The Principal
Brief Synopsis
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High school teacher Rick Latimer is getting divorced. After having a few drinks one night, he sees his estranged wife out with her lawyer and goes ballistic, taking a baseball bat to the man's Porsche. This results in a reprimand from the school board, but Rick is not fired. Instead, he is assigned the job of principal at Brandel High, a school that is filled with drugs and violence. With the help of security guard Jake Philips, Rick sets out to clean up the school, laying down the law and tutoring some of the students. Unwilling to give up his turf, the ring leader of the trouble-makers, a student named Victor, challenges Rick's authority and causes the violence to escalate, eventually putting Rick and flinty history teacher Hilary Orozco in personal danger. But Victor has underestimated Rick's determination...and temper.
Cast & Crew
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Christopher Cain
Director
James Belushi
Rick Latimer
Louis Gossett
Jake Phillips
Rae Dawn Chong
Hilary Orozco
Michael Wright
Victor Duncan
Esai Morales
Raymi Rojas
Film Details
Also Known As
Principal
MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Release Date
1987
Production Company
D Bassett & Associates Inc; Ml Delphi Premier Productions; Pacific Title & Art Studio; Panavision, Ltd.; Technicolor; Tristar Pictures
Distribution Company
TriStar Pictures; Rca/Columbia Pictures Home Video; Sony Pictures Releasing International; Tristar Pictures
Location
Walnut Creek, California, USA; Oakland, California, USA; Alameda, California, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 50m
Synopsis
High school teacher Rick Latimer is getting divorced. After having a few drinks one night, he sees his estranged wife out with her lawyer and goes ballistic, taking a baseball bat to the man's Porsche. This results in a reprimand from the school board, but Rick is not fired. Instead, he is assigned the job of principal at Brandel High, a school that is filled with drugs and violence. With the help of security guard Jake Philips, Rick sets out to clean up the school, laying down the law and tutoring some of the students. Unwilling to give up his turf, the ring leader of the trouble-makers, a student named Victor, challenges Rick's authority and causes the violence to escalate, eventually putting Rick and flinty history teacher Hilary Orozco in personal danger. But Victor has underestimated Rick's determination...and temper.
Director
Christopher Cain
Director
Cast
James Belushi
Rick Latimer
Louis Gossett
Jake Phillips
Rae Dawn Chong
Hilary Orozco
Michael Wright
Victor Duncan
Esai Morales
Raymi Rojas
J. J. Cohen
White Zac
Troy Winbush
"Baby" Emile
Jacob Vargas
Arturo Diego
Thomas Ryan
Robert Darcy
Reggie Johnson
Jojo
Kelly Minter
Treena Lester
Ruth Beckford
Mrs Jenkins
Julian Brooks
Kevin
Joan Valderrama
Secretary
Rick Hamilton
Mr Harkley
Martin Pistone
Security Guard
Richard Duppell
Buddy
Peter Fitzsimmons
Buddy
Joe Flood
Terhune
Ann Armour
Mrs Ripton
Tony Haney
Police Officer
Sharon Thomas
Kimberly
Daniel Royal
Will
Delores Mitchell
Mrs Coswell
Zoltan Gray
Physical Education Teacher
John Allen Vick
Frank Valdis
Sean Allen Barnes
Rolf
Yuri Lane
Lance Woodbury
Steve W Birger
Stevie B
Gus Dimas
Gus
Leo Downey
George Pierce
Tom Winston
Principal O'Connor
Kathryn Knotts
Jan Buchanan
Marshall Jones
Gang Member
Josh Wood
Charles Lester
Mark Anger
Desk Officer
Frank Deese
Mr Petersen
J J Johnson
Will
Doug White
Eric
Wat Takeshita
Maintenance Man
Elliott Valderrama
Joel Valentin
Kid
Jessica Wilson
Girl
Kaprice Wilson
Girl
Bridgette Rodriguez
Girl
Tom Bryant
Shocked Teacher
Danny Kovacs
Substitute Teacher
Charmaine Anderson
Hilary'S Student
Terry Coleman
Student
Melissa Lee Holloman
Student
Luis Zuno
Student
Nemon Wade
Student
Eural Wills
Student
James Edward Griffin
Gang Student
David Williams
Gang Student
Melanie G Muters
Alley Girl
Linda Trowbridge
Nurse
Danny Williams
Dangerous Danny
Bill Yarbrough
Randall
Jack Kostelnik
Leadman
Kelly Jo Minter
Crew
Arthur Albert
Director Of Photography
Sharon Alley
2nd Assistant Camera
Mickey Alzola
Stunts
Steven E Anderson
Makeup
Bobby Angelle
Stunts
Marianna Astrom-defina
Costume Designer
Anthony F Balderrama
