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Why Shoot the Teacher

  • 1977
  • PG
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
501
YOUR RATING
Why Shoot the Teacher (1977)
ComedyDrama

In the 1930's, Max Brown is an urban young man from an Eastern province, fresh from college, whose only job offer is in a one-room school house in the Canadian prairie. At first he's distant... Read allIn the 1930's, Max Brown is an urban young man from an Eastern province, fresh from college, whose only job offer is in a one-room school house in the Canadian prairie. At first he's distant, superior, lonely, and bewildered; his students are rebellious. Over the course of the ye... Read allIn the 1930's, Max Brown is an urban young man from an Eastern province, fresh from college, whose only job offer is in a one-room school house in the Canadian prairie. At first he's distant, superior, lonely, and bewildered; his students are rebellious. Over the course of the year, he is drawn to Alice Field, the wife of a farmer, in a love that can lead nowhere. But... Read all

  • Director
    • Silvio Narizzano
  • Writers
    • James Defelice
    • Max Braithwaite
  • Stars
    • Bud Cort
    • Samantha Eggar
    • Chris Wiggins
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    501
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Silvio Narizzano
    • Writers
      • James Defelice
      • Max Braithwaite
    • Stars
      • Bud Cort
      • Samantha Eggar
      • Chris Wiggins
    • 23User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast40

    Edit
    Bud Cort
    Bud Cort
    • Max Brown
    Samantha Eggar
    Samantha Eggar
    • Alice Field
    Chris Wiggins
    • Lyle Bishop
    Gary Reineke
    Gary Reineke
    • Harris Montgomery
    John Friesen
    • Dave McDougall
    Michael J. Reynolds
    Michael J. Reynolds
    • Bert Field
    Kenneth Griffith
    Kenneth Griffith
    • Inspector Woods
    Scott Swan
    • Dan Trowbridge
    Merrilyn Gann
    Merrilyn Gann
    • Sheila Barnes
    Norma West
    Norma West
    • Mrs. Bishop
    Margery Hill
    • Mrs. Montgomery
    Joanne McNeal
    • Mrs. McDougall
    George Gwin
    • Orville Jackson - Dance Caller
    Doug Blake
    • Percy Garfield
    Alan Stebbings
    • Lester Sinclair
    Joe Yasinsky
    • Max's Father
    Vernis McCuaig
    • Max's Mother
    Richard Davison
    • Max's Brother
    • Director
      • Silvio Narizzano
    • Writers
      • James Defelice
      • Max Braithwaite
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews23

    6.9501
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    Featured reviews

    7tvnone

    TVN A - Good for history class

    In my opinion, this movie is good to describe the 1930's Depression in the Praries because it exactly describes the way people had to live in those times, especially when the snow and dust storms arrive. Also the people had to "catch" gophers because they always ruin the farmers crops. Because the people couldn't grow the crops, they almost couldn't afford anything. This caused poverty and many people left the Praries. So they couldn't hire school teachers for education, etc.

    So in other words, this movie is good for a history class that is covering the 1920's-1930's depression because it gives an accurate description of the events in the prairies.
    that_guylyfe

    Personal Opinion of Why Shoot The Teacher

    I think that the movie, "Why Shoot the Teacher," was pretty accurate in displaying what really went on during the 1930s. It showed many difficulties people had during the Great Depression, such as unemployment. The movie focuses on one man, Max Brown who decides to go to the Prairies to work as a teacher. We watched with anticipation and curiosity to see how he would do with the new children. I believe the movie was effective because they displayed Mr. Brown as a very innocent man. During hard times, we feel sorry for him, because he is such a nice man and is struggling to stay on his own feet with people trying to walk all over him. In the end, I think the movie wasn't bad. I think it was very helpful in giving us some insight to what really happened during such harsh times.
    9ram-30

    A humourous, entertaining slice of life in the Canadian Dust Bowl

    The film WHY SHOOT THE TEACHER? stars American Bud Cort, star of many Robert Altman classics, and British actress Samantha Eggar. Other than that, the film is truly Canadian. The story, based on the autobiography of Max Braithwaite, is a humourous, entertaining slice of life in the Canadian Dust Bowl. It's as good as any other film to clearly show the extent that the Great Depression had in rural communities. The production, cast, props, etc., make this an excellent period piece of the 1930s. Many of the co-stars are amateurs but this only emphasizes the realism of the picture. Overall, if you need to show someone a video about the Great Depression, and you don't have access to THE GRAPES OF WRATH, then WHY SHOOT THE TEACHER? will be a worthy substitute.
    7vinciegirl

    Why Shoot the Teacher

    This movie allowed the viewer to gain some insight into life in the prairies. It is used in many classrooms as a tool which discusses information on the 1930s. The movie also contains some humour, even if it was corny.

    However the movie lacks strong does not expand on certain issues. For instance, it would have been interesting to know how many persons came out West during the depression. Or how this migration affected the prairies. Providing these details would have made the movie more informative to watch.

    VG
    jana_sr

    About Max Brown who tries to survive as a school teacher in the prairies facing mean students and bad living conditions

    this movie is about a young man, Max Brown who goes to a farming town to teach. I believe this movie does portray the prairies and the people in the 1920s and 1930s because it shows the life of a person (Max Brown) and others who try to make a living during the Great Depression. It shows the climate and weather conditions of the prairies, and how farmers struggled to harvest corp during those climates, and survive on scarce amount of food, water, etc. Max Brown lives through poor living conditions and a poor salary, just like most other Canadians would have done to support themselves or their family. he works like this so he can pay back the money his brother had given him. He talks about his friend who tried to go to Vancouver to find a job but he didn't make it, and also other people who ride the rails. this movie shows that many people did not except charity in anyway because it was shameful to receive any type of relief. the movie also shows how socialism was confronted by Canadians back then. Therefore from all the points above and many others you can conclude that the movie portrays Canada during the Great Depression.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film takes place in 1935.
    • Quotes

      Inspector Wood: This should be an easy one. What is the capital of Canada?

      Inspector Wood: [pointing to a student in the classroom] Yes, boy.

      Charlie Mc Dougall: [standing to attention] The capital of Canada is C.

    • Connections
      Featured in Cruel, Usual, Necessary: The Passion of Silvio Narizzano (2024)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Zašto da ubijemo učitelja
    • Filming locations
      • Hanna, Alberta, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Fraser Films
      • Lancer Productions Limited
      • Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • CA$810,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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