Up the Down Staircase

Critics Consensus

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Up the Down Staircase Photos

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Movie Info

Based on a novel by Bel Kaufman, this is the story of a new teacher in the New York public school system who wants to make a difference in her students' lives. Sandy Dennis' portrayal of the flighty, slightly mad young woman of Kaufman's book was excellent, but the frenetic energy of the book was not duplicated by the movie.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Classics, Drama
Directed By:

Robert Mulligan
Written By:

Tad Mosel
In Theaters:

Jul 19, 1967 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Nov 6, 2007
Runtime:

124 minutes
Studio:

WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES

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Cast

Sandy Dennis
as Sylvia Barrett

Patrick Bedford
as Paul Barringer

Eileen Heckart
as Henrietta Pastorfield

Roy Poole
as McHabe

Jeff Howard
as Joe

Ellen O'Mara
as Alice

José Rodríguez
as Jose

Ruth White
as Miss Schracter

Jean Stapleton
as Miss Finch

Sorrell Booke
as Bester

Florence Stanley
as Ella Friedenberg

Vinette Carroll
as Mother

Salvatore Rasa
as Harry A. Kagan

John Fantauzzi
as Ed Williams

María Landa
as Carole Blanca

Lewis Wallach
as Lou Martin

José Rodríguez
as José

Loretta Leversee
as Social Studies Teacher

Robert Levine
as Mr. Osborne

Elena Karam
as Nurse Eagen

Frances Sternhagen
as Charlotte Wolf

Candace Culkin
as Linda Rosen

Janice Mars
as Miss Gordon

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Critic Reviews for Up the Down Staircase

All Critics (5) | Top Critics (1)

We need more American films like Up the Down Staircase. We need more films that might be concerned, even remotely, with real experiences that might once have happened to real people.

Oct 23, 2004 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic
Humorless version of Kaufman's novel doesn't show Mulligan's personal touch.

Aug 16, 2012 | Full Review…

Michael E. Grost
Classic Film and Television
Picks up where Blackboard Jungle (1955) left off.

Jan 8, 2010 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
One of Hollywood's earnest efforts about highschool education, sort of a female version of Blackboard Jungle and To Sir With Love, with Sandy Dennis in the lead.

Feb 8, 2009 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

View All Critic Reviews (5)

Audience Reviews for Up the Down Staircase

Apr 29, 2011

Well made, well acted drama of a young teacher's struggle to adapt to a tough inner city school. Some of the sheen has worn off the topicality of the issue since there have been many versions of it but this is a fine rendering of the tale. Sandy Dennis is perfectly cast in the lead.

jay n Super Reviewer
Aug 09, 2007

Very good film with and excellent cast.

Morris N Super Reviewer