Teacher, Teacher (1969 TV Movie) User Reviews

Teacher, Teacher still effective after 40 years

[videobrooklyn · 8/10 · 6 August 2009]

I first saw "Teacher, Teacher" when I was about 14 years old, primarily, because I was in love with David McCallum, who played Illya Kuryakin on "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." and because, in the 1960s, the "Hallmark Hall of Fame," specials held the imprimatur of quality television programming. I was so moved by the relationship between teacher and student, played by McCallum and Billy Schulman, that I took the opportunity to see it again at The Museum of Television and Radio some forty years later. The emotional impact of the story still holds up, and now, as a teacher, I appreciate the portrayal of the toughness of teaching a special needs student. With this second viewing, I'm reminded of the genius of Ozzie Davis who gave an understated, multi-layered performance as the handyman and kind of truth-sayer in this story. I may be looking at this film through the lens of nostalgia, but I find that many filmmakers of the 1960s had aspirations of telling stories that made views think about the human condition and social issues that needed closer examination. These films helped mobilize people, to some degree, to change in action or thought about many issues of the day. I think "Teacher, Teacher" like "To, Sir with Love" and "Up the Down Staircase" are quality films that do well in addressing teaching, learning, and the conditions necessary to make learning possible. I'd recommend that you seek out "Teacher, Teacher" and these other films that I have mentioned in this review. They are effective on many levels.

A lasting impression just seeing it once.

[yenlo · 7 June 2000]

I saw this Hall Mark Hall of Fame TV film once when it first aired and have never seen it since. Once however was enough to leave a lasting impression. David McCallum who was well know at the time for his Man from U.N.C.L.E. role is a teacher trying to get his life back on track and accepts a job as a tutor for a mentally retarded youth named Freddie played masterfully by Billy Schulman himself a mentally challenged person.

Ossie Davis is a jack of all trades for the youth's father. While McCallums character struggles to teach Freddie Davis takes a different approach towards the boy and the boy learns a number of things from him. Why this film is not shown more is a shame.

Seeing David McCallum in a different role

[thejcowboy22 · 5/10 · 18 March 2019]

Growing up in the 1960's, the benchmark for judging intelligence among students was limited at best. Many educators preached and believe intelligence was measured by memorization and self discipline. Other factors were thrown out the proverbial window. Unseen intangibles the likes of domestic abuse, sleeping disorders, speech impediments and health issues came into play to obstruct a child's learning potential. Most teachers basically called under performing students, "lazy". Over the following decades learning disabilities where surfacing throughout the country. Numerous testing by major universities on a child's performance gave us different degrees or measurements of intelligence. Widening the spectrum with new syndromes and birth defects all playing into new discoveries i.e., Dyslexia, ADHD, Dyscalculia, Disgraphia, Processing Deficits and Autism the most common.. In this made for television TV movie "Teacher,Teacher", David McCallum who at that time was a major television icon co-starring as the multi talented super agent on NBC's Man From Uncle Show. Here he plays a down and out recovering alcoholic Hamilton Cade who was fired from his regular teaching position. Cade accepts a private tutoring job for a Mr. Niles Putnam (George Grizzard) who hires Cade to tutor his exceptional son Freddie. Mr. Putnam, a single parent and appears affluent having a home and a handyman tending the grounds. Mr Putnam puts all his trust in Cade as he has to leave on business. This leaves Freddie and his tutor alone in the house for a while. By today's standards that seems dubious in the extreme. What Cade didn't realize is, Freddie is mentally challenged. This was new territory for the frustrated tutor as Freddie and Cade's situation was not copacetic. Cade made little or no progress with the boy who frustrated him to no end. To break the tension was the good tempered handyman played by Ozzie Davis who had his own ideas on handling Freddie. I felt empathy for Freddie watching this misunderstanding between teacher and student unfold as it relates to my own personal frustration from an earlier time in my life.. Being put in a private school where my Parents had good intentions for me yet the atmosphere was not suitable due to cultural differences.among the students and myself. I wanted out but my Father refused to listen. He claimed that despite my dispassionate feelings toward the school all my classmates will go on to be successful in life just by association with this Academy. It was a situation I didn't like and failing miserably. He did pull me out when I was 12 years old but by then my lack luster habits took over and learning for me was near and next to impossible. Meanwhile Cade couldn't reach Freddie and Freddie with his lack of intelligence couldn't express his own feelings on learning. Sort of like a blind person living with a deaf person. McCallum's acting as an annoyed person was sort of a novelty. He wasn't a comfortable sort throughout the movie instead of that dashing confident foreign Russian jack of all trades Ilya Koryakin TV viewers expect to see. Billy Schulman was the real star of this movie with limited abilities played the part perfectly as the "Special" Freddie. At the films end and this is no spoiler by any means as the Hallmark Hall Of Fame directors gave us, the Television audience, a look behind the scenes in the making of this story. They interviewed the players McCallum and Billy together out of character and the love and admiration they have for each other off screen to make the show more plausible. Sort of tying everything together. You learn and (this is not intended to be personally condescending), that Billy is really mentally handicapped. Despite everything Billy Schulman gave an outstanding performance.

Is "Teacher, Teacher" still available?

[johmarwagner · 13 August 2006]

I remember occasionally having lunch with Billy Shulman in the Harry B. Thompson junior high cafeteria in Syosset, NY (where we both went to school). We never became close friends, but I have always wondered what happened to him. I would love to see this film again; I remember that he did a wonderful job in the film with David McCallum and Ossie Davis. I contacted Hallmark Hall of Fame a number of years back, to see if the movie was released on VHS, but they had no early records of movies that went back to the late 60's. Maybe it wasn't called Hallmark Hall of Fame back then. Anyway, I hope I can find a copy because I would love to show it to my students at the high school where I teach. John Wagner