5 Greatest Movie Teachers (In Appreciation of Teacher Appreciation Week)

As my son's daycare reminded me, we're in the middle of Teacher Appreciation Week! So I thought I'd give my educational props to the bestest teachers of all time. After all, these instructors inspired and cared--really cared. So if you're in the mood for a little teacher-appreciation marathon, may we suggest:

Sidney Poitier, To Sir With Love: The best movies in this genre are the ones where the teacher brings gravitas and elegance, even if they're the ones breaking all the rules. Since this is Sidney Poitier in a nutshell, there's no one else we'd rather learn life's lessons from.

Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society: There are some, I am told, who found this movie uninspiring. They didn't wish for a teacher like Williams' John Keating, who asks his students to carpe diem, stand on their desks and "suck the marrow out of life." They weren't moved when he got Ethan Hawke to recite poetry in class and Robert Sean Leonard to follow his dream of acting. They didn't weep when the class saluted his farewell with "O Captain, My Captain." To these some, I say, you must have hearts of stone!

Edward James Olmos, Stand and Deliver: Now you know Edward James Olmos from Battlestar Galactica, but back in 1988 he turned in his career-defining (and Oscar-nominated) performance as Jaime Escalante, a teacher in East L.A. who made math fun. 'K, maybe not fun, but got his students to excel in it. "Math is the great equalizer," he says. Wise words indeed.

Robert Donat, Goodbye, Mr. Chips: Coming out of the golden year of cinema (1939), Robert Donat beat Clark Gable for Best Actor at the Oscars with his performance in this film, about a teacher who reflects on nearly five decades of students. That he's disliked and unpopular after he arrives only makes the poignancy that much deeper when he reflects in his old age on whether he ever made a difference.

Morgan Freeman, Lean on Me: How does a principal bring  calm to a school overrun by violence and drugs? With a baseball bat of course! He's not technically a classroom teacher, but if you're looking for a more upbeat  teacher movie after weeping through the last four, watch one of the most beloved actors of all time carry the whole movie on his broad, proud shoulders.

Honorable mention

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kindergarten Cop: Who else spends the entire class making his kids practice the fire drill, play "police school," and interrogate them about their fathers in case one is the drug-dealing convict he's been chasing across the country, and still gets them prepared to recite the Gettysburg Address? Only Ahnuld.

Who are your favorite movie teachers?

--Ellen

Comments

[nichole on May 08, 2008 at 04:15 AM]

Thanks for the honorable mention of Kindergarten Cop. My sister and I love that movie and your brief summary hits all of the reasons why, with the exception of "It's not a tumor".

[Cate Cavanagh on May 08, 2008 at 04:34 AM]

Not all teachers teach in a building! Sometimes a teacher can be someone with a different perspective in and on life. This person can be a friend or family member.

In my book, Her Godmother, Allie who is saddened by her father's alcoholism, is sent to visit her godmother. Her mother wants Allie to be in a different place to distract from the breakup of her family.

What Allie discovers is that her godmother is a unique teacher that has a different a different way teaching Allie how to heal.

This book will appeal to adults as well as upper grad school student, middle school and high school students and even adults!

Stop by and take a peek. You will have to add this book to your reading list...

[Anna on May 08, 2008 at 08:10 AM]

Alas,you forget the campy and cheesy "Goodbye Mr. Chips" remake starring Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark. It's pretty unforgettable&in the "Bad Movies We Love" realm. Petula singing "London is London" and hitting on O'Toole with "Let's make whoopee!!" and O'Toole attempting to sing... it's priceless.

[Jade on May 08, 2008 at 12:05 PM]

Mona Lisa Smile, starring Julia Roberts, was also a very touching movie. Roberts' character teaches her students that it is okay to break out of their stereotypical roles; she also ends up learning a bit about herself.

[Roderick Reilly on May 08, 2008 at 12:21 PM]

Yes, "Mona Lisa Smile" wasn't bad, even though I'm not a Julia Roberts fan.

"Ahnuldt" taught the kids the Gettysburg Address, not the Declaration of Independence.

[J on May 08, 2008 at 12:23 PM]

What about Sam Kinison in Back to School?

[Milton Stanley on May 08, 2008 at 12:28 PM]

Don't forget Richard Dreyfuss in Mr. Holland's Opus. Maybe this one appeals mostly to band geeks, but Mr. Holland was still a good one.

[Phil Marlowe on May 08, 2008 at 12:28 PM]

Poitier & Donat were the best but even though he didn't teach in a school, Henry Higgins did a great job of teaching Eliza Doolitle to speak proper English. Plus before Eliza he did first rate research.

