Movies - Lean on Me

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	Movies - Lean on Me

Lean on Me is a 1989 biographical-drama film written by Michael Schiffer and directed by John G. Avildsen. Lean on Me is based on a true story of Joe Clark, an inner city high school principal in Paterson, New Jersey, whose school is at risk of being overtaken by the New Jersey state government unless students improve their test score.

Plot summary

Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, is plagued with numerous problems, especially those dealing with drugs and gang violence. Furthermore, the students are receiving low scores on their basic skills test. The mayor consults the school superintendent who, in turn, suggests that the school hires Joe Clark as the new principal. The mayor is reluctant at first, knowing what "trouble" Clark caused in the past. But eventually, Clark is hired as the school's principal and things immediately get tense: a handful of undisciplined students are dismissed from the school; a meeting between several parents of students and the academic board only fans the flames; Clark runs into one of the expelled youths, gives him a sharp lecture and then grants him another chance to turn things around; another dismissed student manages to get inside the school and attack another student before Clark comes to break up the fight and order that all the doors are to be chained and locked; the students are prepared for a retake of the basic skills test.

Several other things occur which culminate into a plot between the mayor and the fire chief to arrest Clark for chain-locking the school doors and creating a fire hazard. While Clark is talking to an upset student, a security guard enters the auditorium and alerts him that the police are in the building. Clark then tries to relay an order to lock the doors, but is too late. The fire chief and several officers meet him in the hallway, where the chief plays back a recording of Clark giving the order to lock the doors. He is then arrested and taken away.

That night, while Clark is lying on his jail cell bed, the entire student body from his school converge on city hall, demanding that Clark be released. An aide to the mayor tries to calm the crowd, but to no avail.

Eventually, Clark is freed from custody, and to good news: the students have passed their basic skills exam! With that, Clark shuns the mayor and leads the students in the singing of the school song.

Cast

Awards & nominations

1991 NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture — Morgan Freeman (won)
Outstanding Motion Picture (won)

1990 Young Artist Awards

Young Artist Award Best Motion Picture - Drama (nominated)
Best Young Actor Supporting Role in a Motion Picture — Jermaine 'Huggy' Hopkins (nominated)
Best Young Actress Supporting Role in a Motion Picture — Karen Malina White
(nominated)
Jackie Coogan Award — Norman Twain, producer (nominated)

Trivia

Real-life students and teachers from "Eastside High School" appeared as extras in this film.
Morgan Freeman spent time with the real-life Joe Clark to capture his mannerisms and sayings.
In real life, there was never any threat of a state takeover of Eastside High.
The real-life Joe Clark resigned as principal of Eastside High School the year after this film was released. He became an author and motivational speaker. In August 1995, he was hired to run a juvenile detention center in Newark, New Jersey.
In the auditorium scene where Morgan Freeman's character expels the students on stage, a young Michael Imperioli
(of The Sopranos
) can be seen behind him.
Parts of the film, including the elementary school scenes, were filmed in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Lean on Me ]

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