Every week there is a topic that you have to showcase 3 films that you have seen and talk about. They can be great films, films you love or hate but they must adhere to the topic. This week the topic is Teachers. This was created over at Wandering Through The Shelves and you can find the rest of the participants there. Who knows maybe you will want to join:)
So here is my list.....
1. The King and I-1956
You know, this was my Dad's favourite film! A man who worked in the lumber industry all his life and was a veteran of World War 2, loved this film! It's very loosely based on a true story where a teacher travels to, then Siam (now Thailand), to help teach the King's many wives and his many children, Western culture. Now can I say, I don't care a rat's ass about political correctness here because it is a beautifully photographed film with great performances and wonderful music. My dad's and my favourite scene is when the King introduces all his children to the teacher (played by Deborah Kerr). Yul Brynner reprized his Broadway role as the King and won an Oscar for this role. In fact, later in life he toured in it and I had the privilege of seeing him in this role in the early 1980's.
2. Teacher's Pet-1958
I enjoy this movie so much because it is light but quite funny. Doris Day is a teacher who asks old-fashioned reporter, Clark Gable to talk to her journalism class. He writes a nasty letter which she proceeds to cut up in her class room while he is present (at his boss's insistence). It showcases old vs new style of journalism with romance thrown in. Gig Young is hilarious as Day's boyfriend (love the drunk scene).
3. The Miracle Worker-1962
I was going back and forth between "Goodbye Mr. Chips" to "To Sir, With Love" and another film which I am saving for later but my mind kept coming back to this riveting film about Annie Sullivan who teaches Helen Keller sign language. Realizing how big Helen Keller became, it is hard to imagine that she was this wild child who didn't even eat from her own plate. Helen Keller would not be known today if it was not for the teaching of Annie Sullivan. Powerful performances keep you enthralled in this story.
So these are my three. There are newer films like "Good Will Hunting" and "October Sky" and one film, "Dead Poet's Society" I still have to see but I chose the three above.
I saw a version of The Miracle Worker but it's been remade so many times, I can't remember which one. Was there one with Melissa Gilbert in it? I don't know! I remember as a kid watching the movie and just not getting it. I don't think I realized she was a real person who accomplished amazing things against all odds in a time when it was even more difficult to achieve those things.
ReplyDeleteYes There is a film with Melissa Gilbert who played Helen Keller and Patty Duke played Annie Sullivan! Patty Duke was the young Helen Keller in this film. This film which was made for TV was also quite good.
DeleteThe original The King and I was great. I even enjoyed the remake.
ReplyDeleteYou need to watch October Sky. It's a small film but very good. Bittersweet ending.
I have seen October Sky and I consider a gem! I have not seen Dead Poet's Society
DeleteHi, dear Birgit! I saw The King And I at the age of seven. Russian-born actor Yul Brynner helped fuel the obsession among American women with foreign men. I admired actress Deborah Kerr and still soak my hanky every time I watch An Affair To Remember, released the following year. I have seen nearly every Doris Day movie but, for some reason, I don't recall having seen Teacher's Pet. Maybe it's because I am not fond of Clark Gable. Do you give a damn? :) I watched The Miracle Worker at age 12 and it had a major impact on me. Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke are two of my all time favorite actresses.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear BB!
Oh Yul was the first bald sex symbol:) Deborah Kerr is one of the greats who never won an Oscar. This is a fun film of Doris Day. I am surprised you missed it-even Mamie Van Doren is in this one (hence the gal with the torpedo boobs in the poster). Both gals in The Miracle Worker were outstanding! I get tired just watching them in the diningroom scene
DeleteLove, love, love all three of your choices and one of them we share. The King and I is a lovely film that didn't occur to me since I never really think of Deborah Kerr as a teacher in it..I know she is but the underlying romance always comes to mind first. I like the original MUCH darker Anna and the King of Siam as well.
ReplyDeleteTeacher's Pet is one of Gable's better latter day films partly because he and Doris are so well matched, she was considerably younger than he but her demeanor made her seem closer in age so the film made more sense. I agree about Gig Young stealing his scenes and Mamie Van Doren is a knockout here.
Miracle Worker is the one we share, great film.
