My favorite film to date is Dead Poet's Society. It really is the ultimate prep school film, complete with privileged white kids, a pretentious, stuffy school headmaster, blowhard parents, and even an underdog triumph or two.
Set in the 1950's, the story begins at the prestigious, conservative Welton Academy (a fictional Exeter), an all white, all boys prep school in Vermont. It is an age of cheerless conformity until Mr. Keating (Robin Williams), a Welton alum returns to teach English. Wanting the boys to learn to think for themselves, he inspires them make their lives extraordinary with the iconic phrase "Carpe Diem, Lads." Such boys as Keating's students are prone to society telling them what they could and couldn't do. As the story unfolds, the boys learn to take chances, face their demons (or in some cases, their parents) and above all, lead happy lives. While there are some unquestioningly sad moments, this truly is one of the greatest films ever made. The final scene could bring a tear to a glass eye. Absolutely worth a watch. Every school needs a teacher like Mr. Keating. I certainly wish my prep school could have had one.
Second on the list is a somewhat underrated adolescent drama known as The Emperor's Club. Kevin Kline stars as a passionate history teacher at the fictional St. Benedict's School, another posh, New England prep school. Like Mr. Keating, he wants to inspire his students to lead extraordinary lives and asks them "How will history remember you?" Everything seems to be going well until a new student joins his class. Sedgewick Bell (Elijah Wood) is the son of a U.S. senator and your classic spoiled rich kid. Smart, but cocky and rebellious he immediately stirs up trouble wherever he goes. Kline vows to help the boy, but he soon realizes he may have his work cut out for him and that's where the movie gets interesting. There are definitely some similarities to Dead Poet's Society and some have even gone so far as to call this movie a rip-off, but they are by no means the same film. Watch them both and you will seen the distinctive differences. Also appearing is a teenage Jessie Eisenberg, before he got to Harvard, who costars as one of Sedgewick's friends. For the millions who loved Dead Poet's Society, this film is definitely worth watching.
The next film on our list has a slightly darker, certainly more dramatic feel. School Ties was also set in the 1950's, but unlike Dead Poet's Society, it pays homage to the times in a different way; tackling racism and prejudice Brendan Frasier stars as David Green, a working class, jewish teen from Scranton PA who is awarded a football scholarship to the prestigious St. Matthew's Academy in Massachusetts. The posh New England world is far removed from the working class mill town where he grew up and David is forced to hide his jewish roots from his wealthy, sometimes arrogant and bigoted classmates. That said, he bonds well with them and becomes a football star. Everything is going great until he mistakenly crosses his wealthiest classmate and trouble instantly follows, forcing David to consider who he is, what he wants, and what he stands for. The film is stolen by Matt Damon, who stars as Charlie Dillion, the arrogant, wealthy head boy who's stoplight David steals without meaning to. Dillion, the film's antagonist, is the classic New England prep school jerk; wealthy and arrogant with no concern for the less fortunate and willing to screw anyone over to get what he wants. Also appearing are Ben Affleck and Chris O' Donnel, who appear as classmates of David and Charlie. School Ties may make you reconsider sending your kids to a New England prep school, but this film does not accurately portray such schools in current times. There is some racism and anti-seminism displayed, but if that sort of thing doesn't bother you, it's definitely worth a watch. There are some strong messages about friendship and loyalty.
Our final film on the list is one of the only prep school comedies, at least to my knowledge. Outside Providence is the story of Tim, a working class kid from blue collar Providence Rhode Island. He's happy stirring up trouble with his friends and causing havoc wherever he goes, but when he damages a police car, he's finally gone too far. His father (Alec Baldwin) is a working class, beer swilling jerk, but when Tim crosses a line, he decides to send him to a posh boarding school where he can't get into trouble. How a blue collar working can afford to put his kid through an expensive private school is never explained, but from there the film gets interesting. Tim doesn't meet the same fate as David Green, as his film is set in a different era. In fact, his story is much funnier, although there are a few tender moments. Along his journey he falls in love and learns about a new way of life. This film doesn't have the emotional depth of Dead Poet's Society or the life lessons of School Ties, but it's a good watch, particularly if you like to laugh.
Honorable mentions -
Six Degrees of Separation
Igby Goes Down
Goodbye, Mr. Chips.
The next film on our list has a slightly darker, certainly more dramatic feel. School Ties was also set in the 1950's, but unlike Dead Poet's Society, it pays homage to the times in a different way; tackling racism and prejudice Brendan Frasier stars as David Green, a working class, jewish teen from Scranton PA who is awarded a football scholarship to the prestigious St. Matthew's Academy in Massachusetts. The posh New England world is far removed from the working class mill town where he grew up and David is forced to hide his jewish roots from his wealthy, sometimes arrogant and bigoted classmates. That said, he bonds well with them and becomes a football star. Everything is going great until he mistakenly crosses his wealthiest classmate and trouble instantly follows, forcing David to consider who he is, what he wants, and what he stands for. The film is stolen by Matt Damon, who stars as Charlie Dillion, the arrogant, wealthy head boy who's stoplight David steals without meaning to. Dillion, the film's antagonist, is the classic New England prep school jerk; wealthy and arrogant with no concern for the less fortunate and willing to screw anyone over to get what he wants. Also appearing are Ben Affleck and Chris O' Donnel, who appear as classmates of David and Charlie. School Ties may make you reconsider sending your kids to a New England prep school, but this film does not accurately portray such schools in current times. There is some racism and anti-seminism displayed, but if that sort of thing doesn't bother you, it's definitely worth a watch. There are some strong messages about friendship and loyalty.
Our final film on the list is one of the only prep school comedies, at least to my knowledge. Outside Providence is the story of Tim, a working class kid from blue collar Providence Rhode Island. He's happy stirring up trouble with his friends and causing havoc wherever he goes, but when he damages a police car, he's finally gone too far. His father (Alec Baldwin) is a working class, beer swilling jerk, but when Tim crosses a line, he decides to send him to a posh boarding school where he can't get into trouble. How a blue collar working can afford to put his kid through an expensive private school is never explained, but from there the film gets interesting. Tim doesn't meet the same fate as David Green, as his film is set in a different era. In fact, his story is much funnier, although there are a few tender moments. Along his journey he falls in love and learns about a new way of life. This film doesn't have the emotional depth of Dead Poet's Society or the life lessons of School Ties, but it's a good watch, particularly if you like to laugh.
Honorable mentions -
Six Degrees of Separation
Igby Goes Down
Goodbye, Mr. Chips.
