Dangerous Minds (1995)

Director:

John N. Smith

Writers (WGA):

LouAnne Johnson (book)
Ronald Bass (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 August 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

She Broke The Rules... And Changed Their Lives.

Plot:

An ex-marine teacher struggles to connect with her students in an inner city schools.

Plot Keywords:

Student | Teacher | School | Teaching | High School

Awards:

5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Louanne Johnson
George Dzundza	...	Hal Griffith
Courtney B. Vance	...	George Grandey
Robin Bartlett	...	Carla Nichols
Beatrice Winde	...	Mary Benton
John Neville	...	Waiter
Lorraine Toussaint	...	Irene Roberts
Renoly Santiago	...	Raul Sanchero
Wade Dominguez	...	Emilio Ramirez
Bruklin Harris	...	Callie Roberts
Marcello Thedford	...	Cornelius Bates
Roberto Alvarez	...	Gusmaro Rivera
Richard Grant	...	Durrell Benton
Marisela Gonzales	...	Angela
Toni Nichelle Buzhardt	...	Nikki
Norris Young	...	Kareem
Rahman Ibraheem	...	Big 'G'
Desire Galvez	...	Taiwana
Wilson Limpo	...	Roderick
Raymond Grant	...	Lionel Benton
Veronica Robles	...	Stephanie
Michael Archuleta	...	Oso
Deshanda Carter	...	Tanyekia
Ebony Jerido	...	Deanne
Brandi Younger	...	Grip
Asia Minor	...	Pam
Karina Arroyave	...	Josy
Paula Garcés	...	Alvina
Ivan Sergei	...	Huero
Mark Prince Edwards	...	P J
Ismael Archuleta	...	Lalo
Skye Bassett	...	Jody
Gaura Vani Buchwald	...	Warlock (as Gaura Buchwald)
Cynthia Avila	...	Mrs. Sanchero
Roman Cisneros	...	Mr. Sanchero (as Roman J. Cisneros)
Camille Winbush	...	Tyeisha Roberts
Al Israel	...	Mr. Santiego
Brian Anthony	...	Joey
Jason Gutman	...	Adam
Lara Spotts	...	Dianna
Danny Strong	...	Student
Boris Vaks	...	Student
Irene Olga López	...	Woman #1 / School Office
Jeff Feringa	...	Librarian #1
Sarah Marshall	...	Librarian #2
Freez Luv	...	Security Guard (as Freez-Luv)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andy Garcia	...	(scenes deleted)
Rico E. Anderson	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Nathan Bexton	...	(uncredited)
J. Neil Bloomer	...	Extra (uncredited)
Kim Giancaterino	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
William Peña	...	(uncredited)
Victor Togunde	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
John N. Smith

Writing credits (WGA)
LouAnne Johnson		(book "My Posse Don't Do Homework")
Ronald Bass		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jerry Bruckheimer	....	producer
Lucas Foster	....	executive producer
Kate Guinzburg	....	executive producer
Sandra Rabins	....	executive producer
Don Simpson	....	producer

Original Music by
Lisa Coleman		(as Wendy & Lisa)
Wendy Melvoin		(as Wendy & Lisa)

Cinematography by
Pierre Letarte		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tom Rolf

Casting by
Bonnie Timmermann

Production Design by
Donald Graham Burt

Art Direction by
Nancy Patton

Set Decoration by
Catherine Mann

Costume Design by
Bobbie Read

Makeup Department
Marietta Carter-Narcisse	....	key makeup artist
Carolyn Ferguson	....	hair stylist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	key hair stylist
Sheila Evers	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Kris Ravetto	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Peter Bogart	....	unit production manager
Kim Boyle	....	production supervisor
Mike Stenson	....	executive in charge of production: Walt Disney Studios (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jerry Grandey	....	first assistant director
Jessica Kreps	....	second second assistant director
Carlos Ramírez	....	dga trainee
Eric Wall	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Tim Ackers	....	stand-by painter
Carol Decarr	....	on-set dresser
Bruce Di Valerio	....	construction coordinator
Tracy Farrington	....	property master
William Galloway	....	second assistant props
Bobby Joe Garren	....	greensman
Robert Loyal Good	....	assistant property master
George E. Hanson	....	paint foreman
Jeff L. Johnson	....	propmaker gangboss
Steve Perea	....	labor foreman
Michele Tedlis	....	art department coordinator
Philip Toolin	....	set designer
Jerry Wax	....	lead man
Elixandro Diaz Jr.	....	plaster foreman (uncredited)
Victor M. Shannon	....	plasterer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Petra Bach	....	adr supervisor
Jeff Clark	....	sound editor
Terrance Emerson	....	boom operator (as Terry Emerson)
Thomas Giordano	....	cable person
Michael Herbick	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Leveque	....	adr editor
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Moriana	....	foley walker
David M. Ronne	....	sound mixer
John Stacy	....	supervising sound editor
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Behle	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Bruno Roussel	....	assistant sound engineer (uncredited)
Janelle Showalter	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Gregg Silk	....	assistant sound engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Darrell Pritchett	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Jay Caputto	....	stunts
Bernie Pock	....	stunt coordinator
Bernie Pock	....	stunt student

