Expert: 7devonapes - 1/19/2010

Question
wondering if you can help. I am trying to identify a film that came out on VHS in the 1980's? it was about a troubled but talented high school student (gifted in piano, etc) and a new teacher at the high school.

at first the teacher believes that the kid is just a smart arse punk leader of a gang, however over time he realises he is a gifted student, albeit bordering on psycho!

the end scene is set at the high school awards night and he ends up, accidentaly hanging himself. For some reason I have always thought it was called 1984?

Answer
Hi Greg,

I'm pretty sure the movie you are looking for is 1982's "Class of 1984" (so, you were half way there!). Here is a plot summary from imdb.com:

"Andy is a new teacher and an inner city high school that is like nothing he has ever seen before. The students have to go through a metal detector when they go through the front door and everything is basically run by a tough kid named Peter Stegman. Soon, Andy and Stegman become enemies and Stegman will stop at nothing to protect his turf and drug dealing business."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083739/


Piano scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unw5gZj5OS8


Here is the film's trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRTwc68O6b8


DVD copies are available from Ebay.com, Amazon.com, etc.


Best of luck!
Ryan