[Phil Marlowe on May 08, 2008 at 12:29 PM]

Poitier & Donat were the best but even though he didn't teach in a school, Henry Higgins did a great job of teaching Eliza Doolitle to speak proper English. Plus before Eliza he did first rate research.

[Kevin Baker on May 08, 2008 at 12:32 PM]

It's sappy, but I liked Richard Dreyfus in "Mr. Holland's Opus"

[edh on May 08, 2008 at 12:33 PM]

As I remember, what I found uninspiring and so forgettable about Dead Poets was the teacher exhorting his students to fight for everything in life with their first and last breath, and then when he eventually gets fired by the school he leaves the manicured grounds with his tail between his legs.

Am I wrong in my recollection?

[Adam on May 08, 2008 at 12:36 PM]

Mr. Hand...Fast Times at Ridgemont High

[Jim on May 08, 2008 at 12:36 PM]

Jack Black in "School of Rock," of course.

[Eric Youngstrom on May 08, 2008 at 12:37 PM]

Harrison Ford as Professor Indiana Jones - by far the coolest professor on the planet. It's not high school, but it's still a teaching job.

[Matt on May 08, 2008 at 12:39 PM]

Richard Dreyfus in "Mr. Holland's Opus" has to be on the list! It's the greatest teacher role in any movie, IMHO.

[law grad on May 08, 2008 at 12:40 PM]

I'm not sure a law school professor qualifies as a "teacher," but if so, surely Prof. Kingsfield from The Paper Chase belongs on the list.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qHEBABE6PU&feature=related

[J_Story on May 08, 2008 at 12:41 PM]

Kesuke Miyagi is my nominee for non-traditional teacher. He teaches Daniel-san more than his school teachers did.

[BuddyPC on May 08, 2008 at 12:43 PM]

Write ins for Glenn Ford's Mr. Dadier in "The Blackboard Jungle" and for Richard Mulligan's Mr. Gower in "Teachers".

"What is the name of this river?!!"

Adam, good call on Mr. Hand.

[johnshade on May 08, 2008 at 12:45 PM]

Obviously the answer is Maggie Smith doling out wisdom to her "gels" as Miss Jean Brodie. Runner-up is Prof. Henry Higgins teaching Eliza how to talk proper.

[Mark W on May 08, 2008 at 12:50 PM]

Where's Ben Stein?

[Chris L. on May 08, 2008 at 12:55 PM]

#1 - Anne Bancroft as "Teacher" to Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker.

Also - agree with johnshade that Miss Jean Brodie and Henry Higgins deserve to be on the list!

[Brett on May 08, 2008 at 12:55 PM]

Beuller? Beuller?

[Ardsgaine on May 08, 2008 at 12:56 PM]

Where's Ben Stein?

He got expelled. :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2luAeK0Tuu8

[Independent George on May 08, 2008 at 12:56 PM]

Bonus points to Escalante/Olmos for being, you know, an actual dude. Sadly, the movie wasn't the end of the story.

[Barry on May 08, 2008 at 12:57 PM]

Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Penelope Milford in Heathers.
Ray Walston in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Probably the three most hauntingly realistic performances by actors playing teachers, in my Generation X memory.

[Independent George on May 08, 2008 at 12:58 PM]

Ok, I didn't realize hyperlinks were disabled. Full story here:

http://www.reason.com/news/show/28479.html

[Scott on May 08, 2008 at 12:59 PM]

Stand and Deliver. I'm a university professor today, partially, because of that movie.

I hope someday I can thank Olmos in person.

[Tom on May 08, 2008 at 01:01 PM]

Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

[Eric on May 08, 2008 at 01:03 PM]

Indiana Jones. Smart and a registered Bad A--

[Rex Luscat on May 08, 2008 at 01:06 PM]

Bette Davis in "The Corn is Green."

[ShoreMark on May 08, 2008 at 01:06 PM]

I like the list and especially Stand and Deliver. But I also enjoyed Dangerous Minds with Michele Pfieffer.

[Ardsgaine on May 08, 2008 at 01:09 PM]

Don't forget Mr. Kerber from Better Off Dead. Now there's a guy who could motivate a class.

[jblog on May 08, 2008 at 01:16 PM]

Isn't anyone gonna nominate Eve Arden, who played Principal McGee in "Grease"?

Anyone?

Yeah, uh, me neither. Just thought I would ask.

[jblog on May 08, 2008 at 01:18 PM]

Isn't anyone gonna nominate Eve Arden, who played Principal McGee in "Grease"?

Anyone?

