The Paper Chase
by James Bridges
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Graham Beckel, James Naughton, John Houseman, Lindsay Wagner, Timothy BottomsDirector: James Bridges
Brand: TCFHE
Cinematographer: Gordon Willis
Writer: James Bridges
Editor: Walter Thompson
Producer: Philip L. Parslow
Producer: Robert C. Thompson
Producer: Rodrick Paul
Writer: John Jay Osborn Jr.
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 113 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-06-03
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of The Paper Chase
Movie Review: A movie for those that don't have "a skull full of mush"
Summary: 5 Stars
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"Look, he's got you scared to death. Oh, you're going to pass because you're the kind the law school wants. You'll get your little diploma, your piece of paper that's no different from this and you can stick it in your silver box with all the other paper in your life: your birth certificate, your driver's license, your marriage license, your stock certificates, and your Will."
The above comes from this extremely entertaining movie that tells the story of Hart (Timothy Bottoms), a first-year law student at Harvard Law School (in Cambridge, Massachusetts), and his experiences with Professor Kingsfield (John Houseman), the brilliant, demanding contract law instructor whom he both idolizes and finds very intimidating. Hart's and Kingsfield's academic relationship grows even more complex when Hart discovers the woman he's dating is the professor's married daughter (Lindsay Wagner).
In the above quotation, the professor's daughter (named Susan) is talking to Hart. The "he" in "he's got you scared to death" is Professor Kingsfield. She holds up a package of toilet paper when she says "that's no different from this."
This movie is based on the novel "The Paper Chase" (1970) by John Jay Osborn, Jr. who is now a novelist, lawyer, and law professor. (In fact, Osborn is now at The University of San Francisco School of Law where he teaches, among other subjects, contract law.) This movie follows the novel very closely.
Hart, at the beginning of the year, is invited into a study group with five other first year law students. Even though the story specifically follows Hart, it generally follows the other group members as well. By the time final exams come along, only three of six of these law students remain in the study group.
The study group members are:
(1) Hart
(2) Ford ("King Bow-Tie S**t")
(3) Kevin (who's proud to have a "photographic memory")
(4) Anderson ("the robot pimp")
(5) Bell ("as in Liberty Bell")
(6) O'Connor ("just a little pimp")
The acting could scarcely be better. Yes, Bottoms and Wagner do a good job. Houseman (aged 71) does a superlative job. (In fact, he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. That's pretty good considering that this was his first major movie role.) I also have to give kudos to the others who portrayed law students in the study group such as Edward Herrmann (as Anderson) and James Naughton (as Kevin).
I also enjoyed the classical music excerpts by Bach and Telemann. These were added at the right moment to enhance certain scenes.
This movie conveys many messages to the viewer (some of which may get some viewers angry). One is the impersonal nature of law school. Thus, everybody is referred to by their last name. Even Susan talks to Hart using his last name. Since the character Kevin is referred to mainly by his first name, you know something is going to happen to him (and it does).
A challenge to the viewer (or at least to this viewer) is to try and figure out the full names of Kingsfield and the study group members (if possible). By carefully listening and observing I learned Kingsfield's and Hart's first name and middle initial. I also learned Anderson's first name and Kevin's last name. As well, I did discover Bell's first initial.
I forgot to mention that one of the things each study group member had to do, before final exams, was to prepare a course outline. The challenge is to figure out what course each group member was outlining. I managed to deduce what all six study group members were outlining. (Actually, I'm absolutely sure what four group members were outlining and fairly sure what the remaining two group members were outlining.)
This movie spawned a television series that lasted for four seasons.
One thing I've read is that this movie is only for law students and lawyers. NO. This movie is for anybody that wants to experience what it's like to learn a large amount of information in a relatively short amount of time.
Finally, the DVD itself (the one released in 2003) is perfect in picture and sound quality. It has two extras: an audio commentary and theatrical trailer. (Note that on the back of the DVD case, Kingsfield is referred to as "Knightsfield.")
In conclusion, this is one of those few movies that is honest and intelligent. I leave you with the words Kingsfield says when students first enter his class:
"You teach yourselves the law but I train your mind. You come in here with a skull full of mush and you leave thinking like a lawyer."
(1973; 1 hr, 50 min, wide screen; 36 scenes)
<<Stephen Pletko, London, Ontario, Canada>>
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Summary of The Paper Chase
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