FORGET you're even watching a film, this one so draws you into a no-going-back plight of both teacher and student. Can't-wait-for-it-to-end, just for some kind of relief, yet you keep wanting just a little more, before what SEEMS the inevitable outcome. Only then, by this time, your emotions might barely make the escape from the strange twist ending.
Hardly disappointing is the respect and appreciation one comes to find for the dedicated teacher. Particularly at the end of this teacher's career!.. Raymond (played by Dean Stockwell) is excellent in his almost hypnotic portrayal of a student, hurt by his 10 year trial of utter frustration at failing in Ms Bloomquist's class... Mary Bloomquist (played by Jane Wyman) is just incredible as she carefully weighs the psychology needed to balance her own silent-fears with the integrity of her role as Teacher (with a capital T) when facing her "now-again-student" who demands his own resolve: HER LIFE, on this fateful "last-day" of her career. Small clue will not spoil: Neither the police, nor ANY OTHER outsider will bring this to a close. An absolute "must-see," by everyone at one time in their life. Don't miss the classroom scene in the end. It contains some of the very best acting and play on the emotions you will ever experience in film. (oh yeah, it's a film.. but you were THERE!!!)
