blackboard jungle

The kids are all right, but the bullet-riddled corpses they pass en route to campus would scare away the toughest “Blackboard Jungle,” “Dangerous Minds” or “Lean on Me” instructors.

From such earlier films as “The Blackboard Jungle,” “To Sir, With Love” and “Up the Down Staircase” to later entries including “Stand and Deliver,” “Dangerous Minds” and 2008’s Palme d’Or-winning “The Class,” who doesn’t love stories about inspiring educators who help young folks beat the odds?

After breakout movies like “Blackboard Jungle” and “The Defiant Ones,” Mr. Poitier’s fate was tied to Hollywood, his purpose to expand the boundaries of racial tolerance.

“Blackboard Jungle” was Poitier’s breakthrough role, in which he played a rowdy high school student with a hidden musical talent as a pianist and singer.

You can stream “Blackboard Jungle” on YouTube and Apple TV for $2.99 or on Amazon Prime for $3.99.