The dedicated but tyrannical Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner-city school he is determined to improve by any and all means.The dedicated but tyrannical Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner-city school he is determined to improve by any and all means.The dedicated but tyrannical Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner-city school he is determined to improve by any and all means.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 6 nominations
- Thomas Sams
- (as Jermaine 'Huggy' Hopkins)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe real-life Joe Clark resigned as principal of Eastside High School shortly after the film was released. Around the time the film debuted, he was suspended by the school board for one week, after scheduling an assembly in which dancers stripped down to their G-strings. Clark said he hadn't known about it in advance. Ironically, the man who suspended him was Dr. Frank Napier. After Clark left Eastside, he became an author, and motivational speaker. In 1995, he was hired to run a juvenile detention center in Newark, New Jersey, a position he held until he resigned in 2002. During his time there, he once again came under fire for his controversial methods.
- GoofsThe practice exam booklet reads "New Jersey Minimun Basic Skills Tests"...probably the last place the school board (or the film's producers) would want a spelling error.
- Quotes
Joe Clark: [in a conference room at city hall] I don't have time for Mrs. Elliott's problem!
Dr. Frank Napier: You better make time!
Joe Clark: We are being crucified by a process that is turning blacks into a permanent underclass here, Frank. A permanent underclass!
[Dr. Napier turns away from him and puts some papers in his briefcase]
Joe Clark: See! See, nobody wants to talk about that! NOBODY! Mrs. Elliott's missionary zeal about Mozart has nothing to do with our problem. Nothing! What good is Mozart going to do a bunch of children who can't go out and get a job?
Dr. Frank Napier: Joe, your personal battles are gonna cost us the war. Worry about the test scores.
Joe Clark: WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK I'M WORRIED ABOUT?
Dr. Frank Napier: END OF DISCUSSION! Debate is over! You will write a formal apology!
Joe Clark: I will what?
Dr. Frank Napier: A formal apology for your treatment of Mrs. Elliott and Darnell and for your vicious and thoughtless insults to the women of this community! You will kow tow. You will step and fetch!
Joe Clark: If you think that I'm gonna...
Dr. Frank Napier: [slams briefcase shut] Get used to it! It's the WAY OF THE WORLD! If you're so hot on discipline, then goddammit
[pounds on briefcase]
Dr. Frank Napier: start by accepting mine because contrary to popular opinion, I'M THE HEAD NIGGER IN CHARGE!
[He grabs his briefcase and heads for the door]
Dr. Frank Napier: Come on, let's get something to eat.
Joe Clark: [following him to the door and walking out with him] Boy... you really think you bad, don't you?
- SoundtracksLean on Me
Performed by Thelma Houston and The Winans
Produced by Richard Perry
Courtesy of Qwest Records
Written by Bill Withers
But this film deserved a grittier treatment than what it was given. The script is an awkward blend of inner-city drama with feel-good heroics. The subplot about the basic skills test should have been scrapped. First of all, it never happened in real life. But more importantly, it changed the entire tone of the film. Clark's story was about how he disciplined a school, not how he educated it. The softened approach leaves LEAN ON ME at odds with itself - it tries to be like STAND AND DELIVER, when it should have been like THE PRINCIPAL.
- How long is Lean on Me?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Der knallharte Prinzipal
- Filming locations
- The Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, USA(school where Joe Clark is teaching)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $10,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $31,906,454
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,032,605
- Mar 5, 1989
- Gross worldwide
- $31,906,454
- Runtime1 hour 48 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1