Dangerous Minds
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (October 2007) |
| Dangerous Minds | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
|
| Directed by | John N. Smith |
| Produced by | Don Simpson Jerry Bruckheimer |
| Written by | Ronald Bass Novel by LouAnne Johnson |
| Starring | Michelle Pfeiffer |
| Music by | Eddie Haley |
| Distributed by | Hollywood Pictures |
| Release date(s) |  August 11, 1995 November 24, 1995 January 16, 1996 |
| Running time | 99 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English Spanish |
| IMDb profile | |
Dangerous Minds is a 1995 drama film based on LouAnne Johnson's autobiographical account of her experience as a Marine who left her career to become a teacher at a well-off high school attended by bussed-in students from a ghetto. The film, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, focuses on the challenges of growing up in the inner-city of East Palo Alto, California and of the efforts of a dedicated teacher to allow her class to learn basic elementary education.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
When a retired U.S. Marine, LouAnne Johnson, arrives at Parkmont High School with poor, angry minorities from East Palo Alto, California, she finds a class of tough, street-wise kids, involved in gangs and drugs, whom Johnson quickly dubs the "rejects from hell." Her initially meek demeanor, small stature, and white skin earn her the nickname "white bread" from her students. Determined to have them trust and respect her, she quickly changes her presentation, wearing leather jackets, teaching karate to her students and cursing in the classroom. Creating her own curriculum for her "mentally challenged" and extremely antagonistic class, she starts having them read poetry, using Bob Dylan lyrics to teach symbolism. Johnson rewards her students for their hard work by giving them candy bars to say good job, toy prizes and trip to a boardwalk theme park. Along with helping her students with school work, she also provides emotional support to several students, including a couple of wise-cracking boys who are too caught up in street politics for their own good, and a teen who's dealing with the reality of being pregnant in high school. Although she intends to leave at the end of the year, the students quote the lyrics of a Dylan Thomas poem that they learned and insist that she's their "light" and refuse to let her leave. Touched, she agrees to stay.
[edit] Production
The school in the film is based on Carlmont High School in Belmont, California, but was filmed at Burlingame High School and San Mateo High School, 15 miles from the school where Johnson originally taught.
[edit] Music
The rap-based music score is written by Soulja Slim, who also wrote one of the theme songs. The movie also featured the Grammy Award-winning song "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio.
[edit] Legacy
The film became a box office success grossing a total of US$179,519,401.54 in its worldwide revenues and went on to inspire a number of films including Freedom Writers, High School High and One Eight Seven. It also spawned a short-lived spinoff TV series, which features Johnson's further adventures at the school.
The appearance of Skye Bassett, playing the minor character Jodie, in the movie, and her eventual death some time after its premiere, is described in Dave Eggers' memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.
[edit] Box office
- Total Domestic Grosses - $84,919,401.00
- Total Overseas Grosses - $94,600,000.00
- Total Worldwide Grosses - $179,519,401.00[1]
[edit] Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Michelle Pfeiffer | LouAnne Johnson |
| George Dzundza | Hal Griffith |
| Courtney B. Vance | George Grandey |
| Robin Bartlett | Carla Nichols |
| Wade Domínguez | Emilio Ramírez |
| Renoly Santiago | Raúl Sanchero |
| Bruklin Harris | Callie Roberts |
| Richard Grant | Durrell Benton |
| Roberto Alvarez | Gusmaro Rivera |
| Marisela Gonzales | Angela |
| Toni Nichelle Buzhardt | Nikki |
| Paula Garcés | Alvina |
| Norris Young | Kareem |
| Rahman Ibraheem | Big 'G' |
| Desire Galvez | Taiwana |
| Wilson Limpo | Roderick |
| Raymond Grant | Lionel Benton |
| Veronica Robles | Stephanie |
| Marcello Thedford | Cornelius Bates |
| Michael Archuleta | Oso |
| Deshanda Carter | Tanyekia |
| Ebony Jerido | Deanne |
| Brandi Younger | Grip |
| Asia Minor | Pam |
| Karina Arroyave | Josy |
| Ivan Sergei | Huero |
| Mark Prince Edwards | PJ |
| Ismael Archuleta | Lalo |
| Skye Bassett | Jody |
| Beatrice Winde | Mary Benton |
| Gaura Vani Buchwald | Warlock |
| Cynthia Avila | Mrs. Sanchero |
| Roman J. Cisneros | Mr. Sanchero |
| Camille Winbush | Tyeisha Roberts |
| John Neville | Waiter |
| Al Israel | Mr. Santiago |
| Brian Anthony | Joey |
| Jason Gutman | Adam |
| Lara Spotts | Dianna |
[edit] References
- ^ Boxofficemojo.com. Dangerous Minds Box office Gross.
