The dedicated but tyrannical Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner-city school he is determined to improve by any and all means.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 3 wins & 6 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Morgan Freeman | ... |
Principal Joe Clark
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| Beverly Todd | ... |
Ms. Levias
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| Robert Guillaume | ... |
Dr. Frank Napier
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| Alan North | ... |
Mayor Don Bottman
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| Lynne Thigpen | ... |
Leonna Barrett
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| Robin Bartlett | ... |
Mrs. Elliott
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| Michael Beach | ... |
Mr. Darnell
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| Ethan Phillips | ... |
Mr. Rosenberg
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| Sandra Reaves-Phillips | ... |
Mrs. Powers
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| Sloane Shelton | ... |
Mrs. Hamilton
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Jermaine Hopkins | ... |
Thomas Sams
(as Jermaine 'Huggy' Hopkins)
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| Karen Malina White | ... |
Kaneesha Carter
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| Karina Arroyave | ... |
Maria
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| Ivonne Coll | ... |
Mrs. Santos
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| Regina Taylor | ... |
Mrs. Carter
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Michael P. Moran | ... |
Mr. O'Malley
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John Ring | ... |
Fire Chief Gaines
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| Tyrone Jackson | ... |
Clarence
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Alex Romaguera | ... |
Kid Ray
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| Tony Todd | ... |
Mr. William Wright
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| Mike Starr | ... |
Mr. Zirella
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Michael Best | ... |
The Eastside 'Songbirds'
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Stephen Capers Jr. | ... |
The Eastside 'Songbirds'
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Dwayne Jones | ... |
The Eastside 'Songbirds'
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Kenneth Kelly | ... |
The Eastside 'Songbirds'
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Yvette Hawkins | ... |
Mrs. Arthur
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Nicole Quinn | ... |
Lillian
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Elsie Hilario | ... |
Louisa
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Michael A. Joseph | ... |
Brian Banes
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Richard Grusin | ... |
Mr. Danley
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Jim Moody | ... |
Mr. Lott
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Veniece Ross | ... |
Sally
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Raúl González | ... |
Ramon
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| Johanna Tolentino | ... |
Conchita
(as Luz Tolentino)
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Andre Howell | ... |
Reggie
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Nancy Gathers | ... |
Tanya
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Corey Ginn | ... |
Charles Yale
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Marina Durell | ... |
Miss Ruiz
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Nathalee Fairmon | ... |
Nathalee
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Hershel Slappy | ... |
Rev. Slappy
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Todd Alexander | ... |
Derrick
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| Anthony Figueroa | ... |
Hoodlum at Microphone
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| Delilah Cotto | ... |
Chita
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Frances Sousa | ... |
Francesca
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Lynda La Vergne | ... |
Student
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Robert Kamlot | ... |
Photographer
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Linda M. Salgado | ... |
Linda
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Markus Toure Boddie | ... |
Markus
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Ashon Curvy | ... |
Ashon
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| Michael Imperioli | ... |
George
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| Marcella Lowery | ... |
Mrs. Richards
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| Jennifer McComb | ... |
Ellen
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Knowl Johnson | ... |
Tommy
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Anthony G. Avildsen | ... |
Anthony
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| Pat McNamara | ... |
Police Officer
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| Harry Madsen | ... |
Teacher in Cafeteria
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Heather Rose Dominic | ... |
Stacey
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Mario Biazzo | ... |
Student in Cafeteria
