|
The Paper Chase (1973) 7.2
A first-year law student at Harvard Law School struggles with balancing his coursework and his relationship with the daughter of his sternest professor. Director:James Bridges |
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
Celebrate IMDb's 25th Anniversary with Photos We Love
IMDb turns 25 on October 17! To celebrate, we put together a gallery of some of our favorite movie, TV, and event photos from the last 25 years.
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Related Items
Search for "The Paper Chase" on Amazon.com
Share this Rating
Title: The Paper Chase (1973)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
People who liked this also liked...
The China Syndrome
(1979)
Drama
|
Thriller
Director:
James Bridges
Stars:
Jane Fonda,
Jack Lemmon,
Michael Douglas
A Touch of Class
(1973)
Comedy
|
Romance
Director:
Melvin Frank
Stars:
George Segal,
Glenda Jackson,
Paul Sorvino
September 30, 1955
(1977)
Drama
Director:
James Bridges
Stars:
Richard Thomas,
Susan Tyrrell,
Deborah Benson
The Last Picture Show
(1971)
Drama
Director:
Peter Bogdanovich
Stars:
Timothy Bottoms,
Jeff Bridges,
Cybill Shepherd
Comedy
Director:
Herbert Ross
Stars:
Walter Matthau,
George Burns,
Richard Benjamin
The Verdict
(1982)
Drama
Director:
Sidney Lumet
Stars:
Paul Newman,
Charlotte Rampling,
Jack Warden
Mike's Murder
(1984)
Drama
|
Mystery
|
Thriller
Director:
James Bridges
Stars:
Debra Winger,
Mark Keyloun,
Darrell Larson
The Baby Maker
(1970)
Drama
Director:
James Bridges
Stars:
Barbara Hershey,
Collin Wilcox Paxton,
Sam Groom
An Unmarried Woman
(1978)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Paul Mazursky
Stars:
Jill Clayburgh,
Alan Bates,
Michael Murphy
Klute
(1971)
Crime
|
Mystery
|
Thriller
Director:
Alan J. Pakula
Stars:
Jane Fonda,
Donald Sutherland,
Charles Cioffi
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Timothy Bottoms | ... | ||
| Lindsay Wagner | ... | ||
| John Houseman | ... | ||
| Graham Beckel | ... | ||
| James Naughton | ... |
Kevin Brooks
|
|
| Edward Herrmann | ... | ||
| Craig Richard Nelson | ... | ||
 |
Robert Lydiard | ... |
O'Connor
|
|
|
Lenny Baker | ... |
William Moss, Tutor
|
| David Clennon | ... |
Toombs
|
|
|
|
Regina Baff | ... | |
|
|
Irma Hurley | ... |
Mrs. Weasal
|
|
|
Bill Moher | ... |
Philip
|
| Blair Brown | ... |
Miss Farranti
|
|
|
|
Richard Whelan | ... |
Pruit
|
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Serious, hard-working student James T. Hart faces the rigors of his first year at Harvard Law School. The pressure to succeed is tremendous and some of the students form study groups while also spending a great many hours studying. Hart's greatest challenge is contract law and his professor, Charles W. Kingsfield Jr. Using the Socratic method, Kingsfield challenges his students with questions demanding accuracy and creativity in their responses and often humiliating those who are unable to respond. As the school year progresses, Hart faces many challenges but befriends Susan Fields - unaware that she has a connection that affects their relationship. Finally, Hart accommodates himself to whatever might come his way, accepting a new set of priorities in his life. Written by garykmcd
Taglines:
You have to choose between the girl you love and the diploma you've worked for all your life. You have 30 seconds. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
16 October 1973 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Bright Young Men See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.: Mr. Hart, would you recite for us the facts of Hawkins versus McGee?
[looks up]
Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.: I do have you name right? You are "Mr. Hart"?
James T. Hart: [mumbles] Yes, my name's Hart.
Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.: You're not speaking loud enough, Mr. Hart. Will you speak up?
James T. Hart: Yes, my name's Hart.
Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.: Mr. Hart, you're still not speaking loud enough. Will you stand? Speak louder, Mr. Hart! Fill the room with your intelligence!
See more »
Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann
See more »
Did You Know?
Goofs
The airplane Hart makes from the envelope and the one that he throws from the rocks are two different planes. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.: Mr. Hart, would you recite for us the facts of Hawkins versus McGee?
[looks up]
Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.: I do have you name right? You are "Mr. Hart"?
James T. Hart: [mumbles] Yes, my name's Hart.
Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.: You're not speaking loud enough, Mr. Hart. Will you speak up?
James T. Hart: Yes, my name's Hart.
Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.: Mr. Hart, you're still not speaking loud enough. Will you stand? Speak louder, Mr. Hart! Fill the room with your intelligence!
See more »
Soundtracks
CONCERTO IN D+ for 3 trumpets, tympani, 2 oboes, strings and harpsichordComposed by Georg Philipp Telemann
See more »
I have friends who have gone to law school and their subjective descriptions of how intense an experience that was seem to be validated in this now 30-year-old film. Houseman and Bottoms shine, the rest of the cast (while a bit too stuffy) seem to compliment them without flaw. I liked seeing a very young (unspoiled) Lindsey Wagner in her pre-bionic woman days. Truthfully, though certainly dated at this point, this film still held my interest. I was, however, disappointed in the last scene, for although it may have meant to be liberating for the Bottoms character to shift his priorities the timing, (upon receipt of his final grades) seemed ill chosen. Still, one can't help but root for him through all of this. In the end one wonders if while retaining his idealism he sacrificed his sanity.