'To Sir, With Love' teaches the skill of Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier may have been called "Mister Tibbs" in one of his most iconic roles, but in another, he was "Sir."

In 1967, the legendary Oscar winner - who died on Jan. 6 - had the sort of year any actor would crave, with no less than three box-office triumphs. One was "To Sir, With Love," which leads a night of teacher-themed dramas (which already had been scheduled before Poitier's passing) Friday, Feb. 4, on Turner Classic Movies.

The star plays Mark Thackeray, an engineer who has trouble finding work in his chosen field, so he takes a teaching position at a school in London's East End. He soon discovers what he's in for, as his new pupils challenge him at every turn, forcing him to keep his composure and rely on his dignity to accomplish his job and make his mark with them.

Among his top opponents: Denham (Christian Roberts), a brooding young tough who eventually can't resist getting his chance against Thackeray in a boxing match during a physical education class; and Pamela Dare (Judy Geeson), a beauty from a troubled home life who ultimately develops a very pronounced crush on Thackeray.

Also notable among the students is Barbara Pegg, or "Babs" ... played by British pop singer Lulu, who scored an enormous, enduring hit single with the film's title song. Also present musically are The Mindbenders, performing at the picture's climactic school dance; by then, they'd had successful tunes with "The Game of Love" and "A Groovy Kind of Love."

Novelist James Clavell ("Shogun") directed "To Sir, With Love" and also adapted E.R. Braithwaite's novel (inspired by the author's own teaching experiences) for the screenplay. Poitier would portray Thackeray again in the 1996 sequel "To Sir, With Love II," made for CBS. The story brought the character from England - but not before original co-stars Geeson and Lulu also made return appearances - to a new teaching assignment in Chicago. The film was directed by Peter Bogdanovich, who in a sad coincidence died the same day as Poitier.

As mentioned, 1967 was a huge year for Poitier. Besides "To Sir, With Love," he also starred in two classics that won Oscars: He became the screen incarnation of big-city police detective Virgil Tibbs, who investigated a small-town murder in "In the Heat of the Night," and he appeared opposite fellow screen icons Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in the socially conscious comedy-drama "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."

Perhaps because of the way it reached across generations, though, "To Sir, With Love" is a special Poitier credit. To its many fans, it's welcome anytime ... but particularly now, not long after the loss of its widely admired star, it has extra meaning.