dmdavidson

"The Teacher" is every teenage boy's fantasy come true!! I have previously owned it on VHS video and currently await receipt of the film on DVD. I found the casting of 1950's tv child star Jay North (Dennis The Menace) to be a real surprise. It was however, a bigger surprise to see how his acting career had managed to continue up to this time, since he had certainly outgrown the effectiveness he had displayed as a troublesome small boy!! Angel Tompkins is competent and believable in the title role. The only thing that stretches believability is that a stunning and intelligent woman like her would be interested in a teenage boy!! Not to mention that she would be willing to risk her career and reputation!! The subplot involving a psychotic admirer of the teacher, played by Anthony James, seems out of place and drags down the film's breeziness somewhat. Most every teenage boy has probably admired an older woman, not unlikely a teacher, but more likely than not, few have ever had the opportunity to become involved with one!! The film touches on this quite realistically, but ultimately, the wrap-up is disappointing, unexpected and abrupt. In reality, most older women would find most teenage boys too immature for them and wouldn't give them the time of day. This film takes exception to that. Amazingly enough, "The Teacher" was sort of re-made in 1984, by the same director, as "They're Playing With Fire". It starred Sybil Danning and Eric "Private Lessons" Brown. In my opinion, it was even more unbelievable and unrealistic and at least as far as I am concerned, far inferior. I can certainly recommend "The Teacher" to every man who, as a teenager, ever admired an older woman, even a teacher!!

I first saw "The Teacher" at a drive-in. I have owned it on VHS video and have ordered it on DVD. It is one of my all-time favorites and I guess, a guilty pleasure. I agree that Angel Tompkins carries the film and that Jay ("Dennis The Menace") North was a strange and rather ironic choice for her co-star. I don't recall any scene where they have sex on a rooftop in the rain, as someone else has previously commented and I have seen the film quite a few times. It is a breezy and enjoyable film, despite the strange, unexpected, out-of-place and unnecessary subplot about a psychotic admirer of Angel Tompkins character and an unexpected finale.