"After thirty years teaching in London, Mark Thackeray retires and returns to Chicago. There, however, the challenge of teaching kids in an inner city school proves to be too much to resist."
Sidney Poitier
as Mark Thackeray
Christian Payton
as Wilsie Carrouthers
Dana Eskelson
as Evie
Fernando López
as Danny Laredo
Casey Lluberes
as Rebecca Torrado
Michael Gilio
as Frankie Davanon
LZ Granderson
as Arch Carrouthers
Bernadette Speakes
as LaVerne Mariner
Jamie Kolacki
as Stan Cameli
Saundra Santiago
as Louisa Rodgriguez
Cheryl Lynn Bruce
as Emily Taylor
Lulu
as Barbara Pegg
Judy Geeson
as Pamela Dare
Daniel J. Travanti
as Horace Weaver
John Beasley
as Greg Emory
Christopher Birt
as Mark Taylor
Antonia Bogdanovich
as Lynn Guzman
Pauline Brailsford
as Very British Woman
Delle Chatman
as Florist Driver
Neil Flynn
as Detective Dennis
Joe Forbrich
as Rob Doerr
Irma P. Hall
as Old Woman
Mel Jackson
as Tommie Rahwn (as Melton Jackson)
Doug Johnson
as Bill Plummer
Joan Kohn
as Helen Goldfarb
Paulette McDaniels
as Secretary
David Pease
as Mr. Yallick
Juan Ramírez
as Detective Alvarez
Russ Reed
as Old Man
Nicholas Rudall
as Dignitary
Juan Sanchez Jr.
as Tommie's Gang Pal
Eddie Bo Smith Jr.
as School Guard
Jeff Still
as Sergeant Giametti
Jackie Taylor
as Mrs. Carrouthers
John M. Watson Sr.
as Publisher
Jason Winer
as Leo Radatz
Kris Wolff
as Billy Lapatynski
Cedric Young
as Cabbie
Stephanie Burton
as Clarion Receptionist (uncredited)
Antonio Polk
as Thug (uncredited)
Peter Bogdanovich
Director
Trevor Lawrence
Original Music Composer
Richard Stenta
Producer
Robert E. Warner
Unit Production Manager
Lisa Wolff
Set Decoration
Chey Greene
Key Makeup Artist
Deborah Edell Underwood
Associate Producer
Dianne Ryder-Rennolds
Editor
William Birch
Director of Photography
Jane Brody
Casting
Gary Baugh
Production Design
LunYé Marsh
Key Hair Stylist
Philip Rosenberg
Writer
E.R. Braithwaite
Characters