...admittedly, there was a time when this ardent purveyor of cinema would, without fail, amorously engage and embrace the dramatic sub-genre of 'unconventional and idealist teacher, called in by the 'establishment' to help educate the seemingly impossible-to-educate...to help, where others have failed...in an arena of hypocrisy, where the 'establishment' really doesn't seem to care, and becomes irate, when said teacher repeatedly bucks the system, does things his/her own way, and in the end, succeeds where the so-called 'establishment' and 'system' have failed'. After all, it's so easy to get caught up in the emotion, relatability and compelling sense of inspiration of these stories...even those often labeled as 'based on a story'. We've all seen these stories, often before, in naming just a few of these dramatic films like 1989's "Lean on Me", 1955's "Blackboard Jungle" and 1988's "Stand and Deliver". Exploitative takes on the genre, like 1981's "Class of 1984", and 1987's "The Principal". Even humorous facets, like 1987's "Summer School", and the recent 2012 chuckle-inducing, "Here Comes the Boom". As irresistible as these films are, one cannot help but feel that the sub-genre has long since fallen into the niche of 'cliche', and as such, seem less sensitive, compelling and inspirational...you know, the ol' yawn-inducing, 'been there, done that' syndrome...
...and so, given this viewer's recent opportunity to revisit, after so many years, one of the more obscure and almost forgotten 'true story' films, within this sub-genre, 1974's "Conrack", I found myself sort of torn...torn, in the sense that I would be elatedly re-discovering a lost classic, versus yawningly engaging a film, within a now-tired and well-worn genre...a classic, which to a measurable degree and irony, manages to wrought it's own individual sense of drama, inspiration and wonderment, and that respect, genuinely instills new breath into the genre...
...it's 1969, and we first meet idealist school teacher and writer Pat Conroy (Jon Voight), as he deboards the ferry, having left mainland South Carolina, and stepped onto the isolated shores of neighboring Yamacraw island, a community populated primarily of the impoverished African-American persuasion. Assigned to teach the local elementary school children, Conroy is abruptly taken aback...first, by the stern and disapproving principal of the school (Madge Sinclair), who hardly hesitates her thoughts and beliefs, that the children...her 'babies'...require more of firm and disciplinary hand, than educational enlightenment...and secondly, upon initial engagement of the students, coming to the exasperating conclusion that these youngsters quite literally know nothing about nothing...the name of the country, which they live in...the name of the neighboring state, or nearest ocean...not even how to count...
...Expressing his disdain toward the demandant corporal-level discipline, and as the result, the appearingly stunted mental development of these children, to the school's administrators, who reinforce the school principal's suggestion that the kids are there, merely for corralled discipline, first and foremost...with their overall education, mental growth and refinement of knowledge, hardly considered...Conroy takes matters into his own hands, starting from scratch, and using amusingly unconventional, albeit poignant and diverse means, to reach the clearly hungry minds of these youngsters. In the interim, these unconventional and unorthodox methods are seen by the unswerving & progressively frustrated administrators, as 'going against the grain', with regards to the way things are supposed to be, in that community; however, as keenly observed and commented upon, by the astute and determined Conroy, as he watches the underliningly eager, knowledge-grasping students under his charge...now progressively open to a greater world, outside of the seclusiveness of the island, as the result of his teachings, "...something happenin' on this island..."...something a lot bigger than himself, or the disgruntled and disapproving school administration...
...the inspirational richness of "Conrack" is by far, hardly relegated to merely the moving and uplifting story; coupled with some embraceably engaging performances, it really makes one wonder why and how the film quickly fizzled, and thusly disappeared into obscurity, when it was first released. Actor Jon Voight is extraordinarily brilliant, as the establishment-rebellious teacher, Pat Conroy (...or 'Conrack', as the film title suggests, which proves to be the result of the isolated community's dialect, as rendered by the students of the school), who compellingly assumes his most righteous cause...by whatever resourceful and unconventional means, at his imaginative disposal...in opening a greater world of wonder...a world which most people take for granted...unto his young and uneducated charges, whose 'world' is grossly restricted by not only the rustic island's isolation from the mainland, but also, the social and racial segregation of the time...a segregation which has long been accepted as the norm, for this particular community...