1st Assistant Camera
Mark Billerman
Art Direction
Nandi Bowe
Production Assistant
Michael Bransfield
Stunts
Randi Lynn Braun
Titles
Gary M Brickley
Key Grip
Thomas H Brodek
Producer
Rich Brown
Set Decorator
Jane Bucklin
Assistant (To Thomas H Brodek)
Lyle Byrum
Stunts
David E Campbell
Sound Rerecording Mixer
Douglas Cattaneo
Special Effects
Gregory Childers
Bestboy Grip
Denise Cochran
Apprentice Editor
Everett Creach
Stunts
Everett Creach
Stunt Coordinator
Lauri Ann Creach
Stunts
Frances X Crowley
Property Master Assistant
Jeffrey P Cude
Set Dresser
Bryan Curry
Production Assistant
Gregg Dandridge
Stunts
Gordon Daniel
Sound Editor
Greg Davies
Gaffer
G W Davis
Sound Editor
James T Davis
Unit Production Manager
Frank Deese
Screenwriter
Denis Dutton
Sound Editor
Ian Eales
Music Recording Mixer
Kirk A Elam
Stunts
Dulanie Ellis
Script Supervisor
Judy Feil
Costumer
Taylor Gilbert
Stunts
Len Glascow
Stunts
Dan Gleich
Boom Operator
Andy Goldmark
Song ("Livin' In The Line Of Fire")
Jim Gordon
Other
Paul Christian Gordon
Song ("Our Own Eyes")
Allen S Gross
Special Effects
Jay Gruska
Songs ("Livin' In The Line Of Fire" "Straight Into The Fire" "Our Own Eyes" "Morning Light")
Jay Gruska
Music
Terry Gusto
Location Manager
Barbara Gutman
Accountant Assistant
Doris Hellmann
Production Coordinator Assistant
Jack Hofstra
Editor
Philip Holahan
Additional Photography
Scott A Howell
Stunts
Marlys James
Apprentice Editor
Arlene Johnson
Assistant (To Christopher Cain)
Ken S Johnson
Music Editor
Trevor Jolly
Post-Production Supervisor
John Paul Jones
Foley Editor
John Paul Jones
Foley Editor
Rob Jungklas
Song Performer ("Hello Heaven")
Barbara Kassal
Costumer
Frank Kniest
Assistant Editor
Barbara Lakin
Stills
Eileen Lane
Stunts
Shawn Lane
Stunts
William T Lane
Stunts
Jon Lind
Song ("Straight Into The Fire")
Steve Livingston
Music Editor
Horace Manzaneres
Sound Editor Assistant
Gil Marchant
Sound Editor Supervisor
Tyann Means
Stunts
Sue Travis Miller
Costume Supervisor
Eddie Mulder
Stunts
Charles Myers
1st Assistant Director
Candace Neal
Hairstyles
Jennifer Neiman
Production Accountant
Teresa Nielsen
Other
Daniel J Nilles
Set Dresser
Norma Nobile
Stunts
Terri Pappas
Casting (Extras)
Penny Perry
Casting
David Pier
Special Effects Supervisor
Dennis Pope
Dolly Grip
Cate Praggastis
Casting (Extras/California)
Krissy Raden
Stunts
Mike Raden
Stunts
John T Reitz
Sound Rerecording Mixer
Bruce Roberts
Song ("Livin' In The Line Of Fire")
Gregg Rudloff
Sound Rerecording Mixer
Don Ruffin
Stunts
Edward Sandlin
Sound Editor
Edward Sandlin
Sound Editor
Stephen Scheutzow
Production Assistant
Tom Snyder
2nd Assistant Director
Michelle Souza
Set Dresser
J Michael Speakman
Property Master Assistant
Pete Steinfeld
Physical Trainer ("Body By Jake")
Phillip Steuer
Property Master
Richard C Stewart
Sound Editor Assistant
Lauren Beth Strogoff
Unit Publicist
Vicki Swindell
Stunts
Eugene Texeira
Craft Service
Jon Thorgusen
Transportation Captain
Elliott Valderrama
Production Assistant
I J Van Perre Jr.
Construction Coordinator
Jani Vournas
Bestboy Electrician
Thomas Vranesich
Production Assistant
John Waite
Song Performer ("Woman'S Touch")
Shirley A Walker
Stunts
Laurel Walter
Production Coordinator
Dara Weintraub
Production Assistant
Randy White
Transportation Coordinator
Mae Williams
Casting Assistant
Mayor Lionel J Wilson
Assistance (Oakland, California)
Andy Wiskes
Sound Recording Mixer
Tom Wright
Stunts
Tom Wright
Stunts
Film Details
Also Known As
Principal
MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Release Date
1987
Production Company
D Bassett & Associates Inc; Ml Delphi Premier Productions; Pacific Title & Art Studio; Panavision, Ltd.; Technicolor; Tristar Pictures
Distribution Company
TriStar Pictures; Rca/Columbia Pictures Home Video; Sony Pictures Releasing International; Tristar Pictures
Location
Walnut Creek, California, USA; Oakland, California, USA; Alameda, California, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 50m
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Fall September 18, 1987
Released in United States on Video May 26, 1988
Principal photography began February 2, 1987.
Completed production April 4, 1987.
Released in United States Fall September 18, 1987
Released in United States on Video May 26, 1988
