Virginia Paris Movies

Edward James Olmos portrays the real-life Jaime Escalante, a no-nonsense mathematic teacher in a tough East LA high school. Handed a classroom full of "losers" and "unteachables," Escalante is determined to turn his young charges' lives around. Drawing from his own cultural heritage, Escalante forms a bond with his largely Hispanic student body, evoking the names of famous Spaniards and Latin Americans whose great accomplishments were predicated on their ability to learn. The students gradually come to realize that the only way they'll escape their own poverty-stricken barrio is to improve themselves intellectually. As a result, the class' academic achievements soar dramatically -- too dramatically for the Educational Testing Service, which is convinced that the class' high test scores are the results of cheating. The triumphant exoneration of Escalante's students provides Stand and Deliver with its rousingly upbeat conclusion. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

John (Randolph Mantooth) is pushed to the brink by the bad driving habits of others, and also joins Roy (Kevin Tighe) as he teaches a CPR class formerly conducted by John's late mentor. Meanwhile, the emergency staff tries to rescue a child stuck in a hollow tree, and to determine the source of a college football star's mysterious back pains. Also on the docket is a cardiac victim, trapped on the third floor of a burning hotel. Appearing as a football coach is Dick Yarmy, the brother of comedian Don Adams. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi