THE SUBSTITUTE (1996)

MORGAN'S RATING

When a teacher is assaulted by gang members, her boyfriend, a soldier of fortune named Shale, decides to take matters into his own hands. He becomes the new substitute teacher, and goes undercover to investigate the lethal street gang. He discovers that the thugs are heavily involved with drug dealing, and that the principal himself "assigns" their illegal activities. Shale, aided by his crew of mercenaries, sets out to clean up the school -- and teach the kids -- before his cover is blown.

Tom Berenger (Shale), Raymond Cruz (Joey Six), William Forsythe (Hollan), Luis Guzman (Rem), Richard Brooks (Wellman), Ana Azcuy (TV Announcer), Diane Verona (Jane Hetzko), Glenn Plummer (Mr. Darrell Sherman), Sharron Corley (Jerome Brown), Vincent Laresca (Rodriguez), Maurice Compte (Tay), Marc Anthony (Juan Lacas), Ernie Hudson (Principal Claude Rolle), Beau Weaver (Janus Showreel Narrator), Cliff De Young (Matt Wolfson), Willis Sparks (John Janus), Noelle Beck (Deidre Lane), Jim Warne (Bull), Jody Wilson (Mrs. Andrewson), Ian Marioles (KOD Punk), Maria Celedonio (Lisa Rodriguez), David Spates (Michael Davis), David Hayes (Frank Davis), Peggy Pope (Hannah Dillon), Nidia Alvarez, Melissa Martinez, Enrique Cruz, David Diaz, Lazaro Gomez, Travis Patterson, Simon Ricky (Students), Mercedes Enriquez (High School Nurse), Artie Malesci (Marvin), Rodney A. Grant (Johnny Glades), Steve DuMouchel (Buyer).

THE MOST DANGEROUS THING ABOUT SCHOOL USED TO BE THE STUDENTS.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: Robert Mandel. WRITERS: Roy Frumkes, Rocco Simonelli, and Alan Ormsby. PRODUCERS: Morrie Eisenman, Jim Steele, and Don Carmody (uncredited). ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Thomas A. Irvine. CO-PRODUCERS: Juanita F. Diana, Michael Feeney, and Lou Fusaro. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Steven Bakalar and Deborah Cutler. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Gary Chang. DISTRIBUTOR: Live Entertainment.

FACTS

QUOTES

RELEASE DATE: April 19th, 1996 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $6.0 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $14.8 million (USA) - Co-star Marc Anthony is a popular Latin salsa performer. - 19 Miami-area gang members were cast as the film's hoodlums. - According to Leonard White, president of Orion Pictures, this film was the company's most successful movie since Orion came out of bankruptcy in November 1992. - Followed by three direct-to-video sequels: The Substitute 2: School's Out (1998), The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All (1999), and The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001).

Shale: Did you ever look up the word "mercenary"? It's someone who "works merely for money." Joey: Everybody works for money. Shale: It's not the money that bothers me; it's the "merely."

Rolle: Power perceived is power achieved.

Shale: I'm in charge of this classroom. I'm the warrior chief, the merciless god who stirs anything in its path. You fuck with me, and you will suffer my wrath.

Shale: Oooh, I can't tell you boys how much I needed this. Juan Lacas: When we're done, I want you to say 'I'm Sorry' 100 times. Shale: Shh. No talking in the library.

Rolle: Two of your students are in the nurses office talking a lawsuit. Shale: What, is the nurse a lawyer?

CRITICAL COMMENTS

Hollan: Cuba wimped you out. You lost your mind and now you lost your balls. Shale: [grabs Hollan by the crotch] Maybe I'll just borrow yours, on second thought they're too small. Hollan: [about to walk away] Fuck you. Fucking queers.

"There's a sense of shrewd observation throughout The Substitute that makes it come alive and seem quite a few cuts above such usual genre fare." -- Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

"Those who appreciate the irony of a killing machine turned loose on a pack of nasty students will find The Substitute a source of nonstop delight." -- Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

"The title changes, the actors change, and the superficial details of the story change, but it is always about exactly the same thing: heavily armed men shooting at one another." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times