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Kisean Blount | ... |
Girl in Cafeteria
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| Bruce Malmuth | ... |
Burger Joint Manager
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Frank Firrito | ... |
White Boy / Singer
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Manuel Carneiro | ... |
White Boy / Singer
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Steve Adrianzen | ... |
White Boy / Singer
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Mushond Lee | ... |
Richard Armand
(as Steven Lee)
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| Ahmed Best | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
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| Monique Dupree | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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Guillermo Heredia | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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| Malik Jubal | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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Steven Lezak | ... |
Man in Crowd / Fighter (uncredited)
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Gwyn English Nielsen | ... |
Background Teacher (uncredited)
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| Gloria Sauve | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Sherri ScottNovoa | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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Richard Velazquez | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
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Michelle L. Wease | ... |
Girl with Big Hair Under Clock Before Test (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John G. Avildsen | ||
Written by
| Michael Schiffer | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| John G. Avildsen | ... | executive producer |
| Michael Schiffer | ... | associate producer |
| Doug Seelig | ... | associate producer |
| Norman Twain | ... | producer |
Music by
| Bill Conti | ||
Cinematography by
| Victor Hammer | ||
Editing by
| John G. Avildsen | ||
| John Carter | ||
Editorial Department
| Trevor Jolly | ... | assistant editor |
| William Kruzykowski | ... | assistant editor |
| Hope Moskowitz | ... | assistant editor |
| Bill Sweeney | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Mary Colquhoun | ||
| Stanley Soble | ||
Production Design by
| Doug Kraner | ||
Art Direction by
| Tim Galvin | ||
Set Decoration by
| Caryl Heller | ||
Costume Design by
| Jennifer von Mayrhauser | ||
Makeup Department
| Annie M. DeMille | ... | hair stylist |
| Toy Van Lierop | ... | makeup department head |
Production Management
| Joseph P. Kane | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Randy N. Barbee | ... | second second assistant director |
| Nelson Cabrera | ... | second second assistant director |
| Joseph Ray | ... | second assistant director |
| Dwight Williams | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Carlos Quiles | ... | construction coordinator |
| Jimmy Raitt | ... | property master |
| John Michael Reefer | ... | assistant property master |
| Manny Sanchez | ... | carpenter |
| Dick Tice | ... | lead man |
Sound Department
| Wayne Artman | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Tom Beckert | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Allan Byer | ... | production sound mixer |
| Tom E. Dahl | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Chris Jargo | ... | dialogue editor |
| Elliott Koretz | ... | sound editor |
| Kim Maitland | ... | boom operator |
| Tom C. McCarthy | ... | supervising sound editor |
| T.J. O'Mara | ... | boom operator (as Terence J. O'Mara) |
| Troy Porter | ... | adr mixer |
| Michael Stone | ... | sound mixer |
| Bill Voigtlander | ... | adr editor |
| Burton Weinstein | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Glenn T. Morgan | ... | assistant sound editor (uncredited) |
Stunts
| John Cintron | ... | stunts |
| Robert Figueroa | ... | stunts |
| Mister Fischer | ... | stunts (as Mark Fischer) |
| Sean Madjette | ... | stunts |
| Harry Madsen | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Malik Moody | ... | stunts (as Mallie Moody) |
| Craig Watson | ... | stunts |
| Greg Wilson | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Bobby Brown | ... | second assistant camera: "a" camera |
| Michael F. Burke | ... | gaffer (as Michael Burke) |
| Russell Engels | ... | best boy (as Rusty Engels) |
| Brian Fitzsimons | ... | best boy |
| Dennis Gamiello | ... | key grip |
| Alec Hirschfeld | ... | camera operator |
| Marc Hirschfeld | ... | first assistant camera |
| Michael L. Kiddon | ... | first assistant camera |
| Anastas N. Michos | ... | camera operator |
| Kathina Szeto | ... | second assistant camera |
| Barry Wetcher | ... | still photographer |
Casting Department
| Scott McKinley | ... | casting assistant |
| Hedy Stempler | ... | casting assistant (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Andrea Ross | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
Location Management
| Art Smith Jr. | ... | location assistant |
| David Ticotin | ... | location manager |
| Chip Miller | ... | location assistant (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Brooks Arthur | ... | music producer |
| Glen Ballard | ... | music producer |
