Up the Down Staircase

Sandy Dennis stars as Sylvia Barrett, a green but idealistic young teacher who takes a job at a tough inner-city high school. Troubled by the apathy of both her students and fellow teachers, Barrett revels in her few successes. But her naïveté may prove a fatal flaw, despite her good intentions. Eileen Heckart, Jean Stapleton and Patrick Bedford co-star in director Robert Mulligan's adaptation of Bel Kaufman's novel.