The Paper Chase (1973) 7.1
A first-year law student struggles with balancing his coursework and his relationship with the daughter of a stern professor. Director:James Bridges |
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The Paper Chase (1973) 7.1
A first-year law student struggles with balancing his coursework and his relationship with the daughter of a stern professor. Director:James Bridges |
|
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Timothy Bottoms | ... | ||
| Lindsay Wagner | ... | ||
| John Houseman | ... | ||
| Graham Beckel | ... | ||
| James Naughton | ... |
Kevin Brooks
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| Edward Herrmann | ... | ||
| Craig Richard Nelson | ... | ||
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Robert Lydiard | ... |
O'Connor
(as Bob Lydiard)
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Lenny Baker | ... |
William Moss, Tutor
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| David Clennon | ... |
Toombs
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Regina Baff | ... | |
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Irma Hurley | ... |
Mrs. Weasal
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Bill Moher | ... |
Philip
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| Blair Brown | ... |
Miss Farranti
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Richard Whelan | ... |
Pruit
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Hart is a first year law student, desperately trying to impress his sternest professor, Kingsfield. Hart is overwhelmed with the pressure, the work, and his fear of failure. He meets Susan and begins an affair with her, discovering that she is Kingsfield's daughter. Not really love story as much as it is a becoming an adult tale. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>
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.