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Teachers (1984)

 Teachers (1984)
type
TVTItem
 Teachers (1984)
label
Teachers (1984)
 Teachers (1984)
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Teachers1984
 Teachers (1984)
comment
Teachers is a 1984 satirical dramedy film directed by Arthur Hiller.It's an average day at John F. Kennedy High School in Columbus, Ohio: Fights in the hallways, a stabbing, 10% of teachers failing to even show up, and lawyers in the office champing at the bit with depositions.After the school psychologist has a mental breakdown, Alex Jurel (Nick Nolte) is tasked with the job and his first task is helping delinquent Eddie Pilikian (Ralph Macchio).Among the supporting cast are Crispin Glover as Eddie's bullied best friend, Laura Dern as one of the popular students, Judd Hirsch as the assistant principal, Richard Mulligan as a psychiatric hospital inmate turned history teacher, Lee Grant as the school superintendent, JoBeth Williams as a lawyer for a recent graduate who's suing the school for giving him a diploma even though he can't read, and Morgan Freeman (in an early film role) as a lawyer for the school.
 Teachers (1984)
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2023-06-17T14:28:30Z
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2023-06-17T14:28:30Z
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Dropped link to Dramedy: Not a Feature - IGNORE
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 Teachers (1984) / int_10cb9a31
type
Axes at School
 Teachers (1984) / int_10cb9a31
comment
Axes at School: A kid gets stabbed, and nobody in the administration really bats an eye or offers the kid comfort and support. Danny brought a gun to school and points it at a police officer doing a drug bust. This ends with him getting blown away.
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Teachers (1984) / int_10cb9a31
 Teachers (1984) / int_143939c1
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Trailers Always Spoil
 Teachers (1984) / int_143939c1
comment
Trailers Always Spoil: The last 12 seconds of trailer footage feature Alex Jurel standing up against Vice Principal Roger Rubell and Dr. Donna Burke, which serves as the finale of the film.
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Teachers (1984) / int_143939c1
 Teachers (1984) / int_1b70ccc6
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The Cynic
 Teachers (1984) / int_1b70ccc6
comment
The Cynic: Alex Jurel, subverted when he has a moment of awesome in saving the school.
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Teachers (1984) / int_1b70ccc6
 Teachers (1984) / int_21f7ff0f
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Knight in Sour Armor
 Teachers (1984) / int_21f7ff0f
comment
Knight in Sour Armor: Jurel is a jaded, disinterested, and incredibly burnt out man. But unlike the other teachers, he still tries to help his students.
 Teachers (1984) / int_21f7ff0f
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Teachers (1984) / int_21f7ff0f
 Teachers (1984) / int_2be74be
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Sucky School
 Teachers (1984) / int_2be74be
comment
Sucky School: A school full of juvenile delinquents and incompetent/corrupt teachers and staff. Among the highlights are students getting stabbed or shot, teachers fighting one another or refusing to work, teachers having sex with students, a student suing the school after he graduated despite being illiterate, and an escaped insane asylum inmate as a substitute teacher. It speaks volumes that the mental patient is actually the best choice possible.
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 Teachers (1984) / int_351e0e53
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Dean Bitterman
 Teachers (1984) / int_351e0e53
comment
Dean Bitterman: Vice Principal Rubell, who is resigned to the crappiness of his school and is happy to let his students slide through school rather than actually help them, while punishing anybody who tries to speak up or make things better.
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Teachers (1984) / int_351e0e53
 Teachers (1984) / int_392372f9
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Actor Allusion
 Teachers (1984) / int_392372f9
comment
Actor Allusion: Gower dresses up as General George Custer for his lesson on the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Richard Mulligan had played Custer years earlier in Little Big Man.
 Teachers (1984) / int_392372f9
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Teachers (1984) / int_392372f9
 Teachers (1984) / int_40bb59d0
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Blatant Lies
 Teachers (1984) / int_40bb59d0
comment
Blatant Lies: Jurel told the woman he slept with the previous night that he was an airline pilot. She discovers that Jurel is in fact a schoolteacher when he gets a call from the principal's office asking why he's once again failed to show up for work.
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Teachers (1984) / int_40bb59d0
 Teachers (1984) / int_47fea76b
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Butt-Monkey
 Teachers (1984) / int_47fea76b
comment
Butt-Monkey: Rosenberg is bitten by one of his students (Danny Reese) who later steals his car, has his teaching supplies pilfered, is treated with nothing but contempt by the school's administration, and is ostracized from his fellow teachers for telling the truth during the law suit hearings. Danny Reese himself qualifies - although he's a juvenile delinquent who likes to torment Rosenberg, he's mercilessly ridiculed and often beaten up by his classmates.
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Teachers (1984) / int_47fea76b
 Teachers (1984) / int_50b05d30
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Disproportionate Retribution
 Teachers (1984) / int_50b05d30
comment
Disproportionate Retribution: The school psychologist throws a huge tantrum and squirts ink at a professor because she didn't get to use the mimeograph first.
 Teachers (1984) / int_50b05d30
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Teachers (1984) / int_50b05d30
 Teachers (1984) / int_53136954
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Book Dumb
 Teachers (1984) / int_53136954
comment
Book Dumb: Eddie is behind on school, but he's actually crafty and good with cars.
