MovieChat Forums > To Sir, with Love (1967) Discussion > The Book To Sir With Love by ER Braithwa...

The Book To Sir With Love by ER Braithwaite

posted 18 years ago by iluvhellokitty
7 replies | jump to latest

Has anyone read the book that this movie is based on? I just finished reading it, I thought it was a little confusing and sometimes boring, yet its themes and the overall message of the story is truly what makes this book strong. The biggest challenge I had when reading this book was trying to understand the Proper English Language that was scattered throughout the novel, is it this way in the movie as well? This is not my favorite book, but it is still worth the read. However, I have the feeling that this is one of those rare books were the movie is better than the written story.

[–] different-drummer 17 years ago

Apparently ER Braithwaite himself hated the movie. Find out why by listening to "To Sir with Love Revisited"

Friday 24 August 2007 11:00-11:30 (BBC Radio 4 FM)

If this isn't broadcast where you live, you can probably download it for up to 7 days after transmission.

[–] youngian67 17 years ago

Also check out this excellent radio dramatisation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4

[–] Navaros 17 years ago

The author definitely hated the movie. Every time my local station airs this movie they air an interview with the author afterwards and his hate for the movie is very clear in that interview.

The author claims the movie is not at all what he wrote. That the movie was made mostly just to entertain rather than keep true to the content of his book.

He was especially irritated by the stupid dance Sidney does, and says it was total rubbish. He said Sidney should have done ballroom dancing with the girl, as any man worth his salt at the time knew how to do.

The interviewer asked him if he liked the song to which he replied that yes he did like the song because "whoever wrote it captured the spirit of the book very effectively".

The author also said "Within the sphere of what he was given, Sidney Poitier did a good job".

On a side note, the author has a very fascinating way of speaking. He is far, far more articulate than Sidney's character in the movie is.

[–] zygimantas 17 years ago

very interesting, I didn't know this...

it makes sense though.. I thought the movie slid right over the spirit of the book, except of course in the sense of alternative education - there was just too much more than that in the book. Too much social comment that is missing from the movie, too much of "Sir's" life outside the classroom and within actual British society that the author has something to say about, in a very poignant way.

I would have said it did alright though, except if Braithwaite himself says the movie didn't "get" the book then I have to go with my gut and say the things they left out of the movie were too important to leave out, and they shouldn't have done it like they did

[–] christinew 17 years ago

We read the book when I was at school in the 70's. We had a teacher there called Mrs Braithwaite who was the games teacher. We were told that she was E R Braithwaite's sister in law.

[–] amazon423 17 years ago

To whomever mentioned the dancing by Poitier in this movie should be reminded that in Poitier's biography he states he has no natural rythm and can't "dance a lick." The rest of the cast took him out on the town one night and were amazed that he couldn't sing or dance since he was black and they automically assumed he could. Braithewaite also wrote also follow-up books after this book. For teachers "To Sir With Love" is a good book to read if you are teaching in inner-city schools even nowadays.

[–] MysticYoYo 16 years ago

He was especially irritated by the stupid dance Sidney does, and says it was total rubbish. He said Sidney should have done ballroom dancing with the girl, as any man worth his salt at the time knew how to do.

Interesting argument by the author, but would Pamela have known how to ballroom dance? It was the students' party and ballroom dance would have been as out of place at their end of year party as an appearance by the Queen.

Also, it was made clear that Sir didn't know how to dance like the "kids" did, but kind of followed Pamela's lead.

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