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Aredas	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Linda R. Chen	....	still photographer
Andrea Chesney	....	second assistant camera
Frank Del Boccio	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Lawrence J. Escobedo	....	grip
Raymond Gonzales	....	lamp operators
Michael M. Krevitt	....	key grip
Víctor Pérez	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Andy Ryan	....	rigging gaffer
Lydia Smith	....	film loader
Chris Squires	....	camera operator
Tom Stern	....	chief lighting technician
Rodney Taylor	....	first assistant camera
Joseph D. Urbanczyk	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Charles W. Wayt	....	dolly grip
Thomas D. Wazney	....	best boy grip
Paul Jacobsen	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Alison E. McBryde	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yvette Ammon	....	costumer
Gala Autumn	....	costume supervisor
Alexandra Balahoutis	....	assistant costumer
Rhona Myers	....	key costumer
Rhona Meyers	....	costumer (uncredited)
Romeo Pompa	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Andi Kasen Bergman	....	first assistant editor
Richard Conkling	....	apprentice film editor
Vicki Hiatt	....	associate editor
Bob Putynkowski	....	color timer
Mike Boggio	....	editorial intern (uncredited)
Gabriel Wrye	....	first assistant editor (uncredited)
Gina Zappala	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music editor
Tim Mosley	....	song producer
Kathy Nelson	....	music supervisor
Carmen Rizzo	....	consultant: musical score
Cedra Walton	....	music consultant
Alex Gibson	....	music editor (uncredited)
Denise Okimoto	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Stephen A. Latina	....	transportation captain
Tom F. Thomas	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Gregory Bartlett	....	assistant location manager
Noel Bermudez	....	production accountant
Elijah Bryant	....	swing persons
Robert Burgos	....	acting coach
Robert Dawson	....	title designer
Andrew Form	....	assistant: Jerry Bruckheimer
Barry Gremillion	....	location manager
Gabriela Gutentag	....	unit publicist
Connie Johnson	....	production associate
Todd Marrero	....	assistant: Don Simpson
June Samson	....	script supervisor
Karen Shaw	....	production coordinator
Leslie Shevick	....	production assistant
Kai Thorup	....	location scout
Carmen Wasil	....	first aid
Barbara Williams	....	assistant production coordinator
John Zarchen	....	assistant acting coach
Grant Axton	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Vanessa Bendetti	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tim Monich	....	dialect coach (uncredited)
Lorielle New	....	photo double (uncredited)
Lorielle New	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Rick Scheil	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Hollywood Pictures
• Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
• Via Rosa Productions

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1995) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Sweden) (1995) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1996) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1996) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1998) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Home Video (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Gativideo (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• MCA Soundtracks  soundtrack
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers
• R.E.D. Productions  title design
• RIDICULOUS Pictures  music videos
• SoundStorm  sound editing
• Warner Hollywood Studios  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

My Posse Don't Do Homework (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #33926) | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG | Chile:14 | Denmark:12 | Finland:K-10 | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Burlingame, California, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

Originally entitled "My Posse Don't Do Homework", the name of the book from which this true story was taken.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Raul gets dragged away by the police from his fight with Emilio you can see that his ponytail is ruined, but in the next shot when they got out of the school his ponytail was back.

Quotes:

Mr. Grandey: This wouldn't happened to have been their reward for reading poetry would it?
Louanne: In my classroom, poetry is its own reward.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Blood on the Land: The Making of a King (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

LET ME DIE IN MY FOOTSTEPS

Great movie!...

I'm not about to call this movie a "feel-good movie" or a "coming-of-age-tale." What am I gonna do is call it what it really is - a great movie.

Michelle Pfeiffer is at her best. She is absolutely fantastic in this movie. The actors in the classroom hold their own against her as well.

Basically, the plot is as follows: White teacher enters a mostly-minority "alternative" (read: group of kids that act out) classroom and commands respect. In turn, she changes their lives as they change hers. It's basically the story of Raul, Emilio, and Carrie, and how they cope with life as a result of Ms. Johnson.

The movie has some really good lines (my favorite: "You asked me how I was gonna save your life. This is it. This moment.") and really good drama. Sure, some of it is hokey-it-only-happens-in-the-movies, but the majority of it is good. I'm a guy, and I shed a few tears.

Overall: 9/10.