"The Paper Chase" (1978) TV series 1978-1986

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

9 September 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A TV Series about a bunch of Law students, their everyday lives and their effort to make it through Law School...

Plot Keywords:

Law School | Student | Professor | Law Student | Boston Massachusetts

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 5 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

John Houseman	...	Professor Charles W. Kingsfield Jr. (58 episodes, 1978-1986)
James Stephens	...	James T. Hart (56 episodes, 1978-1986)
Tom Fitzsimmons	...	Franklin Ford III (56 episodes, 1978-1986)
James Keane	...	Willis Bell (49 episodes, 1978-1986)
Betty Harford	...	Mrs. Nottingham / ... (40 episodes, 1978-1986)
Michael Tucci	...	Gerald Golden (27 episodes, 1983-1986)

Series Directed by
Jack Bender		(8 episodes, 1979-1984)
Ralph Senensky		(7 episodes, 1985-1986)
Corey Allen		(5 episodes, 1983-1984)
Philip Leacock		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Alex March		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Robert C. Thompson		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Lynn Roth		(3 episodes, 1984-1986)
Larry Elikann		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Seymour Robbie		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Nick Havinga		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Joseph Pevney		(2 episodes, 1983)
John Herzfeld		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Writing credits
James Bridges		(56 episodes, 1978-1986)
John Jay Osborn Jr.		(56 episodes, 1978-1986)
Joe S. Landon		(4 episodes, 1983-1986)
Lee Kalcheim		(4 episodes, 1983-1985)
Max Eisenberg		(3 episodes, 1979-1985)
Paul L. Ehrmann		(3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Marvin Kupfer		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Gordon Hoban		(2 episodes, 1978)
Jack Bender		(2 episodes, 1979-1984)
David P. Harmon		(2 episodes, 1979)
Marshall Goldberg		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Judy Merl		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Paul Eric Myers		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Stephen Schneck		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Produced by
Lynn Roth	....	executive producer (16 episodes, 1983-1986)
Ernest A. Losso	....	producer (16 episodes, 1984-1986)
Steve Ecclesine	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 1986)
Keith Alexander	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1985)
Michael Van Himbergen	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1984)
Robert Lewin	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Stephen Seretan		(3 episodes, 1984)
Charles Fox		(unknown episodes)
Richard Shores		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Gene A. Talvin		(3 episodes, 1984)
Alfred Taylor		(unknown episodes)
Charles F. Wheeler		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Axel Hubert Sr.		(10 episodes, 1979-1984)
Rod Stephens		(7 episodes, 1984)

Series Casting by
Sally Powers		(1 episode, 1979)
Joe Scully		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Carl Anderson		(2 episodes, 1985)

Series Set Decoration by
Sharon Thomas		(2 episodes, 1985)
Rick Simpson		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Marilyn Patricia Phillips	....	hair department head (unknown episodes, 1978)

Series Production Management
Carl 'Major' Roup	....	unit production manager (13 episodes, 1978-1979)
Gary LaPoten	....	production supervisor (5 episodes, 1986)
Mark Evans	....	executive in charge of production / executive production manager (2 episodes, 1979-1985)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ron Kinwald	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Carl 'Major' Roup	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1978)
Babu Subramaniam 'T.R.'	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Al Smutko	....	construction coordinator (22 episodes, 1978-1979)
Robert M. Anderson	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Michael Casey	....	property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Steve Cantamessa	....	sound recordist (9 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jeremy Hoenack	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
Eileen Horta	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Jean Coulter	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Albert Hood	....	electrician (1 episode, 1978)
Doug Mathias	....	gaffer (unknown episodes, 1983)
Curtis Foster	....	best boy (unknown episodes)
Michael Hofstein	....	additional camera operator (unknown episodes)
Bill Sheehan	....	film loader (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Jan Glaser	....	casting associate (1 episode, 1979)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marion Kirk	....	set costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Lionel Newman	....	music supervisor (1 episode, 1979)

Series Transportation Department
James Nordberg	....	driver (37 episodes, 1978-1986)
Dean E. Mason	....	transportation coordinator (17 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Other crew
Ruth Crego Benson	....	technical advisor (1 episode, 1979)
Marvin Kupfer	....	executive story consultant (1 episode, 1979)
John Jay Osborn Jr.	....	program advisor (1 episode, 1979)
Lisa Hackett	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes, 1983-1984)

Production Companies

• 20th Century Fox Television

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1979-) (UK) (TV)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1978-1979) (USA) (TV)
• Shout! Factory (2009) (USA) (DVD) (season one)
• Shout! Factory (2009) (USA) (DVD) (season two)
• Showtime Networks (1983-1986)

Also Known As:

"The Paper Chase: The Fourth Year" - USA (fourth season title)
"The Paper Chase: The Graduation Year" - USA (fifth season title)
"The Paper Chase: The Second Year" - USA (second season title)
"The Paper Chase: The Third Year" - USA (third season title)

Runtime:

60 min (57 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Stage 2, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

The show lasted only one season on CBS, from 1978 to 1979, and was canceled because of low ratings. The cable channel Showtime revived the series in 1983, where it ran for three years without commercials and was a great success. John Houseman passed away a year after the series went off the air. The first season was released on DVD in April 2009, with Season 2 scheduled to follow in December.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Warrior of the Lost World (#6.1)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

First Years

A law school drama and a series dearly missed.

Overall it was consistently good. The early episode where Hart was shrouded was a very strong one and quite original. Dream sequences added a unique touch to numerous episodes. A number of stories stand out: saving Ernie's, The Day Kingsfield Missed Class, Scavenger Hunt, Moot Court and the Law Show. They are still a joy to watch. I have not seen anything close in years. Although scholastic to a degree it also had touches of humor. How could any one not enjoy the story of Bell's picture and being locked in the closet? The cast was a strong on with John Houseman being excellent. Thought of as a tyrant ('Your idol is just a mean old man') he let slip smiles, which gave glimpses into his inner soul. His effort in aiding the students save Ernie's was a wonderful thing to see. James Stephens was a great asset, but Bell, Ford among other characters were not only enjoyable but grew through the years. I taught for many years and in some ways the greatest compliment I ever had was hearing one student remark to a friend: "Another Kingsfield" With all the shows being restored it stuns me that the Paper Chase has not been re-released. The show spans generations too. I was surprised to find that my eleven-year-old loves the show possibly as much as my wife & myself.