Picture source: (above) captured from movie. Montage by Tyk
Thicker than Blood (TV)

Mickey in a supporting role as Father Frank Larkin. Instead of a gentle, fatherly figure as I expected, Father Larkin is an aloof, tough, no-nonsense headmaster who looked more cold-blooded than saintly. I love the movie, the dialogues, the characters... everything. My favourite character is Burke Kendall (Josh Mostel). I love the way he argues. I like actor Dan Futterman's sharp, elfish looks and he did a terrific job with the Griffin Byrne character. The Mitch James character is the only one I'd like to skin. The Father Larkin character reminds me of Detective A.Z. Drones (Morgan Freeman) in Johnny Handsome.

my ratings:

Other Summaries and Reviews:

"AUTHENTICALLY REAL AND PROFOUNDLY POWERFUL." -- Laurence Vittes, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Teach. Teach. Teach some more. Father Frank Larkin (Mickey Rourke), headmaster at an inner-city mission school for boys, insists that his instructor follow these three rules. Getting involved in the day-to-day lives of the school's at-risk students is not in the curriculum. But Griffin Byrne (Dan Futterman), an eager new teacher who fuels his idealism with movies like Stand and Deliver and To Sir, with Love, doesn't agree. He reaches out to a gifted teen (Carlo Alban) -- and finds a world of poverty and violence that may be too hot for the novice teacher to handle.

Endangered kids. Shattered homes. The someday of college vs. the right-now of the streets. Kids as they are vs. the men it's hoped they'll become. Thicker Than Blood, a powerful tale from the head writer and pilot-episode director of the acclaimed series Nothing Sacred, confronts urgent issues of young lives in crisis.

text source: VCD jacket

"Before Hosé dropped out, he was the best athlete that this school ever had. So if you're gonna go, you wanna drop out, take off now. Do yourselves a favor, save yourself the extra homework, alright? And me the heartache." -- Father Larkin's first-day-of-school welcoming speech

"You were a former student of Larkin's? So what's your story? You couldn't get a real job?" -- Mitch to Griffin on the latter's first day at St Isaac's as a teacher

"Casting fake pearls before real swine." -- Mitch

"I think I want to start a new religion -- one that doesn't believe that angels are gonna take anybody anywhere. One that doesn't believe that the poor are blessed... or one that doesn't use a dead young man as its slogan." -- Father Larkin to Camilla

Alberto (student): Mr Byrne, about how much can a lawyer make in a year? Fifty thou, seventy five, a hundred?
Griffin: Uh yeah, maybe. Maybe more.
Alberto: And you gave that up to come here?
Griffin: Yes I did.
Alberto: What an ass.
Griffin: Exactly. What an ass. You haven't been talking to my father have you?

Griffin: No estes embarasado.... What? What did I say?
student: You just told him not to get pregnant.
Griffin: Well that happens to be very good advice.

Griffin: Is there a name shortage in the hispanic community? Every other kid is a Hosé.
Camilla: That, Mr Byrne, is a Euro-centric, racist remark.
Griffin: Oh back off. I'm one of the good guys.
Camilla: Oh yeah, guess I didn't know that.
Griffin: Then what did you think I was?
Camilla: Let's see... a white boy in my neighbourhood? A tourist maybe?
-- Camilla and Griffin getting off on the wrong foot

"Lee. Lee Cortez. He speaks English. What he doesn't do is speak. You don't have any problem with him." -- Father Larkin to Griffin

"You got a rule in buying a hooker a cup of coffee?" -- Griffin to Father Larkin

Father Larkin: Look, there's three rules around here. Rule number one, teach. Rule number two, teach. Rule number three, teach some more. Stay away from the streets, it's life and death down here. Just be a little careful.
Griffin: Ok. I can take care of myself.
Father Larkin: Maybe. I was thinking of the kids.

