THE PRINCIPAL (1987)

Directed By: Christopher Cain 
Written By: Frank Deese 
Cinematography By: Arthur Albert 
Editor: Jack Hofstra 


Cast: James Belushi, Louis Gossett Jr, Michael Wright, Rae Dawn Chong, Kelly Jo Minter, Jacob Vargas, J.J. Cohen, Troy Winbush, Esai Morales


A teacher is assigned to be the principal of a violent and crime-ridden high school.


I don't know why. Maybe it is the volume that I have seen it over the years. Especially when I was in high school, but I have to count this film as one of my guilty pleasures.

It is definitely my favorite James Belushi stsrring movie then again other then MR. DESTINY. The into other one that comes to mind is TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS. So think of this as the best of a trilogy. Unless you want to add K9 which was more of a gimmick movie. One that I saw in theaters when it came out.

This film doesn't lend itself necessarily to the white savior films when it comes to an urban school or landscape. At least not in the traditional sense. As his character is an alcoholic teacher with anger issues. Who is punished by being taken from being a teacher at a suburban school, to becoming. A principal at an urban school. As no one else will take the job.

Also it doesn't help that the neighborhood looks more rundown then it needs to be. That seems to want to create an atmosphere of hardship. Though never takes a demeaning turn even though we never explore it. The film at least makes it show that the kids are basically decent and actually have various talents and if given the chance can excel at schoolwork especially if it broken down a little more to their lives and reality.

The film uses the culture clashes to explore the characters and situations and to also draw the audience in, but doesn't become a major component of the film.

In the opening scene of the film we are made aware of his fighting skills. Not martial arts material but more of a bruiser who can hold his own. Even though he is also the one who starts the fight.

Once he goes to become principal little by little he is schooled on the new terrain and slowly tries to overturn the school and get the students motivated. More by trying to get the teachers to care more and also making sure everyone even the thugs go to class and get an education. He even breaks up the school drug ring or attempts to. Early on he meets the student who will eventually become his nemesis the main gang leader/drug dealer.

He is aided through all of this with his dean of students played by Louis Gosset Jr. Who always seems to have a hat and sleeveless shirts at the ready in every scene. This might not be one of my favorite performances of his thigh it is memorable. As he seems to be more the muscle of the film. Though I will admit to having seen more Louis Gosset Jr movies and television work the. James Belushi. The film could easily go into racial issues which it does a few times. Though other then the white savior aspect doesn't ever really feel racist except that most of the characters are stereotypes but considering when it came out. That seems more par for the course. The film is never insulting. Even though other he. The school staff there only seems to be one other white student who is a thug who seems to need to prove himself as he constantly finds himself a victim Of his own paranoia and actions.

It makes you question the film as it tries to have a vague social message. Especially about race and a bit about poverty. Before totally turning into an exploitive vigilante movie. Though it seems the principals actions are more forced upon him for protection and defense. He befriends quite a few students to show he cares and that there are students in his favor. Even as some prove to be treacherous. Though his most significant success might be in turning around Troy Winbush’s character.

There are some scenes In bad taste. Like one of the gang members hanging another one for what he feels is disloyalty. Then there is the ending that has a similar CLASS OF 1984 action that I will never quite understand where a villain is begging for mercy usually when hanging from A high height and then begs for his heroic enemy to help him. And the hero usually does only for the villain to then pull a weapon while still hanging on and attempt to attack or I kite the hero. Which would Logically kill both or still Kill the villain and just Injure the hero. Now while one can understand it from a writing and cinematic Standpoint. By making that character so evil all they care about is being bad and getting revenge on the hero. As well as giving the audience a last minute jolt. It makes little to no sense. Especially for characters who have been so smart. Then again anger and desperation can make one act irrationally.

Here you might think good riddance, but you also must remember that the villain is still a kid can do good or bad.

Though here even though many punks and thugs die. His is the rate film that ask the villain to pay for his sins in incarceration. Even though this is after a big school wide battle royale with Belushi and Gosset Jr. Versus the whole gang. Almost like a school fight set at 3pm Where at first it seems like it won't happen then as incidents happen you realize oh it's on. Earlier I talked about non stereotypical characters. As it seems once in a while even the gang members show some kind of decency that helps remind you for the most part they are still just impressionable kids trying to survive more then anything and not necessarily the Enemy.

