my retirement, I have to say that the film offers an extremely realistic view of what is occurring. We have an assistant principal here who treats the teachers in the same way that the students are to be treated. He lashes out at them. Besides being highly unprofessional, how do these supervisors expect a teacher to command respect when they are spoken down to in front of students? My first principal of cherished memory often said that a teacher has succeeded if they can reach at least 5 pupils in the class. In that context, this film certainly succeeds. Of course, it's unrealistic when we see this class of mostly losers catch on to Miss Barrett's methods so quickly. We see a principal who seems to go through the motions when addressing a student assembly. Yet, Sorrell Booke, is very touching in that role when he explains to Sylvia Barrett (the late Sandy Dennis) that she is a good teacher and that there are better schools. The librarian and guidance counselor brought back memories to me. Frances Sternhagen, as the former, showed how uninvolved many school librarians are in the education process. The fact is that they are exempt from teaching classes and are in a world of their own. Ditto for guidance counselors who treat to their small offices with their files and psychological jargon. Florence Stanley was so appealing in that latter role. Patrick Bedford epitomized the cool teacher who was guilty of a serious infraction. When you're free period 1, you still belong in the building as anything can happen as depicted. In New York City, our current school officials should see this excellent, endearing film.