"Surprise surprise. White boy's back for a second day." -- Camilla to Griffin

"If you weren't so afraid of white people, you might actually be a good friend to have. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go teach the Hosés this crappy world." -- Griffin to Camilla

"Hey look. Not even Jesus can save them all. Did you think you can improve on his percentages?" -- Father Larkin to Griffin

"Can't save some of the city, Frank. Gotta save everybody." -- Griffin to Father Larkin

"Mr Byrne, if you need another desk in your room, there're easier ways to get one than xeroxing the ones you have." -- Camilla to Griffin

Griffin: Is everything alright?
Lee: What do you mean?

Father Larkin: What does he have?
Camilla: Leukemia.
Father Larkin: Leukemia?
Camilla: Yup, but he says not to worry, it's only a light case and he expects to be over it by tomorrow.
-- Griffin calling in sick

"I'll tell you a secret. I've always thought superheros must be stupid. I mean, how smart can you be if you have to wear your name on your clothes?" -- Griffin to Lee

"Morning, Griffin. Leukemia cleared up? Usually lasts a little longer, doesn't it?" -- Father Larkin to Griffin

"Pretend you didn't know.... You didn't know because you did't want to know, Frank." -- Griffin to Father Larkin

Griffin: Request for sex education.
Father Larkin: Request denied. This is a Catholic school. Officially kids don't know about sex till they're eighteen, after that, it's forbidden.

"I want Henry Rodriguez suspended, by the thumbs if possible... He put a tampon in my grade book." -- Mitch
(I'd say "Way to go, Henry!" haha)

"You're a student, you come to school, it's that simple." -- Griffin to Lee

Griffin: Lee, don't give me that. I'm sick and tired of having your teachers blame your screw ups on your lousy home life.
Lee: They don't know I live with you.
Griffin: No, they don't but I do.

"I don't want to guard their lives, I want to take their lives. I feel like stabbing their hearts out, man, and that's not a good way for a lifeguard to feel, is it?" -- Tyro to Griffin

"No wait, I'm her husband. I beat her all the time. I beat her just this morning. I'll beat her right now, just give her a room!" -- Griffin appealing for a 'home for battered women' to help Lee's mother

Griffin: What a little white boy you're becoming.
Lee: I thought that was the idea, Griff.

"Remind me, what good is happening?" -- Griffin to Camilla

Henry: I almost killed somebody.
Father Larkin: Henry, people usually start with the small stuff and then work their way up."
-- Henry Rodriguez at confession

"Yeah he's doing a lot better. You've got him a lot more sensitive and feeling... and what's gonna happen to that kid at the end of the year when you drop him off at his mother's apartment, with all that sensitivity and feeling. What's gonna happen to him then?" -- Father Larkin to Griffin

"Guys like you don't stick around places like this forever, right?" -- Father Larkin to Griffin

"Look, pretend you have some feelings for once in your life, Frank." -- Griffin to Father Larkin

"I wanted to give you something beautiful and then take it away from you." -- Lee to Griffin (the burning of portrait)

"Frank, now's the time to buy the whore a cup of coffee." -- Griffin to Father Larkin

"I think I'm beginning to understand god, and it scares the hell out of me. You know I lay awake at night and I can hear him weeping -- weeping for his dead children, for Cain, for Abel, for his son who he has to die for all of us. Weeping with joy because his son found his way back, and weeping in sorrow because nobody else's son ever has. And I weep because as much as I love him, until he can save all of his children, I need a better god. I need a better god." -- Father Larkin to audience at mass

"You ruin everything you touch." -- Griffin to Tyro

Father Larkin: Hey look, grow up, ok? You can't empty out hell, you're no medieval saint. But believe me, if we get one kid out of here that makes it, that means everything.
Griffin: That's such a lie, Frank.

