A teacher is assigned to be the principal of a violent, crime-ridden high school.A teacher is assigned to be the principal of a violent, crime-ridden high school.A teacher is assigned to be the principal of a violent, crime-ridden high school.
- Awards
- 1 nomination total
Jim Belushi
- Rick Latimer
- (as James Belushi)
Kelly Jo Minter
- Treena Lester
- (as Kelly Minter)
Marty Pistone
- Security Guard
- (as Martin Pistone)
Richard Dupell
- Buddy
- (as Richard Duppell)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
James Belushi stars as a teacher with a short fuse who gets to become the principal of the roughest high school in the city. He turns out to be just what the doctor ordered and just what the students and employees needed. "The Principal" is a very violent film that could be best described as "Lean on Me" or "Stand and Deliver" gone stark-raving mad. Belushi is solid here and so is high school security guard Louis Gossett, Jr. in a supporting role. 4 stars out of 5.
The school teacher Rick Latimer (James Belushi) is drinking with friends in a bar when he sees his former wife dating her lawyer responsible for their divorce. Rick smashes up the car of the lawyer, is arrested and the school board sends him to the notorious Brandel High School as an alternative to be fired. Without any other option, Rick moves and finds a school dominated by gangs with students rejected from other schools. He joins the students and tells no more for that situation. The chief of the security Jake Phillips (Louis Gossett Jr.) believes Rick is crazy but soon he supports the principal attitudes. But the drug lord Victor Duncan (Michael Wright) is not happy with the new principal and promises to kill him.
"The Principal" is that type of movie for fans of films like "To Sir with Love", "Class of 1984" and "Dangerous Minds", where a teacher faces difficulties in a problematic high-school with the students dominated by gangs. James Belushi performs one of his best roles as Rick Latimer, a school teacher that has destroyed all opportunities in life and now has no other option but stay at the notorious Brandel High School. Louis Gossett Jr. is also excellent as the chief of the security guards in the dangerous high-school. The plot might be unrealistic in the present violent days but in the 80´s it would be credible. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Um Diretor Contra Todos" ("A Principal against Everybody")
"The Principal" is that type of movie for fans of films like "To Sir with Love", "Class of 1984" and "Dangerous Minds", where a teacher faces difficulties in a problematic high-school with the students dominated by gangs. James Belushi performs one of his best roles as Rick Latimer, a school teacher that has destroyed all opportunities in life and now has no other option but stay at the notorious Brandel High School. Louis Gossett Jr. is also excellent as the chief of the security guards in the dangerous high-school. The plot might be unrealistic in the present violent days but in the 80´s it would be credible. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Um Diretor Contra Todos" ("A Principal against Everybody")
One of the things I like to ponder is what modern stars would fill the shoes of actors of the past or parts they played. For instance, if they did a remake of Bonanza, John Goodman would fill Dan Blockers shoes pretty well as Hoss, & I think Michael J Fox may be a passable Little Joe. Also of course, Cheryl Ladd did well as Grace Kelly. Some stars have been so one of a kind though that one would be hard pressed to imagine who would be up to the task. John Wayne is one such figure. While James Belushi may not quite have the physical stature of the Duke, his performance in The Principal comes the closest in my impression to reminding me of the "cut the crap" individualism of the screen legend. Public schools could probably learn a lot from this feature.
Of the many comedians of early Saturday Night Live who have gone on to movies, Belushi appears to be the one who has most successfully transcended the comedian stereotype. While Bill Murrey may do well as a comic role being serious, the few pictures I've seen James Belushi in suggest that he's more like a serious actor who's also funny.
Good feature for those of us who are tired of irresponsible youth getting a free pass.
Of the many comedians of early Saturday Night Live who have gone on to movies, Belushi appears to be the one who has most successfully transcended the comedian stereotype. While Bill Murrey may do well as a comic role being serious, the few pictures I've seen James Belushi in suggest that he's more like a serious actor who's also funny.
Good feature for those of us who are tired of irresponsible youth getting a free pass.
'The Principal' is one of those films where Belushi could have been nominated for Best Actor, and Louis Gossett Jr. for Best Supporting Actor...
The film has some great scenes, a good story and character development, and a decent soundtrack...
The film is pretty hard-edged, though has elements of comedy...overall - an under-rated film (ones which I love to review) worth seeing...
[7/10]
The film has some great scenes, a good story and character development, and a decent soundtrack...
The film is pretty hard-edged, though has elements of comedy...overall - an under-rated film (ones which I love to review) worth seeing...
[7/10]
I first saw The Principal as a young boy. It made quite an impression on me, and now as an adult, I can't help but revisit it every now and then. Despite having lost some of its shock value over time, the movie has retained its suspense. The style is unmistakably Eighties (I think in an endearing way) and James Belushi's charisma and drama chops carry the story- which occasionally gets silly (also endearingly). The plot is delivered in a compelling way, and evenly divides it focus between character development and the central conflict. By today's standards, the exaggeration and melodrama would probably lead most to dismiss The Principal as stupid. Although I partially appreciate it in the way it was intended, a lot of what makes the movie entertaining is how easily it can be laughed at.
Did you know
- TriviaNorthgate High School in Walnut Creek, California was used as the filming location for the affluent school at the beginning of the film. Many students and teachers served as extras. After filming of the scenes were finished, Jim Belushi posed for a picture with everyone from that school. The picture has been printed in the yearbook from that year since.
- GoofsWhen Rick Latimer and Jake Phillips first meet, Jake takes his hat off, then, in the next shot, his hat is on. Finally, in a third shot, his hat is off again and he puts it back on.
- SoundtracksLivin' in the Line of Fire
Written by Jay Gruska, Bruce Roberts and Andy Goldmark
- How long is The Principal?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $11,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $19,734,940
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,297,710
- Sep 20, 1987
- Gross worldwide
- $19,734,940
- Runtime
- 1h 49m(109 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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