The Paper Chase (1973)
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- PG
- 1h 53min
- Comedy, Drama
- 16 Oct 1973 (USA)
- Movie
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:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Timothy Bottoms | ... |
James T. Hart
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| Lindsay Wagner | ... |
Susan Kingsfield Fields
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| John Houseman | ... |
Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.
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| Graham Beckel | ... |
Franklin Ford III
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| James Naughton | ... |
Kevin Brooks
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| Edward Herrmann | ... |
Thomas Craig Anderson
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| Craig Richard Nelson | ... |
Willis Bell
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Robert Lydiard | ... |
O'Connor
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| Lenny Baker | ... |
Moss
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| David Clennon | ... |
Toombs
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| Regina Baff | ... |
Asheley Brooks
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Irma Hurley | ... |
Mrs. Weasal
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Bill Moher | ... |
Philip Fields
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| Blair Brown | ... |
Miss Farranti
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Richard Whelan | ... |
Pruit
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Alan Kwinter | ... |
Sanders
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Nicholas Olah | ... |
Knight
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David B. Johns | ... |
Fisher
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Tony Silverthorne | ... |
Hotel Manager
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John Bethune | ... |
Hotel Clerk
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Jan Campbell | ... |
1st Hotel Maid
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Dora Dainton | ... |
2nd Hotel Maid
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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David Daniel | ... |
Law Student (uncredited)
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Peter Foldy | ... |
Law Student (uncredited)
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Neil Lundy | ... |
Law Student (uncredited)
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Steve Meek | ... |
Law Student (uncredited)
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| Ronald Mlodzik | ... |
Law Student (uncredited)
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Directed by
| James Bridges | ||
Written by
| John Jay Osborn Jr. | ... | (novel) |
| James Bridges | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Philip L. Parslow | ... | associate producer |
| Rodrick Paul | ... | producer |
| Robert C. Thompson | ... | producer |
Music by
| John Williams | ||
Cinematography by
| Gordon Willis | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Walter Thompson | ||
Production Design by
| George Jenkins | ||
Set Decoration by
| Gerry Holmes | ||
Production Management
| Philip L. Parslow | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Tony Lucibello | ... | second assistant director |
| Christopher Seitz | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Ray Mercer Jr. | ... | property master (as Ray Mercer) |
| Hendrik Wynands | ... | construction coordinator (as Hendrik G. Wynands) |
| David Orin Charles | ... | assistant set decorator (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Larry Jost | ... | sound mixer |
| Donald O. Mitchell | ... | re-recording mixer |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Reginald H. Morris | ... | camera operator (as Reg Morris) |
Casting Department
| Patricia Payne | ... | casting: Canada (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Israel Baker | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Dennis Budimir | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Herman Clebanoff | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| John Clyman | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Don Cristlieb | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Vince De Rosa | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Chuck Domanico | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| John Ellis | ... | musician: oboe (uncredited) |
| Victor Feldman | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Dominick Fera | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Dominic Fidelibus | ... | music copyist (uncredited) |
| Justin Gordon | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Ralph Grierson | ... | musician: keyboards (uncredited) |
| Alan Harshman | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Richard Hazard | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Alton Hendrickson | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Arthur Hoberman | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Louis Kaufman | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Carol Kaye | ... | musician: fender bass (uncredited) |
| Milton Kestenbaum | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Jacob Krachmalnick | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Raphael Kramer | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Michael Lang | ... | musician: keyboards (uncredited) |
| Cappy Lewis | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Abe Luboff | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Alfred Lustgarten | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Edgar Lustgarten | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Virginia Majewski | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Lincoln Mayorga | ... | musician: keyboards (uncredited) |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | trumpet soloist (uncredited) |
| Peter Mercurio | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| John Neufeld | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Irma Neumann | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Gale Robinson | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Ernie Rosecrans | ... | music copyist (uncredited) |
| Meyer Rubin | ... | orchestra contractor (uncredited) |
| Harry Schmidt | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| David Schwartz | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Frederick Seykora | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Paul Shure | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Henry Sigismonti | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Eleanor Slatkin | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Paul Sprosty | ... | music copyist (uncredited) |
| Ann Stockton | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Sheridon Stokes | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Tommy Tedesco | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Milton Thomas | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Charles Veal Jr. | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Jerry Williams | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| John Williams | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Graham Young | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Michael Preece | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| John Jay Osborn Jr. | ... | technical advisor |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Twentieth Century Fox (1973) (United States) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1974) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Fox-MGM Film (1974) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- MGM-Fox Films (1974) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1974) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Filmes Castello Lopes (1976) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1977) (United States) (tv)
- CBS/Fox Home Video (1983) (Australia) (video)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Marion Dougherty Associates (casting)
- Panavision (filmed in)
- Westrex Recording System (sound recording system)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Serious, hard-working student James T. Hart faces the rigors of his first year at Harvard Law School. The pressure to succeed is tremendous and some of the students form study groups while also spending a great many hours studying. Hart's greatest challenge is contract law and his professor, Charles W. Kingsfield Jr. Using the Socratic method, Kingsfield challenges his students with questions demanding accuracy and creativity in their responses and often humiliating those who are unable to respond. As the school year progresses, Hart faces many challenges but befriends Susan Fields - unaware that she has a connection that affects their relationship. Finally, Hart accommodates himself to whatever might come his way, accepting a new set of priorities in his life. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | You may be looking at a future President, Supreme Court Justice, Secretary of State or a dropout. See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| 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 been filmed there. As such, most of the campus scenes were shot at the University of Toronto. See more » |
| 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'. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies (2006). See more » |
| Soundtracks | PARTITA NO. 4 IN D+ See more » |
| 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. See more » |