"Was that all you know, just throw me out of here? What is it, your career goal or somethin', man?" -- Tyro to Father Larkin at Lee's graduation ceremony rehearsal

"Griffin, he said I was gonna die. Father Larkin? He been saying I was gonna die since sixth grade. I'm already dead aren't I, Lee? Cause I saw you drawing me dead." -- Tyro to Lee

"Took me nineteen years to look like this, and the whole time you were just puttin' it down on paper, right, Lee? I did somethin' good, right, Lee? Didn't I? I was gonna finish the job." -- Tyro to Lee

"It's like you said, right, Griff? You just get rid of Tyro and everyone's problem is solved, right?... I'm clearing a way for you, Lee." -- Tyro

Father Larkin's roundabout way in trying to make Griffin see his point.

Father Larkin:	I want you to come back here next year to teach.
Griffin:	You're kidding, right?
Father Larkin:	No, I want you to stay. You know, I'm not the kind of person who lets his feelings out easily, but I want you to understand that I know exactly what you're doing and I respect it. I find it very admirable. I mean who knows in time I could easily, very easily come to think of you as a son. ... Have I offended you?
Griffin:	No... I don't know what to say.
Father Larkin:	Surprised?
Griffin:	Yeah.
Father Larkin:	Really?
Griffin:	Yeah, Frank, I-I don't know what to say.
Father Larkin:	Well, I almost had you eating out of my hand, didn't I?
Griffin:	... You what?
Father Larkin:	You see, Griffin, affection is corrosion.
Griffin:	You got no right to play with me like that, Frank.
Father Larkin:	Why not? It's exactly what you're doing with that kid.
Griffin:	I'm not playing with him, I like him.
Father Larkin:	Well, don't. Don't LIKE him. It leaves him no room for freedom. You see, Griffin, in this neighbourhood, there's a kind of ecology of evil and it doesn't take a whole hell of a lot to upset that. You buy a hooker a cup of coffee one day, that's fine. You do it two days in a row, you're giving her something to look forward to. So you see how fast this balance is upset?
Griffin:	Wouldn't want to upset the pimps now, would we, Frank? What the hell happened to you?
Father Larkin:	You mess with the balance of that family, that kid could be dead.
Griffin:	How would you know I mess with the balances, when did you ever knock on his door?
Father Larkin:	Can you handle what's on the other side of that door?
Griffin:	It's not that hard. It's getting the kid to school.
Father Larkin:	And you think he'll be here.
Griffin:	I garantee you I'll get the kid to school, on time, everyday, for the rest of the time!

Discussing Henry Rodriguez.

Mitch:	I want Henry Rodriguez suspended, by the thumbs if possible. ... He put a tampon in my grade book.
Kendall:	You know, if the teacher can't control a class, it might not be the class's fault. ... What could the kids possibly be doing to make you scream like that? I mean, even if they were to say, as I once heard through the wall, that your mother is giving away her funky ass on DeLancey Street, just let them say it and move on!
Mitch:	I guess I'm not like you. I can't stop and "talk it out" everytime a problem arises. And besides Rodriguez doesn't want to be here anyway, he told me so himself.
Kendall:	Rodriguez says that to everybody but he always turns up.
Mitch:	So what? He's a complete illiterate!
Kendall:	Yes! Yes he is! But when he arrived here, he was practically averbal, so for Henry, illiteracy is an achievement.
Mitch:	Well, Frank, are there standards here or not?
Griffin:	I say throw him out. Mitch wants him out, he's gonna go sooner or later. But Frank, when you do, throw him far so that you don't have to look at another kid in a coffin.
Father Larkin:	I hate to say it but I think Griffin's right. Henry stays.

Mitch wants Henry Rodriguez thrown out.

Kendall:	Mitch, we both know what kind of progress Henry has made this past year...
Mitch:	No! I'm sorry! I am not a punching bag. I am a professional teacher.
Kendall:	Exactly, Mitch. And one of the things we profess is to take the evil these kids throw at us and hand them back something better.
Mitch:	So I'm the villain.
Kendall:	Or the hero.