Lean On Me

"Eastside High was out of control...until Joe Clark took it back."

1989 1h 48m EN

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 360

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When principal Joe Clark takes over decaying Eastside High School, he's faced with students wearing gang colors and graffiti-covered walls. Determined to do anything he must to turn the school around, he expels suspected drug dealers, padlocks doors and demands effort and results from students, staff and parents. Autocratic to a fault, this real-life educator put it all on the line.

“Eastside High was out of control...until Joe Clark took it back.”

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Cast

Morgan Freeman
Principal Joe Clark
Beverly Todd
Ms. Levias
Robert Guillaume
Dr. Frank Napier
Ethan Phillips
Mr. Rosenberg
Lynne Thigpen
Leonna Barrett
Michael Beach
Mr. Darnell
Tony Todd
Mr. William Wright
Karen Malina White
Kaneesha Carter

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John G. Avildsen
Writers: Michael Schiffer
Languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 3.2× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

37 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John G. Avildsen, shot by Victor Hammer. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Bill Conti. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor John G. Avildsen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Morgan Freeman and Beverly Todd and Robert Guillaume carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Eastside High was out of control...until Joe Clark took it back.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John G. Avildsen directs. Victor Hammer behind the camera. Bill Conti scores. John G. Avildsen cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, Portuguese, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 3.2× over at the box office.
237 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish.
4Directed by John G. Avildsen, shot by Victor Hammer. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Bill Conti. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor John G. Avildsen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Morgan Freeman and Beverly Todd and Robert Guillaume carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Eastside High was out of control...until Joe Clark took it back.".
9IMDB entry: tt0097722 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.