 Teachers (1984) / int_53136954
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Teachers (1984) / int_53136954
 Teachers (1984) / int_5fe47c0
type
Distracted from Death
 Teachers (1984) / int_5fe47c0
comment
Distracted from Death: One of the teachers (nicknamed "Ditto" because the photocopier does most of the teaching for him) has such a structured and hands-off approach to his teaching that he dies seemingly reading a newspaper and at least 2 periods of classes come and go before anyone notices.
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Teachers (1984) / int_5fe47c0
 Teachers (1984) / int_61b8f9e2
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Bunny-Ears Lawyer
 Teachers (1984) / int_61b8f9e2
comment
Bunny-Ears Lawyer: In spite of being an escaped psychiatric hospital inmate, Gower's unusual teaching style proves to be effective. He's one of the only teachers in the school whose students are engaged in learning. In Gower's final scene in the film, the students ask him questions about the Battle of Little Bighorn and are genuinely dismayed when staff from the psychiatric hospital take him away.
 Teachers (1984) / int_61b8f9e2
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Teachers (1984) / int_61b8f9e2
 Teachers (1984) / int_6269a4b3
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Psycho Psychologist
 Teachers (1984) / int_6269a4b3
comment
Psycho Psychologist: The school psychologist throws a huge tantrum because she didn't get to use the mimeograph first. She also carries a revolver in her briefcase.
 Teachers (1984) / int_6269a4b3
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Teachers (1984) / int_6269a4b3
 Teachers (1984) / int_69681e01
type
Big Brother Instinct
 Teachers (1984) / int_69681e01
comment
Big Brother Instinct: Eddie Pilikian Towards Daniel Reece. Could be read as Eddie towards Diane, the student that was impregnated by a teacher.
 Teachers (1984) / int_69681e01
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Teachers (1984) / int_69681e01
 Teachers (1984) / int_6d892421
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Teacher/Student Romance
 Teachers (1984) / int_6d892421
comment
Teacher/Student Romance: A pretty messed-up version of this considering we learn the gym teacher impregnated a teenager and it is swept under the rug to try to save face for the school.
 Teachers (1984) / int_6d892421
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 Teachers (1984) / int_84e289b8
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Apathetic Teacher
 Teachers (1984) / int_84e289b8
comment
Apathetic Teacher: Almost all the teachers at John F. Kennedy High School are this: even the teachers who (sometimes) try, like Jurel and Rosenberg, are pushed around by the system. It is telling when Gower points out to one of Eddie's teachers that she could easily tutor him, the woman defensively storms away from him.
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 Teachers (1984) / int_869e787c
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Creepy Gym Coach
 Teachers (1984) / int_869e787c
comment
Creepy Gym Coach: The high school gym teacher who has locker room sex with Diane and several other students, getting three of them pregnant.
 Teachers (1984) / int_869e787c
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Teachers (1984) / int_869e787c
 Teachers (1984) / int_895ec17
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Only in It for the Money
 Teachers (1984) / int_895ec17
comment
Only in It for the Money: Lisa is dismayed by the fact that her client, the kid who was given a diploma despite being illiterate, is willing to drop the suit for a cash payment.
 Teachers (1984) / int_895ec17
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Teachers (1984) / int_895ec17
 Teachers (1984) / int_8f612013
type
Token Good Teammate
 Teachers (1984) / int_8f612013
comment
Token Good Teammate: Jurel and (to a lesser) extent Rosenberg are the only teachers who give a damn about the well-being of the students.
 Teachers (1984) / int_8f612013
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 Teachers (1984) / int_9bca83eb
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Death by Irony
 Teachers (1984) / int_9bca83eb
comment
Death by Irony: One of the teacher's boasts about his class is the most orderly (read: because he doesn't actually teach, just sits quietly and makes his students do work books). The man dies because he is already so inert, none of his students notice him suffering a heart attack since he's already asleep.
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 Teachers (1984) / int_9d7be19d
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Dr. Psych Patient
 Teachers (1984) / int_9d7be19d
comment
Dr. Psych Patient: A delusional patient wanders into the school and is mistaken for the new American history instructor. He embraces the role and winds up teaching for most of the year, winning students' approval with his over-the-top costumed portrayals of historical figures.
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 Teachers (1984) / int_9dd2cbc2
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CloudCuckooLander
 Teachers (1984) / int_9dd2cbc2
comment
Cloud Cuckoo Lander: Gower is an escapee from an insane asylum (described as having "reality issues" by his psychiatrist) who lies about his identity and credentials to become one of the more well-liked and successful teachers in the school.
 Teachers (1984) / int_9dd2cbc2
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Teachers (1984) / int_9dd2cbc2
 Teachers (1984) / int_a4c37cbe
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Mood Whiplash
 Teachers (1984) / int_a4c37cbe
comment
Mood Whiplash: As a Dramedy, the film switches back and forth between satirical farce and scenes of personal tragedy.