| George Craig | ... | music editor |
| Stephen A. Hope | ... | music editor |
| John Rotondi | ... | scoring engineer: Y4 |
| Sally Stevens | ... | singer/vocal contractor |
| Dan Wallin | ... | score mixer |
| Bill Conti | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Scottie Haskell | ... | score vocalist (uncredited) |
| Celia Weiner | ... | music editor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Ira Hurvitz | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Joseph Fanning | ... | transportation coordinator |
Additional Crew
| Mary Fellows | ... | production assistant |
| John Gregg | ... | craft service |
| Solomon J. LeFlore | ... | production financing |
| Barbara R. Miller | ... | production accountant |
| Dale M. Nielsen | ... | assistant production coordinator (as Dale M. Pierce) |
| Angela Salgado | ... | key production assistant |
| Richard Spector | ... | production assistant |
| David H. Venghaus Jr. | ... | production assistant |
Thanks
| Tracy Brooks Swope | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1989) (United States) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1990) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1990) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1993) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Home Box Office (HBO) (1990) (United States) (tv) (first-run)
- Movie Plus (2007) (Japan) (tv)
- NITV (2024) (Australia) (tv)
- SBS Movies (2024) (Australia) (tv)
- United Paramount Network (UPN) (United States) (tv)
- WWOR (United States) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (2004) (Japan) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1990) (West Germany) (video)
- Warner Home Video (1991) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1993) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- Warner Home Video (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1998) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (1998) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2000) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2010) (United States) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Warner Bros. Records (soundtrack)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
An arrogant and unorthodox teacher returns as principal to the idyllic high school from which he had earlier been fired to find it a den of drug abuse, gang violence, and urban despair. Eventually he is successful but unorthodox methods lead to a clash with city officials that threatens to undo all his efforts. Based on a true story.
Written by Keith Loh |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Eastside High was out of control...until Joe Clark took it back. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $10,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $5,000,000, 05 Mar 1989 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The real-life Joe Clark resigned as principal of Eastside High School shortly after the film was released. Around the time the film debuted, he was suspended by the school board for one week, after scheduling an assembly in which dancers stripped down to their G-strings. Clark said he hadn't known about it in advance. Ironically, the man who suspended him was Dr. Frank Napier. After Clark left Eastside, he became an author, and motivational speaker. In 1995, he was hired to run a juvenile detention center in Newark, New Jersey, a position he held until he resigned in 2002. During his time there, he once again came under fire for his controversial methods. See more » |
| Goofs | 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in New York Stories/Farewell to the King/Lean on Me/Out Cold (1989). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Lean on Me See more » |
| Quotes |
Joe Clark:
[in a conference room at city hall]
I don't have time for Mrs. Elliott's problem! Dr. Frank Napier: You better make time! Joe Clark: We are being crucified by a process that is turning blacks into a permanent underclass here, Frank. A permanent underclass! [Dr. Napier turns away from him and puts some papers in his briefcase] Joe Clark: See! See, nobody wants to talk about that! NOBODY! Mrs. Elliott's missionary zeal about Mozart has nothing to do with our problem. Nothing! What good is Mozart going to do a bunch of children who can't go out and get a job? Dr. Frank Napier: Joe, your personal battles are gonna cost us the war. Worry about the test scores. Joe Clark: WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK I'M WORRIED ABOUT? Dr. Frank Napier: END OF DISCUSSION! Debate is over! You will write a formal apology! Joe Clark: I will what? Dr. Frank Napier: A formal apology for your treatment of Mrs. Elliott and Darnell and for your vicious and thoughtless insults to the women of this community! You will kow tow. You will step and fetch! Joe Clark: If you think that I'm gonna... Dr. Frank Napier: [slams briefcase shut] Get used to it! It's the WAY OF THE WORLD! If you're so hot on discipline, then goddammit [pounds on briefcase] Dr. Frank Napier: start by accepting mine because contrary to popular opinion, I'M THE HEAD NIGGER IN CHARGE! [He grabs his briefcase and heads for the door] Dr. Frank Napier: Come on, let's get something to eat. Joe Clark: [following him to the door and walking out with him] Boy... you really think you bad, don't you? See more » |