Spare the Rod – 1961 | 93 mins | Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Anti-corporal punishment drama charting the struggles of a new teacher at a tough school in London’s East End. Based on Michael Croft’s controversial novel, the Leslie Norman directed film lacks lavish production values but compensates for this with scenes of strongly administered canings and schoolboy rebellion. Max Bygraves is a surprisingly sympathetic in the lead role and strong support comes courtesy of credible performances from Donald Pleasence and Geoffrey Keen, as the compromising headmaster and the hard-line staffroom tyrant respectively. A young Richard O’Sullivan is his trademark vibrant self as a promising pupil.

At the rough Worrell Street School in the East End of London, idealistic young schoolteacher John Saunders (Max Bygraves) takes up his first post since leaving the navy and various part-time jobs. Saunders resists the apathy of his fellow tutors Mr. Jenkins (Donald Pleasence) and authoritarian Arthur Gregory (Geoffrey Keen), and tries to teach his unruly students in a meaningful manner. To do this, Saunders forgoes the cane and plays on the youngsters’ sympathies and eventually wins their trust and respect. He engages especially with the wayward but talented Harkness (Richard O’Sullivan), yet a prank played upon Mr Gregory causes Angell (Jeremy Bulloch) to instigate a riot amongst his fellow classmates. Saunders opposition to Gregory’s corporal punishment compromises his position at Worrell Street and leads the raw supply teacher to consider his future.