Lean on Me

Director: John G. Avildsen

Overview

Morgan Freeman stars as real-life high-school principal Joe Clark in this biography from director John Avildsen. Hired to shape up a New Jersey school notorious for its rampant drugs and crime, Clark becomes quickly (in)famous for his hard-line tactics, drawing fire as well as praise for his tough, no-nonsense approach to learning.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/02/2010
UPC:	0883929104789
Original Release:	1989
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Warner Home Video
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[Dolby Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:49:00
Sales rank:	59

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Morgan Freeman	Joe Clark
Beverly Todd	Ms. Levias,Actor
Robert Guillaume	Dr. Frank Napier
Alan North	Mayor Don Bottman
Lynne Thigpen	Leona Barrett
Robin Bartlett	Mrs. Elliott
Jermaine Hopkins	Thomas Sams
Karen Malina White	Kaneesha Carter
Michael Beach	Darnell
Ethan Phillips	Rosenberg
Sloane Shelton	Mrs. Hamilton
Regina Taylor	Mrs. Carter
Sandra Reaves-Phillips	Mrs. Powers
Karina Arroyave	Maria
Ivonne Coll	Mrs. Santos
Michael P. Moran	Mr. O'Malley
John Ring	Fire Chief Gaines
Tyrone Jackson	Clarence
Alex Romaguera	Kid Ray
Mike Starr	Mr. Zirella
Yvette Hawkins	Mrs. Arthur
Michael Joseph	Brian Banes
Richard Grusin	Mr. Danley
Jim Moody	Mr. Lott
Todd Alexander	Derrick
Michael Imperioli	George
Marcella Lowery	Mrs. Richards
Jennifer McComb	Ellen
Knowl Johnson	Tommy
Harry Madsen	Teacher in Cafeteria
Heather Dominic	Stacey
Robert Kamlot	Actor
Bruce Malmuth	Burger Joint Manager
Michael Best	Actor

Technical Credits

Michael Schiffer

Michael Schiffer	Screenwriter
Norman Twain	Producer
John G. Avildsen	Executive Producer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Lean on Me
1. 1967 Prologue [5:04]
2. Credits (Welcome to the Jungle) [5:02]
3. What Are They Doing Down There? [1:52]
4. Some Truth [1:53]
5. "My Word Is Law" [4:04]
6. "Yuo Are All Expurgated" [5:16]
7. The New Eastside High [2:40]
8. God's Words to Joe [3:29]
9. Thomas Sam's Plea [3:59]
10. Cafeteria Chaos [4:26]
11. Discordant Music [2:19]
12. The Way He Likes It [2:01]
13. A Lockup (I Ain't Makin' It) [3:28]
14. Keneesha's Problem [5:49]
15. Clark and Napier Square off [3:51]
16. Cal Me Batman [1:33]
17. Kid Ray Moves on [1:14]
18. Songbirds in the Boys Room [5:58]
19. Talking Tough to the Faculty [3:10]
20. Tooling for the Test [3:54]
21. Paterson Politics [3:05]
22. At the Ready [3:28]
23. Levias Confronts Clark [2:37]
24. Not Inferior [3:44]
25. Lean on Me #1 [3:17]
26. Lean on Me #2 [:49]
27. Keneesha's Setback [2:38]
28. Under Arrest [3:28]
29. In an Uproar [3:44]
30. Like a Father [2:22]
31. The Test Scores [4:22]
32. Graduation End Credits (Lean on Me) [3:36]

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Editorial Reviews

Morgan Freeman's first big starring role as real-life no-nonsense principal Joe Clark, a man who revitalized a Paterson, New Jersey, school of miscreants, seemed tailor-made for the veteran actor. A tightly woven, uplifting story that tugs at the heartstrings Lean on Me is powered by Freeman's tour de force performance. Director John Avildsen does a nice job of capturing a sense of urban decay by giving the picture a dark, gritty feel, and the film is further strengthened by its young cast, many of whom would go on to bigger and better projects (Michael Imperioli, for example, enjoyed later success in HBO's The Sopranos). Freeman, however, is truly the heart and soul of this picture, and his work in it would serve to open all of Hollywood's eyes to his often under-appreciated talents. While Lean on Me is a pleasant human interest story and well-made film, it will largely be remembered as the picture that helped to herald Freeman's arrival as a major player on the big screen.