Lean on Me (1989)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

John G. Avildsen

Writer (WGA):

Michael Schiffer (written by)

Release Date:

3 March 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A true story about a real hero.

Plot:

The dedicated but tyrannical Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner-city school that he is determined to improve.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | High School | Inner City | Violence | Test

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Morgan Freeman	...	Principal Joe Clark
Beverly Todd	...	Ms. Levias
Robert Guillaume	...	Dr. Frank Napier
Alan North	...	Mayor Don Bottman
Lynne Thigpen	...	Leonna Barrett
Robin Bartlett	...	Mrs. Elliott
Michael Beach	...	Mr. Darnell
Ethan Phillips	...	Mr. Rosenberg
Sandra Reaves-Phillips	...	Mrs. Powers
Sloane Shelton	...	Mrs. Hamilton
Jermaine 'Huggy' Hopkins	...	Thomas Sams
Karen Malina White	...	Kaneesha Carter
Karina Arroyave	...	Maria
Ivonne Coll	...	Mrs. Santos
Regina Taylor	...	Mrs. Carter

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish | Portuguese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Iceland:L (video rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Norway:15 | USA:PG-13 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Paterson, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Real-life students and teachers from Eastside High appeared as extras in this film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The practice exam booklet reads "New Jersey Minimun Basic Skills Tests"...probably the last place the school board (or the film's producers) would want a spelling error.

Quotes:

Dr. Frank Napier: [to Joe] It's like you're a Big Bird with radar. And I'm tired of getting hit!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Simpsons: Grade School Confidential (#8.19)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

EVERYBODY IS SOMEBODY

One of the most inspiring movies i've seen....

I recently rented this movie because I am a huge Morgan Freeman fan, and I was amazed at how inspiring it was. Freeman is truly amazing in this movie. He is perfect for this strong part of principal at Eastside High. His disciplined yet loving authority was fun to watch. Also in the cast, Mr Darnell(Michael Beach) and Dr. Frank Napier(Robert Guillaume) along with Joe Clark(Morgan Freeman) were probably the most dominant actors. There was also a great supporting cast as listed above. Mayor Don Bottman(Alan North) played the perfect power hungry politician for this movie.

I would recommend this movie to anyone out there. I truly believe it belongs in the top 250.