The Lords of Discipline (1983)

Will arrives for his last year at Military Academy, in the Deep South USA, in the 1960s. A black student, Pearce, has been accepted, for the first time and Will is asked to keep an eye out ... See full summary »

Director:

Franc Roddam

Writers:

Pat Conroy (novel), Thomas Pope (screenplay),

Stars:

David Keith, Robert Prosky, G.D. Spradlin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Keith	...	Will McLean
Robert Prosky	...	Col. 'Bear' Berrineau
G.D. Spradlin	...	Gen. Bentley Durrell
Barbara Babcock	...	Abigail St. Croix
Michael Biehn	...	John Alexander
Rick Rossovich	...	Dante `Pig` Pignetti
John Lavachielli	...	Mark Santoro
Mitchell Lichtenstein	...	Tradd St. Croix
Mark Breland	...	Tom Pearce
Malcolm Danare	...	Poteete
Judge Reinhold	...	Macabbee
Greg Webb	...	Braselton
Bill Paxton	...	Gilbreath (as 'Wild' Bill Paxton)
Dean R. Miller	...	Gooch (as Dean Miller)
Ed Bishop	...	Commerce St. Croix

Storyline

Will arrives for his last year at Military Academy, in the Deep South USA, in the 1960s. A black student, Pearce, has been accepted, for the first time and Will is asked to keep an eye out for the inevitable racism. The racists come in the form of The Ten, a secret group of the elite students. They want Pearce to leave on his own free will, but are prepared to torture him to make it 'his free will'. Will is forced to help Pearce and he is prepared to risk his own career to do so.

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Plot Keywords:

torture | racism | secret group | hazing | friendship | 

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Taglines:

One hundred years of the finest school turning out the finest young men. IT WAS ALL A LIE. One cadet is about to expose the system.

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Genres:

Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 July 1983 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Guardianes del honor

Filming Locations:

Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filming took place in London, and Bill Paxton met his future (and second) wife Louise Newbury on a #37 bus there.

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Goofs

When Will and Trad first enter their dorm room, you can see the camera shake as the cameraman bumps the door frame following them in.

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Quotes

Dante 'Pig' Pignetti: It's always 'fuck, shit, piss' all the time around here, I mean, if she could hear it, it would embarass her.
[looks at a picture of his girlfriend]
Will: But Pig, this is a photograph.
Dante 'Pig' Pignetti: I know that!
Will: It can't see, smell, hear, taste. Right? Mark... Now Mr. Santoro, if you please, adress a few obscene remarks to this totally inatimate photograph.
Mark: Jesus, would you look at the tits on that bitch!
Will: Pig, how we doin'?
[Pig is trying to control himself]
Will: Tradd?
Tradd: My, would I dearly love to play a little 'hide the...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Bill Paxton is referred to in the closing credits as "Wild" Bill Paxton.

User Reviews

Wow

I enjoyed this movie thoroughly. Now i have never read the novel it is based on so i am not disillusioned by how "bland" an adaptation this is, but i must say that this was an interesting, intriguing and enjoyable film. It was deep and thought provoking and provided an insight into what was... and possibly still is considered to be the making of a man and a soldier.

Also, the fact that it is a veritable melting pot of future stars and character actors doesn't hurt. David Keith as a likeable character? Michael Biehn and Bill Paxton, a year before making Terminator together, a few years before making Aliens and ages before making Tombstone. Judge Reinhold, Rick Rossovich (the guy from Roxanne and pacific blue), Matt Frewer (HE LOOKS SO YOUNG!!!), the fat guy out of Godzilla (he is great). It was interesting seeing all these people in these roles, big and small.

Moral of the story, great flick :)