When principal Joe Clark takes over decaying Eastside High School, he's faced with students wearing gang colors and graffiti-covered walls. Determined to do anything he must to turn the school around, he expels suspected drug dealers, padlocks doors and demands effort and results from students, staff and parents. Autocratic to a fault, this real-life educator put it all on the line.
Acting
Freeman makes authoritarianism weirdly charismatic.
Direction
Same director as Rocky—he knows his underdog beats.
Writing
Lean On Me song integration is camp perfection.
Director
John G. Avildsen
Morgan Freeman
Principal Joe Clark
Beverly Todd
Ms. Levias
Robert Guillaume
Dr. Frank Napier
Ethan Phillips
Mr. Rosenberg
Lynne Thigpen
Leonna Barrett
Michael Beach
Mr. Darnell
Tony Todd
Mr. William Wright
Karen Malina White
Kaneesha Carter
Alan North
Mayor Don Bottman
Robin Bartlett
Mrs. Elliott
Sandra Reaves-Phillips
Mrs. Powers
Sloane Shelton
Mrs. Hamilton
Jermaine Hopkins
Thomas Sams
Karina Arroyave
Maria
Ivonne Coll
Mrs. Santos
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during the 'war on drugs' era, it reflects Reagan-era attitudes that punishment fixes poverty. The real Clark later ran a for-profit school that failed.
Freeman spent time with the real Joe Clark and initially found him 'arrogant'—method preparation for playing an unlikable hero.
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