Here's my three with an extra:
Kindergarten Cop (1990)-New York cop Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with another agent (the fun Pamela Reed), on the trail of a drug dealer follows a lead to a small town in Oregon where it's believed the dealer's divorced wife is hiding out. When the other agent, who was supposed to masquerade as a kindergarten teacher, falls ill he steps in. Mix of kiddie comedy and violence isn't always wholly successful but there is a great deal to enjoy in this mostly sweet comedy.
Teachers (1984)-Pitch black comedy/drama of a troubled school in the midst of a lawsuit from a student given a diploma despite the fact that he's illiterate and the teachers who try to maintain some semblance of order despite their frustrations. Good performances by a cast full of familiar faces and a loose unbridled one by Richard Mulligan as an educator who dresses up as the characters he teaches about.
The Miracle Worker (1962)-Young teacher Annie Sullivan is sent by the Perkins institute to the home of the Kellers to try and help them with their blind and deaf daughter Helen, who through years of indulgence has become a wild child. Discovering a keen intellect trapped in the girl she sets out on the rough challenge to break through her defenses. Both Bancroft and Duke won Oscars for their great work in this.
Honorable Mention-The Corn is Green (1979)-A strong willed teacher, slightly past middle age, inherits property in a small Welsh mining village where she determines to start a school to educate the workers. She meets resistance from the mine owner who doesn't see the value of her plan and discovers a lad with untapped possibilities and becomes his mentor. This one is slightly outside the perimeters since it's was a TV special but with Katharine Hepburn, in her best late career performance, as the star; George Cukor as director and production values good enough for a theatrical release I decided to include it since it's a favorite of mine.
I know what you mean about The King and I but i thought this still great since i laugh with all the king's wives trying to educated on how to wear hoop skirts. Poor Mamie's face is not even seen in this poster just the body and her pointy ta-ta's. I have yet to see Anna & The King of Siam with Rex Harrison and one day, I will. We do agree with The Miracle Worker and that dining room scene alone is magnificent. They must have been exhausted because I am just watching the film. I enjoyed Kindergarten Cop-it is a cute movie. I still have to see the entire film of Teachers but loved Richard Mulligan in the scenes I did see. I have not seen The Corn is Green-wasn't that a remake of a Bette Davis film? I should place this on my ever growing list
DeleteYes there is a Bette Davis version of The Corn is Green which is okay but it's hamstrung by studio settings, sometimes that's okay but in this particular story the feeling of the Welsh countryside is important to the feeling of the film and the Kate Hepburn version was filmed on location in Wales. As much as I love Bette she's a bit brittle in the film whereas Kate feels like a better fit. Bette actually appeared in a musical version of the story called Miss Moffat in the 70's which was Broadway bound but between script problems and her health problems it closed out of town.
DeleteAnna and the King of Siam has a very different vibe than the musical, its very good but be prepared for a contrasting viewing experience. I've seen a few stage versions of King and I, not with Yul Brynner, and its still very enjoyable. I had the chance to see it at the Palladium in London with Elaine Paige as Anna and Jason Scott Lee as the King, that was incredible!
Seen the king and I and the remake, but that is the only one there. Seen the last 3 mentioned though. All of them are very good.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen the remake because i just love the musical so much. Hope you get a chance to see the others
DeleteI only saw The Miracle Worker but it was so long I don't remember anything other than it being about Helen Keller. That poster for The Teacher's Pet is hilariously lurid.
ReplyDeleteThat is why I picked that poster. I just love the torpedo ta-ta's and Gable's look.
DeleteLOVE The Miracle Worker - such brilliant performances. Like but don't love The King and I - the music is great and the performances are good but it's SO. LONG. and I go back and forth on loving/hating that Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet. My mother actually saw Yul Brenner's last performance as the King on Broadway and still talks about how brilliant it was. Teacher's Pet sounds great - love Gable and Day so I will have to watch it.
ReplyDeleteRogers & Hammerstein musicals were always long. I saw Yul Brynner when he was in Toronto and his wife played the head wife. It was just wonderful to see
DeleteThose were 3 great teacher movies you picked! Seen all of them and enjoyed them all. I would have picked "To Sir with Love". Even years later it is still a classic.