...but then, the kids' stunted views of the world, as well as their educational development, in itself, is hardly restricted to environment and seclusiveness; viewers will be equally keen to, as well as sympathetically (...to the kids) put off by the poor role models, which make up the adult portion of this community...people, who are clearly 'products' of a segregative society...either unswervingly set in their ways, don't care, or have outright given up. The stern-faced, switch-snapping, no-nonsense school principal, Mrs. Scott, as played to the hilt, by actress Madge Sinclair (...'Helen Willis', of TV's "The Jeffersons"). The cantankerous, unmoved and blatantly extroversive racist school administrator, Mr. Skeffington, which even-then quite seasoned performer, Hume Cronyn, presents here. Ol' 'Mad' Billy (...as rendered by a surprisingly slim and trim Paul Winfield), the local drifter on the island, etching out for himself, a seemingly inescapable life of tortured balance, between enduring heartache (...he lost his wife, sometime before the events of this film's story), and being a crazed drunk...
...and, without a doubt, these supportive performances are equally intriguing, as much as they are stubborn and ornery, with the actors playing them up, spot on, as reflective of the time of this story. And yet, one cannot help but hope that, as the result of Conroy's unconventional results with the kids, that some of these folks find some measure of relevation and redemption...and in this case, some do, and others...well, for some, they're just too steadfast in their way, to change for the better...
...what's wholly unique about the proceedings in "Conrack", is that although the film clearly takes place in a time of segragative instability, as what was happening in that part of the country, at the time, the film never really exploits those ideas...to the overall benefit of the film, emphasizing solely on the efforts of Pat Conroy (...with the film being based on his memoirs), and the worldly awakening of the youth, under his tutelage. Considering the character of Conroy...himself, an admitted once-racist...and now, dedicated to a cause which, for some, might be viewed as his redemption...even those ideas, to the benefit of the film, are hardly expounded upon, or exploited. For "Conrack", it's not all about that...any of that; it's the kids, who are important, here. And to the testament of director Martin Ritt (...of 1958's "The Long Hot Summer", 1963's "Hud" and 1979's "Norma Rae", amongst other acclaimed films in his repertoire), and writer Harriet Frank (...whom Ritt had often worked with, in his illustrious career), the film is wondrously crafted to have the audience see things through Conroy's eyes, in that respect...
...yet
another exclusive and limited edition Twilight Time acquisition, the print here, is exquisite and sharp...exuding the colorful rustic-ness of the film...clearly from a well-preserved print; even the sound...equally sharp and engaging...which is a
great boom to the soundtrack, having been composed by a certain upcoming and soon-to-be-celebrated film composer...eh, I don't know, some guy named John Williams, or something (...with "Jaws", being just around the corner, a year later, of course). Interestingly enough, Twilight's disc also includes commentary by Nick Redman and Paul Seydor, both very respectable film historians, who waxrapsonic quite liberally about the film's history, Pat Conroy's original memoirs & other works (...he also penned "The Great Santini" and "The Prince of Tides", amongst others), as well as an enlightening and informative look at the actual seclusive island locale, which inspired the film's Yamacraw island, and it's unique history...
...There great and elating irony in the fact that examining a classic, albeit obscure and seldom seen film of the past, manages to breathe new life in a genre that has long since become tired, worn and cliché; and yet, "Conrack" genuinely does that very thing, quite beautifully. If there's
any notable and singular flaw in this inspirational film, it's a lack of inclusion, as far as what had become of Conroy's students. Did
any of them carry his dogged determination and spirit, onto bigger and better things, in their lives?? As much as the film leaves it's audience on a downer note, considering the emphasis on the students' awakening,
this is a point which most viewer will find themselves wondering. Regardless, "Conrack" remains highly recommended, in
this viewer's book...
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