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The Paper Chase

  • 1973
  • PG
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
8.3K
YOUR RATING
The Paper Chase (1973)
Trailer for this drama about law school students
Play trailer3:09
1 Video
53 Photos
ComedyDrama

A first-year law student at Harvard Law School struggles with balancing his coursework and a woman, unaware that she has a connection that affects their relationship.A first-year law student at Harvard Law School struggles with balancing his coursework and a woman, unaware that she has a connection that affects their relationship.A first-year law student at Harvard Law School struggles with balancing his coursework and a woman, unaware that she has a connection that affects their relationship.

  • Director
    • James Bridges
  • Writers
    • John Jay Osborn Jr.
    • James Bridges
  • Stars
    • Timothy Bottoms
    • Lindsay Wagner
    • John Houseman
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    8.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James Bridges
    • Writers
      • John Jay Osborn Jr.
      • James Bridges
    • Stars
      • Timothy Bottoms
      • Lindsay Wagner
      • John Houseman
    • 101User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Paper Chase
    Trailer 3:09
    Watch The Paper Chase

    Photos53

    "The Paper Chase" John Houseman © 20th Century Fox
    The Paper Chase (1973)
    The Paper Chase (1973)
    The Paper Chase (1973)
    Timothy Bottoms and Graham Beckel in The Paper Chase (1973)
    Timothy Bottoms and Graham Beckel in The Paper Chase (1973)
    Edward Herrmann in The Paper Chase (1973)
    Timothy Bottoms and Lindsay Wagner in The Paper Chase (1973)
    James Naughton in The Paper Chase (1973)
    Regina Baff in The Paper Chase (1973)
    Craig Richard Nelson in The Paper Chase (1973)
    John Houseman in The Paper Chase (1973)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Timothy Bottoms
    Timothy Bottoms
    • James T. Hart
    Lindsay Wagner
    Lindsay Wagner
    • Susan Kingsfield Fields
    John Houseman
    John Houseman
    • Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.
    Graham Beckel
    Graham Beckel
    • Franklin Ford III
    James Naughton
    James Naughton
    • Kevin Brooks
    Edward Herrmann
    Edward Herrmann
    • Thomas Craig Anderson
    Craig Richard Nelson
    Craig Richard Nelson
    • Willis Bell
    Robert Lydiard
    • O'Connor
    Lenny Baker
    Lenny Baker
    • Moss
    David Clennon
    David Clennon
    • Toombs
    Regina Baff
    Regina Baff
    • Asheley Brooks
    Irma Hurley
    • Mrs. Weasal
    Bill Moher
    • Philip Fields
    Blair Brown
    Blair Brown
    • Miss Farranti
    Richard Whelan
    Richard Whelan
    • Pruit
    Alan Kwinter
    • Sanders
    Nicholas Olah
    • Knight
    David B. Johns
    • Fisher
    • Director
      • James Bridges
    • Writers
      • John Jay Osborn Jr.(novel)
      • James Bridges(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Harvard University allowed this production only three days of filming on their campus. The administration had been very dissatisfied with Love Story (1970), which had shot there. As such, most of the campus scenes were shot at the University of Toronto.
    • Goofs
      During Kingsfield's cocktail party, Hart finds out his love interest is Kingsfield's daughter and is understandably perturbed. As she approaches him, he looks to walk out the door. At that point, Hart nearly runs into Thomas Craig Anderson but calls him 'Ed'.
    • Quotes

      Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.: Mr. Hart, here's a dime. Call your mother, and tell her there is serious doubt about you becoming a lawyer.

      James T. Hart: [pause, as he is leaving the room] You... are a son of a bitch, Kingsfield!

      Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.: Mr. Hart! That is the most intelligent thing you've said today. You may take your seat.

    • Connections
      Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      PARTITA NO. 4 IN D+
      Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

    User reviews101

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    law school pressure and the pre-bionic woman
    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.
    helpful•18
    2
    • george-devlin
    • Feb 4, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 16, 1973 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • The Bright Young Men
    • Filming locations
      • Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada(exterior scenes)
    • Production companies
      • Thompson-Paul Productions
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,851,898
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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