Watch The George McKenna Story

In 1986, Denzel Washington starred in the inspirational drama film, The George McKenna Story, directed by Eric Laneuville. The movie is based on the true story of George McKenna, a principal who changes things around in a struggling inner-city school located in Los Angeles. The film was a critical and commercial success and received positive reviews from the audience.

The story follows the life of George McKenna, who is played by Denzel Washington, who is a hard-working and dedicated high school principal who has a vision to transform the failing inner-city school of George Washington Preparatory High School into a school that prepares students for college and the real world. The school is located in the heart of South Los Angeles, which is a high crime area, making it difficult for the students to focus on their studies. George is well aware of the challenges he faces when he is appointed as the new principal of the high school.

George is passionate about his work and spends most of his time on campus, getting to know the students and the faculty. He is determined to give the students of the school a chance to succeed and works tirelessly to help them achieve their full potential. The school is in a state of chaos when George takes over, and many of the students have given up hope of ever achieving anything in life. George's passion, commitment, and love for his students begin to make a difference in their lives.

One of the biggest challenges facing George is the lack of resources available to the school due to the limited funding from the state's education department. George must find a way to provide the students with a proper education despite the severe resource constraints under which he is operating. He learns to be resourceful, utilizing his expertise and experience in the field to make the best of what he has.

As George is working on improving things on campus, he also faces opposition from some of the faculty members, who are unhappy with the changes he is introducing. They are accustomed to the old ways of doing things, and George's new approach and methodology are unsettling to them. George does not let their criticisms get to him, nor does he ever lose his sense of purpose, which is to change the life trajectory of his students.

The film features some emotionally gripping scenes, such as when George speaks to one of his students, Sadie (played by Lynn Whitfield), who is struggling with drug addiction. She is on the brink of giving up and giving in, but George's faith in her inspires her to get her life back on track. The film does an excellent job of showing how one person's determination and commitment can influence an entire community and, in this case, can change the course of many young people's lives.

The George McKenna Story explores some of the complex social issues that exist in underprivileged communities and how they affect the educational opportunities of young people. It highlights the importance of quality education in unlocking the potential of the future generation and how transformative leadership can inspire change where none previously existed.

Overall, The George McKenna Story is a stirring, inspiring, and thought-provoking film that showcases the power of hope and determination to create a better future, not just for one person, but for many. Denzel Washington's commendable portrayal of George McKenna and the supporting cast's excellent performances make it a must-watch for anyone who wants to see how one person's dedication and commitment can change lives for the better.

The George McKenna Story is a 1986 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0.