Some of us have been lucky enough to have had great teachers. For me, my two favorites were my fourth grade teacher and my seventh grade English teacher. A great teacher can really inspire you to work harder and as I have also learned, the bad ones can make your life a living hell (cough, cough, Mr. Childress). While no musical symphonies have swelled in the background during my triumphs, both teachers taught me about life and the value of literature. Since THE KING’S SPEECH is the front runner to win the Oscar for Best Picture, I have chosen to write about other films that shine the spotlight on student- teacher relationships.
Colin Firth plays King George VI, who, to overcome his stutter, is introduced to Lionel Logue, an unorthodox speech therapist played by Geoffrey Rush. The two men become friends as they work together, and after his brother abdicates, the King relies on Logue to help him make a radio broadcast at the beginning of World War II. The film is beautifully shot but I don’t think it’s nearly as great as the Academy wants you to think it is. Brilliant acting performances from Rush and Firth, but overall I felt it was flat dramatically and not compelling enough.
The following are my top five student- teacher relationship films. A special thanks goes out to all my former teachers who inspired me and to my friend Daynah who coached me in the right direction for this week’s column. Cue the swelling Hollywood musical score now!
DEAD POETS SOCIETY: Director Peter Weir has created a masterpiece with this movie. English teacher John Keating (Robin Williams) inspires his class at the fictional Welton Academy, an all boys prep school, the meaning of “carpe diem” (seize the day) and instills in them a love of poetry. Rounding out the brilliant cast are Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles. The film won an Oscar for Best Screenplay, and was also nominated for Best Director and Best Actor. Part coming of age film, part love letter to English professors, this film inspires. I still get weepy when I think of the Walt Whitman poem, “O Captain! My Captain!”
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: One of Clint Eastwood’s best directorial works and winner of the Best Picture and Director Oscars. It’s no surprise Hilary Swank also won an Oscar for her performance as Maggie, a wannabe female boxer who hires a begrudging Frankie (Eastwood) as her trainer/manager. Their relationship is not only professional in nature – it morphs into something more as Frankie starts to see her as his surrogate daughter. He even gives her a Gaelic nickname, “mo cuishle,” and when its meaning is revealed, you will feel as if there is a ton of bricks sitting on your chest. I defy you not to cry!
THE KARATE KID: “Wax on. Wax off.” One of the many lessons Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) teaches young Daniel-san (Ralph Macchio) in this heartwarming story. In order to stand up to his school bullies, Daniel learns karate from his building handyman. Miyagi teaches him there is more to the martial art than fighting. This is a classic underdog story that was molded by director John Avildsen’s previous success with ROCKY. Both a critical and commercial success, the film earned Morita a Best Supporting Actor nomination. Elisabeth Shue and 80’s go-to bad guy William Zabka (“Sweep the leg, Johnny!”) also co-star in this classic.
STAR WARS: EPISODE V – THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: Arguably one of the most famous student-teacher relationships on screen is that of Jedi master Yoda and Luke Skywalker. While Vader chases Han Solo, Princess Leia, and others across the galaxy, Luke studies the Force under Yoda. But when Vader captures Luke’s friends, Luke must decide whether to complete his training and become a full Jedi Knight or to confront Vader and save his comrades. Like Mr. Miyagi after him, Yoda alternates between comedic imp and serious sensei. And he bestows some memorable nuggets of advice on Luke: “Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try.” It won the Oscar for Best Sound but also the film is widely regarded as one of the best sequels of all time and the favorite chapter in the STAR WARS canon.
MY FAIR LADY: George Cukor’s musical masterpiece and winner of eight Academy Awards that stars Rex Harrison as a misogynistic and snobbish phonetics professor who agrees to a wager that he can take flower girl Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) and make her presentable in high society. What he doesn’t bargain for is that they will fall in love. This film obviously advances the student-teacher relationship further than THE KING’S SPEECH, but similarly, our good Professor Higgins offers Miss Doolittle some tips and tricks on how to speak properly. Who can forget that the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain?! You won’t after seeing this.