Yeah, uh, me neither. Just thought I would ask.

[Synyxguy on May 08, 2008 at 01:20 PM]

Sean Connery in Finding Forrester.

[stan on May 08, 2008 at 01:22 PM]

Kingsfield, contracts professor in the Paper Chase.

[daddy on May 08, 2008 at 01:22 PM]

Ned Schneeeeb...Just call me Mister S.

[RealTeacherToday on May 08, 2008 at 01:23 PM]

Why in the world do so many like Mr. Holland? The letch was all over the teen aged girl...what was her name? Preying on teenagers is not an admirable quality

[Mark Poling on May 08, 2008 at 01:27 PM]

"So certain are you. Always with you it cannot be done. Hear you nothing that I say?"

What, no props for Yoda?

[Robbie on May 08, 2008 at 01:30 PM]

Mr. Holland also gets my top vote. But right after him is Ben Kingsley as chess coach Bruce Pandolfini in Searching for Bobby Fisher.

[Mike R on May 08, 2008 at 01:36 PM]

How about Mel Gibson as Justin McLeod in The Man Without a Face?

[Pat Berry on May 08, 2008 at 01:42 PM]

Yoda. And Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-wan Kenobi.

Morpheus.

Chiun, last master of Sinanju.

[wcgreen on May 08, 2008 at 01:44 PM]

If not Ben Stein, how about Danny Devito in Renaissance Man?

[Fred the Fourth on May 08, 2008 at 01:45 PM]

Clint Eastwood.

What, you don't remember? He was Dr. Hemlock, art-collecting prof in "The Eiger Sanction". Contract assassination and mountain-climbing were just sidelines :-) Pre-dates Indy Jones by a few years, too.

[iowaboy on May 08, 2008 at 01:46 PM]

NIck Nolte in "Teachers." Top of the list: Saves Ralph Macchio and Laura Dern, gets drunk with Judd Hirsch, nabs JoBeth Williams, stands up the school board, the principal and the lawyers and is the only one cool enough to recognize the genius in mental patient turned substitute teacher Richard Mulligan.

You skipped Nolte? This goes on your permanent record.

[Starling on May 08, 2008 at 01:59 PM]

Sandy Dennis in Up The Down Staircase. She played a teacher with a fragile, tentative manner, who faced-down and gained the respect of a classroom full of thuggish cynical slum kids. Incidentally, the film was based on the book by the same name. It was a memoir by Bel Kaufman about her years teaching in the NYC school system. An additional biographical note: Kaufman's grandfather was the yiddish author Sholem Alechim (sp?) who wrote the book Tevye's Daughters on which the musical Fiddler On The Roof was based.

[Dan on May 08, 2008 at 02:00 PM]

It was a little formulaic, but I liked Jim Belushi in "The Principal". The only time I ever saw someone mix chocolate mix with beer.

[Multiuseless on May 08, 2008 at 02:44 PM]

When it comes to teachers on film. I always think of J. Voight in Conrack. and my second would be Mr. Hand of Fast Times

[Jonathan on May 08, 2008 at 02:58 PM]

DPS would have been survivable if they hadn't featured the least impressive poems in the history of Western Literature. Any five items from the Perrine AP English book would have been a better basis for a movie.

Also, I totally agree with Red's decision not to underwrite his son's liberal arts degree. If the kid is drawn towards a field of study for which no market demand exists, he should be allowed, but also get to pay for it himself.

[Bodhi on May 08, 2008 at 03:28 PM]

Kevin Kline in "The Emperor's Club"

[Mike on May 08, 2008 at 04:04 PM]

Michael Caine as Frank in Educating Rita.

[A. Smith on May 08, 2008 at 04:13 PM]

Mr. Hand! (Fast Times at Ridgemont High).
"My name is Mr. Hand.
I have but one question for you.
Can you attend my class?
It's for your own good, and if you won't and I can make you."

also, "what are you people, on dope?"

[A. Smith on May 08, 2008 at 04:14 PM]

Mr. Hand! (Fast Times at Ridgemont High).
"My name is Mr. Hand.
I have but one question for you.
Can you attend my class?
It's for your own good, and if you won't and I can make you."

also, "what are you people, on dope?"

[Mike Murphy on May 08, 2008 at 04:14 PM]

How old are you people? #1 is the Jesuitical John Houseman in "Paper Chase"

[Andrea on May 08, 2008 at 04:17 PM]

Coincidentally, I saw "Dead Poet's Society" today -- sappy, ham-handed & trite, it was.

Ahhh but to be one of Miss Brodie's "gels"! They are the "clem de la clem," and so is she.

