Rating: R
Genre:
Comedy Drama
Theatrical Release: 09/18/1987(USA)
Release Date: 07/30/2002
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol/Por
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: DS
Run Time: 105 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language
Distributor/Studio: Columbia TriStar
An impulsive but determined white principal brings order and respect to a predominantly African-American and Latino high school in this
comedy-drama from the director of
Young Guns and
That Was Then, This Is Now.
Rick Latimer (
James Belushi), a high-school teacher, is in the process of a divorce when he sees his estranged wife at a bar having drinks with her attorney. Drunk and enraged, he smashes the guy's car up and receives a reprimand from the school board -- a new job as principal at rough-and-tumble Brandel High. Security guard
Jake Phillips (
Louis Gossett Jr.) is soon teaching his new boss the ropes, but
Rick isn't willing to accept the violent and drug-ridden status quo. With a two-word motto -- "No More!" -- he sets about cleaning out the riff-raff, also taking time out to tutor students and get to know
Jake. But when chief thug
Victor (
Michael Wright) refuses to back down, the violence escalates. Eventually,
Victor's vengeance threatens the lives of steely history teacher
Hilary Orozco (
Rae Dawn Chong) -- and
Rick himself.
Kelly Minter, who plays one of Brandel High's troubled students, portrayed a dyslexic in the similarly themed
Summer School the same year
The Principal was released. Screenwriter
Frank Deese would go on to write the
Corey Haim/
Corey Feldman vehicle
License to Drive.
~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
;)