ReplyDeletebetty
Yes that film-"To Sir With Love" is another great film even with Poiteir trying to dance:)
DeleteI saw The Miracle Worker a long time ago. Great story and film. I agree with Alex about October Sky. It's one of my favorite movies. (I have lots of favorites, though!) I also really liked it Pay It Forward (the movie and the book).
ReplyDeleteI have seen both films you mentioned. I prefer October Sky over Pay It Forward. October Sky is just a great under-rated film and a true story to boot.
DeleteI was obsessed with Helen Keller when I was a child - read many books about her. I was fascinated at the idea that someone could endure the disabilities she had. I'd also have picked To Sir with Love and Dead Poets society.
ReplyDeletehttps://anabelsblog.wordpress.com/
I also could not get enough of Helen Keller and she is still someone I greatly admire
DeleteAh, good call on The Miracle Worker! I actually haven't seen the other two.
ReplyDeleteI thought that movie worked. Hope you can see the other 2
DeleteYul Brynner was my fantasy lover, a man who could make me weak in the knees. We saw him in "Odysseus" and "The King and I", both in LA. King and I was 1984, we were in the 3rd row, left side, eye level with the stage.
ReplyDeleteYou have selected three movies that I have loved for years. Thanks.
Oh good and another one who saw Yul in the show. You must have just has your mouth open sitting that close to the stage:)
DeleteI love your choices. I'm so jealous that you saw Yul Brynner in the show.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Oh it was a memorable night!
DeleteI haven't seen Teacher's Pet. Sounds like a good classic to lighten the day!
ReplyDeleteIt is! I love that movie and it is not one to make one think hard but still is quite good.
DeleteDid you know that The King and I, a movie that I also love, is banned in Thailand? It's considered disrespectful to the monarchy and you can be jailed for owning it.
ReplyDeleteI did know! I had forgotten that tidbit but one thing I didn't know was that you could be jailed for owning a copy. I wonder what they think of the other non-musical versions
DeleteThree good ones -- and so different from each other in tone and style. The King & I is one of the Mama's favorite movies, because of the kids, too. I saw the tour, too, in the early 80s when it came to San Francisco. That was very neat seeing Yul Brynner perform.
ReplyDeleteI think many have seen Yul in this in the early 80's and isn't that wonderful:)
DeleteGreatpicks! A little out of the ordinary, and I'v enever seen teacher's pet so enjoyed seeing it pop up.
ReplyDeleteI've seen all three of those. Great films. One that comes to mind for me is Summer School with Mark Harmon. Ever seen it?
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I don't recall "Teacher's Pet" with Doris Day and Clark Gable. That must have been an odd pair. He's so gritty and she's so squeaky clean. I remember the Helen Keller movie - it was awesome! Have a great Friday!
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT ~
ReplyDeleteMy number one in this category is 'DEAD POETS SOCIETY', which is also one of my Top Ten films of all time! (Can't believe you haven't seen that one. You needs to get on that, M'Dear! Shame, shame on you!)
#2: 'BORN YESTERDAY', which I just watched (for about the 15th time) last weekend.
#3: 'MY FAIR LADY'
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
I love the original K & I. Found myself thinking of the original while watching the remake with Foster as Anna. I saw a version of Miracle Worker with Gilbert as Keller (I think it was Gilbert... maybe not, can't remember now). Great picks, Birgit. Looking forward to the next trio on your list.
ReplyDeletehugs, Asha
This is a first in that I have actually seen all three of these. We read the play 'The King and I' in high school. I read the part of Anna. When I told 'the king' that 'You have a letter from abroad', he responded with 'What broad is this?' Love the ad libs.
ReplyDeleteWoo Hoo. Like Denise, I've seen all three of these. That doesn't happen very often.
ReplyDeleteI just got NetFlix so I hope to remedy the gap in my watched movie catalog.
Yul Brynner... I loved that guy!
ReplyDelete3 more movies that I haven't seen that I am adding to my list. I am going to have to have a movie marathon weekend. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
The only one I haven't seen is Teacher's Pet.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Miracle Worker, I do think they aged up Helen's character. Patty Duke looks like 12 at least while if I'm not mistaken Keller was much much younger when Sullivan first came to teach her so it not as hard to imagine that she did not know how to feed herself.