 Teachers (1984) / int_a4c37cbe
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 Teachers (1984) / int_a70223
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Karma Houdini
 Teachers (1984) / int_a70223
comment
Karma Houdini: Aside from being admonished by Rubell, the gym teacher isn't punished or fired for sleeping with several of his students.
 Teachers (1984) / int_a70223
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 Teachers (1984) / int_a939d96a
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Adults Are Useless
 Teachers (1984) / int_a939d96a
comment
Adults Are Useless: Played for Drama: The ineptitude of the teachers in even keeping the kids safe, let alone imparting knowledge to them, is indicative of how terrible things are. It is school policy to let inept students pass, whether or not they can even read or write.
 Teachers (1984) / int_a939d96a
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 Teachers (1984) / int_ae3d6438
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Deadpan Snarker
 Teachers (1984) / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: Alex Jurel's response to most people and situations is a sarcastic remark.
 Teachers (1984) / int_ae3d6438
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 Teachers (1984) / int_b0a529cb
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Extreme Doormat
 Teachers (1984) / int_b0a529cb
comment
Extreme Doormat: Rosenberg is treated with utter contempt and disregard not only by his students but by the school administration, and usually does nothing about it. He does stand up to them a little at the end by refusing to tell lies to protect the administration, but this causes all the teachers (except Jurel) to avoid him.
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 Teachers (1984) / int_b11ac9f5
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Abusive Parents
 Teachers (1984) / int_b11ac9f5
comment
Abusive Parents: Eddie Pilikian's father hits him.
 Teachers (1984) / int_b11ac9f5
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Teachers (1984) / int_b11ac9f5
 Teachers (1984) / int_bb18a227
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It's All About Me
 Teachers (1984) / int_bb18a227
comment
It's All About Me: Rubell has this bad, caring more about his own image and selfish interests than actually ensuring his kids can succeed in life. When admonishing the gym teacher for sleeping with some of the girls, he's mainly upset about how this makes him look.
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 Teachers (1984) / int_c59cfa2e
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Felony Misdemeanor
 Teachers (1984) / int_c59cfa2e
comment
Felony Misdemeanor: The school would rather fire Jurel for bringing a girl to get an abortion rather than fire the teacher who got her pregnant in the first place.
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Teachers (1984) / int_c59cfa2e
 Teachers (1984) / int_c819533b
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Rage Breaking Point
 Teachers (1984) / int_c819533b
comment
Rage-Breaking Point: After all the abuse he'd endured, Rosenberg finally snaps at the subpoena and admits that he forcibly passed a bad student.
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Teachers (1984) / int_c819533b
 Teachers (1984) / int_cf231d54
type
Cool Teacher
 Teachers (1984) / int_cf231d54
comment
Cool Teacher: Jurel is generally seen as one of the better teachers in the school. Gower knocks it out of the park by dressing up as numerous historical figures.
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Teachers (1984) / int_cf231d54
 Teachers (1984) / int_d22a7df2
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Troubled, but Cute
 Teachers (1984) / int_d22a7df2
comment
Troubled, but Cute: Eddie Pilikian.
 Teachers (1984) / int_d22a7df2
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 Teachers (1984) / int_d99a228f
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Unusually Uninteresting Sight
 Teachers (1984) / int_d99a228f
comment
Unusually Uninteresting Sight: Played for Drama: The fact that Rubell doesn't bat an eye over his school's psychologist throwing a childish fit and one of his other students being stabbed shows how awful of a place it truly is.
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 Teachers (1984) / int_e9505dd1
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Crusading Lawyer
 Teachers (1984) / int_e9505dd1
comment
Crusading Lawyer: Lisa doesn't just want to help her client, but use the suit to reform the school after seeing how bad the kids have it. She's crushed when the student is willing to drop the suit in favor of a cash settlement.
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 Teachers (1984) / int_eb8f64a6
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No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
 Teachers (1984) / int_eb8f64a6
comment
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Rosenberg finally loses it and admits to Lisa that the school has a policy of forcing kids through the system, whether or not they actually can even read. This leads him to being ostracized and railroaded by the staff and administration.
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 Teachers (1984) / int_ef3d1b57
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Technician Versus Performer
 Teachers (1984) / int_ef3d1b57
comment
Technician Versus Performer: Gower becomes the performer to everyone else's technician. He is a mental patient with zero teaching background or experience, and yet he does a far better job at teaching history than any of the trained instructors since he actually engages with his students and makes the history fun and interactive with his impersonations of historical figures.
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 Teachers (1984) / int_fcd9b657
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Gallows Humor
 Teachers (1984) / int_fcd9b657
comment
Gallows Humor: Many instances of this, especially the scenes of Ditto's death going unnoticed.
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Teachers (1984)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Teachers (1984)
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Can Always Spot a Cop / int_73b177ef
 Teachers (1984)
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Creepy Gym Coach / int_73b177ef
 Teachers (1984)
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School Stories / int_73b177ef
 Teachers (1984)
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Seemingly Profound Fool / int_73b177ef
 Teachers (1984)
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Sucky School / int_73b177ef
 Teachers (1984)
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Teacher/Student Romance / int_73b177ef
 Teachers (1984)
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Technician Versus Performer / int_73b177ef