[pat mills on May 08, 2008 at 05:06 PM]

Seems like the only good teachers are American. Did someone forget Dr Frank Byant (Michael Caine) in Educating Rita? The way teachers should be - drunk and bored and brilliant.

[Jonno on May 08, 2008 at 05:49 PM]

Albert Finney in The Browning Version.

[Kelvin Oliver on May 08, 2008 at 06:23 PM]

FREEDOM WRITERS - Hilary Swank

[BumperStickerist on May 08, 2008 at 06:32 PM]

Tom Berenger in "The Substitute" ...

I keed, I keed

well, sorta ...

[sagman44 on May 08, 2008 at 06:51 PM]

I can't believe nobody's mentioned Samuel Jackson in "187."

The grittiest depiction of inner city schools I've ever seen. "Blackboard Jungle," "Dangerous Minds" -- they're "Mary Poppins" next to "187." Jackson is brilliant. It is most definitely not a feelgood movie, and the ending is shocking, but you come away from it strangely moved.

[Mike Murphy on May 08, 2008 at 06:59 PM]

OK, I'll give you Maurice Micklethwaite, er, Michael Caine.

[nino on May 08, 2008 at 07:13 PM]

Prof Turgesson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bfgrj_62-Y

[docweasel on May 08, 2008 at 08:42 PM]

Michael Caine in "Educating Rita"- He's drunk, he's profane, he falls down a lot, he disco dances. But he teaches and is entertaining doing so.

What a bunch of stereo-typical "feel good" teachers you have up there. Thank god the execrable Kevin Spacey didn't make your list of his turn at "sensitive teacher" but God only knows why, you pushed every other cliched button.

Excuse me, but Robin Williams' character sucked. He interferes in a student's personal life and is directly culpable in the student committing suicide. Nice, Robin. That's not even mentioning all the empty platitudes and useless sloganeering that passed for "encouraging" people. Suck the marrow out of life? Gross. Get off the desk and tell me what I need to know to pass the friggin' exam and get out of this class. Poetry sucks, you're an over-acting ham and all the guys in the class are a bunch of nancyboys who need a good slap more than anything. Take them to titty bar, get them a drunk lapdance if you want to teach them about life and women. Its the greatest analogy you'll ever find.

Of course, IRL school authorities might frown on that move, but at least it doesn't get your student killed.

[malclave on May 08, 2008 at 09:17 PM]

Tia Carrere in "High School High". And, although it was a TV show rather than a movie, "Relic Hunter".

Yeah, okay, I admit it... I just have a thing for Tia Carrere.

[comatus on May 08, 2008 at 09:36 PM]

Uehida Hyakken-sama, played by Tatsuo Matsamura in Kurosawa's "Madadayo." Kurosawa's last film.

[R. Eye on May 08, 2008 at 10:59 PM]

Donald Sutherland as Prof. Dave Jennings in ANIMAL HOUSE.

[law grad on May 09, 2008 at 06:51 AM]

I was one of those who recommended Kingsfield from Paper Chase. Glad to see it was seconded and thirded.

But most important, I am SO glad to hear that I'm not the only one who thought that Dead Poets Society was overrated tripe. My wife and my friends all love the movie, so I have to play along and pretend it was deep. It's crap. Reading poems while kicking soccer balls? Please. And I'm someone who loves poetry. You don't need to act like an idiot or go to some cave to enjoy "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." Just read it and think.

And some idiotic student commits suicide because his father doesn't agree with his acting? Perhaps Williams should have talked to Dad first? Perhaps Williams should be sued by said father?

There is a great parody of Williams: In the movie, he rips the pages out of the poetry textbook. In one episode of The Office, Michael visits Ryan's business school, borrows a student's textbook, and starts ripping out the pages. Then he engages in the same type of platitudes that Williams did. Good stuff.

[ak on May 09, 2008 at 07:27 AM]

"Obviously the answer is Maggie Smith doling out wisdom to her "gels" as Miss Jean Brodie." Miss Brodie was so ca-razy. We would've loved her in high school.

My nomination is for Rosalind Russell in "The Trouble With Angels." And I'll give a nod to the poor guy who had to spend his Saturday monitoring detention in "The Breakfast Club."

[Dapper Dan on May 09, 2008 at 08:37 AM]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned any of the Hogwarts teachers yet :)

[Williamsburg eevve on May 09, 2008 at 06:31 PM]

Sagman44 i am with you on this one. 187 is one of the best teacher movies out there, it has a tight plot and nice cinematography to go with the story. Samuel L. Jackson 1997.