The Teacher (1974 film)
| The Teacher | |
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| File:The Teacher 1974 film.jpg | |
| Directed by | Hickmet Avedis |
| Produced by | Hickmet Avedis (producer) Lenke Romanszky (executive producer) Marlene Schmidt (associate producer) |
| Screenplay by | Hickmet Avedis |
| Starring | Angel Tompkins Jay North Anthony James Marlene Schmidt Barry Atwater |
| Music by | Shorty Rogers |
| Cinematography | Alfred Taylor |
| Edited by | Norman Wallerstein |
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Running time
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98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Teacher is a 1974 American coming-of-age suspense film, written, produced, and directed by Hickmet Avedis (aka: Howard Avedis) and released by Crown International Pictures. The film stars Angel Tompkins, Jay North and Anthony James, and tells the story of an 18-year-old's first relationship with his alluring teacher, and the hidden danger awaiting them in the shadows.
Synopsis
It's summer, and shy, obsessed student, Ralf Gordon (Anthony James) stalks his high school teacher, 28-year-old Diane Marshall (Angel Tompkins) to a boatyard where he watches her in her swimsuit while she's relaxing on one of the boats from an old warehouse. His friends and fellow classmates, 18-year-old Sean Roberts (Jay North), to whom Diane is a neighbor, and Ralf's brother Lou (Rudy Herrera Jr.) also drive to the junkyard and watch her strip naked and exercise. Angry, Ralf yells at them brandishing a bayonet. Shocked at this Lou falls over the railings to his death, for which, Ralf blames Sean. A disillusioned Ralf tries to kill Sean but he manages to flee unharmed. His parents ask him on why he's so late at getting home to which Sean claims he forgot. Later that night while dressing for bed, Ralf confronts Sean again telling him the Sherriff is on his way threatening to cut the boy's tongue out should he tell him anything. The Sherriff questions Sean however Sean lies due to seeing Ralf eyeing him. The next day Sean meets up with Diane who invites him with her to meet up and have tea with some friends where Diane reveals that she knows about Ralf stalking her. Afterwards, on their way back home, she and Sean see Ralf who says he'll be waiting to see Sean at the warehouse. Diane invites Sean into her house for a drink. This soon escalates into a moment of passionate lovemaking while Ralf, unknown to them, watches jealously. Afterwards, Diane asks Sean if he wants to do it again but he refuses on the grounds that his father will be home soon. Understanding this, Diane invites Sean to join her on her boat the next day, to which Sean happily agrees. The event of an intimate kissing act between the couple occurs while they are out on one of the boats having lunch, only this time Ralf threatens Sean with a handheld harpoon. However upon seeing Diane, his shy nature takes over and he flees. Later, Diane asks Sean out to dinner which he eagerly accepts. On their way back Ralf demands that he speak to Sean. Ralf, still under the disillusion that Sean killed Lou, threatens him once again with the bayonet. Diane then tells Sean's parents about Ralf's threats. The next day, after driving her home and having a pool party together, they make love once again. Diane receives a phone call from her drifter husband telling her that he's coming back. However Diane tells him she's divorcing him. As Sean gets into his van to drive home he is held at bayonet point by Ralf and ordered to drive to the warehouse. Sean manages to get away and arms himself with a rifle. Ralf reveals that the bullet is a blank. While Sean tries to flee, Ralf gets him in a chokehold which ends up killing him. Diane arrives on the scene looking for Sean however she finds Ralf. Ralf tells her that he killed Sean so he can be with her. Horrified at what Ralf has done, Diane tearfully rejects his advances. Overcome with anger and jealousy at Diane's love for Sean over himself, Ralf forces her down and tries to strangle her. Diane manages to stab him in the side with his own bayonet and flees leaving Ralf to bleed to death. Diane then finds Sean's body at the top of the outside stairway. Diane breaks down and weeps, cradling the body of her deceased lover.
Cast
- Angel Tompkins ... Diane Marshall
- Jay North ... Sean Roberts
- Anthony James ... Ralph Gordon
- Marlene Schmidt ... Alice Roberts
- Barry Atwater ... Sheriff Murphy
- Med Flory ... Joe Roberts
- Rudy Herrera Jr. ... Lou Gordon
- Quinn O'Hara ... Margaret Parker
- Sivi Aberg ... Bonnie Nelson
- Richard Winterstein ... Russell Marshall
- Katherine Cassavetes ... Gossiping Lady 1
- Lady Rowlands ... Gossiping Lady 2
- Cassandra Lucas ... Waitress
Reception
Although 22 years old during principal production, North was still largely known to audiences as the impish child he'd played ten years before on the CBS family series, Dennis the Menace. Prior to the release of the film, columnist Jack O'Brian reported of the "vulgarity" of North's first adult feature film role - "Nice little Jay North (TV's Dennis the Menace only a few smiles ago) has a bang-up role in "The Teacher" flick - an explicit porn-scene with Angel Tompkins."[1]
While not impressed with what he deemed to be a "ludicrous" storyline, Los Angeles Times critic, Kevin Thomas expressed appreciation for the portrayal of the film's two lead characters, writing - "The plot of "The Teacher" isn't worth outlining, yet it develops a relationship between a 28-year-old woman and an 18-year-old high school boy with sensitivity and credibility unusual for an exploitation film. [...] Avedis displays much concern for his people and allows Miss Tompkins and North plenty of room to give fresh, spontaneous performances."[2]