As luckily the film doesn't set up a us versus them mentality that it could easily Go with by making most of the minority characters look and and easily disposable.

Here you might think good riddance, but you also must remember that the villain is still a kid can do good or bad.

Though he villain is played by Michael Wright in one of his better roles next to STREAMERS and THE FIVE HEARTBEATS. He is memorable here in a role that is stereotypical but it is effective as he always carries a sense of danger and only has one outburst. Usually his character is so reserved it is almost scary. Around this time he was an actor who was getting a lot of work. Then he kind of disappeared it's a shame as he definitely always has charisma and an aura of trouble in his roles.

It also lends a bigger supporting role to actor Troy Winbush another actor who has played in many films and television shows. Such as THE REPLACEMENTS and THE COSBY SHOW though not with as lucrative roles who here plays a kid who might be on the right track to turning his life around. 

The film's cast has many actors who you will recognize and might follow if you are a regular watcher of 80's films and media. Past of them still work today here and here like Jacob Vargas and Esai Morales.

There is nothing spectacular about the filmmaking except it keeps you interested throughout. It raises the level of tension whenever proper. Though at first it seems like the school is all bad. It seems that the film's answer of sorts is that if this main gang leader criminal is taken out the school will be a much better place. Though it seems his influence is stronger then the actual number of people in his actual gang.

The film wants to have a positive message when it comes to education but gets distracted to downright sidetracked when it comes to more the vigilante angle. As after the first scene we realize the title character is tough, But the film seems to want to put him in his place of sorts but having him be totally over his head. Until he comes up with a plan and slowly evolves as it seems to work until his plans are interrupted. It almost seems like a white man movie. Where he comes to the hood or program and becomes a miracle worker taking out all the problems and evil. Here it also lends itself to most of the criminals being minorities but then again so is most of the cast and characters. So it presents good and bad.

The film might reek of 80's cheese but I believe it still holds up as a film to watch that has it's heart in the right place that tries to appeal on different levels. That might not have the main character helping the kids pass a statewide exam and save the school, but he does clean it up From gangs. Even if he had to use violence to do it. Which goes against the more Progressive modern movies, but seemed to make sense when it came out. As no one was looking at this film for answers nor was it Based on a true story.

In fact for such a simple Story you wonder where it was inspired from. As it is a crowd pleaser, but doesn't present the victory as an everlasting answer nor as a miracle. Things just get better because he cares. Even though for most of the film it shows him to be a fuck up. For the most part.

I can't say why this film exactly is so appealing it is serious when it needs to be. While having a sense of humor. It has action in it but more reality based action no stunts but plenty of hand to hand fighting. It tries to play like a drama but then has thriller elements and other genre exercises that interrupt the drama or at least spice it up. It might be also because it has a scene where he uses his motorcycle as a weapon and rides it through the school hallways. That seemed so bad ass and exciting.

What’s also funny is that James Belushi’s character is middle aged but the sup[posed teenage villain played by Michael Wright are actually only over a year apart in age. So if he looks mature for his role that was the way it was back then. The movie would make a good companion piece with CLASS OF 1984, only this film is less cynical and violent and definitely more uplifting

Surprisingly barely any guns are used throughout the film. It's more a fists and baseball bat type of film.

The part of the film where it usually shows that the principal is making waves and earning the respect of his students. Here is achieved after the principal gets jumped and beat down bad and the Hispanic students decide to rebuild his motorcycle as a favor as they were the ones who helped be a distraction for his jumping and they not only pimp it out but also give him a new designer helmet with El Principal on it and on the bike. So when he busts up a drug deal immediately it isn't hard to figure out who the masked vigilante was. Though at least the movie promotes motorcycle safety with it's cool character.

The film also more or less presents the hero as flawed. He never seems to have all the right answers. But does the best he can with what he does know. He's imperfect in fact might be one of the more flawed characters. It he does seem to care which also seems to be his weakened other than booze.


Grade: B