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The Paper Chase

  • TV Series
  • 1978–19861978–1986
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
981
YOUR RATING
The Paper Chase (1973)
Trailer for the home video release of the series based on the movie
Play trailer0:49
1 Video
39 Photos
Drama
The trials of a group of law students under the tutelage of a strict professor.The trials of a group of law students under the tutelage of a strict professor.The trials of a group of law students under the tutelage of a strict professor.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
981
YOUR RATING
    • James Bridges(developed for television by)
  • Stars
    • John Houseman
    • James Stephens
    • Tom Fitzsimmons
    • James Bridges(developed for television by)
  • Stars
    • John Houseman
    • James Stephens
    • Tom Fitzsimmons
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 24User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys

    Episodes58

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos1

    The Paper Chase: Season One
    Trailer 0:49
    Watch The Paper Chase: Season One

    Photos39

    The Paper Chase (1978)
    John Rubinstein in The Paper Chase (1978)
    Sherry Hursey in The Paper Chase (1978)
    Denise Nicholas in The Paper Chase (1978)
    John Friedrich in The Paper Chase (1978)
    Lynn Swann in The Paper Chase (1978)
    Tony Lo Bianco in The Paper Chase (1978)
    John Houseman and James Stephens in The Paper Chase (1978)
    David Opatoshu and Martha Scott in The Paper Chase (1978)
    Mady Kaplan and Michael Tucci in The Paper Chase (1978)
    Clare Kirkconnell and James Stephens in The Paper Chase (1978)
    Alan Feinstein in The Paper Chase (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Houseman
    John Houseman
    • Professor Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.
    James Stephens
    James Stephens
    • James T. Hart
    Tom Fitzsimmons
    Tom Fitzsimmons
    • Franklin Ford III
    James Keane
    James Keane
    • Willis Bell
    Betty Harford
    Betty Harford
    • Mrs. Nottingham…
    Michael Tucci
    Michael Tucci
    • Gerald Golden
    Andra Millian
    Andra Millian
    • Laura Kiernan
    Clare Kirkconnell
    Clare Kirkconnell
    • Rita Harriman
    Penny Johnson Jerald
    Penny Johnson Jerald
    • Vivian Conway
    Wortham Krimmer
    • Martin Zeiss
    Robert Ginty
    Robert Ginty
    • Thomas Craig Anderson
    Francine Tacker
    • Elizabeth Logan
    Diana Douglas
    Diana Douglas
    • Professor Tyler
    Peter Nelson
    • Tom Ford
    Lainie Kazan
    Lainie Kazan
    • Rose Samuels
    Charles Hallahan
    Charles Hallahan
    • Ernie
    Steve Levitt
    • Stotz
    Jonathan Segal
    • Jonathan Brooks
      • James Bridges(developed for television by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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 two years 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.
    • Goofs
      In one show, Professor Charles Kingsfield (John Houseman) is meeting with several law school administrators. One of whom calls Kingsfield "John" rather than "Charles", his character's name during their conversation.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 31st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      First Years
      (Theme Song - 1st season only)

      Music by Charles Fox

      Lyrics by Norman Gimbel

      Sung by Seals & Crofts

    User reviews24

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    the best show on television
    Recipe for success. Put a bunch of graduate students from all levels of experience and schooling together in one place under one tough teacher, mix well, and cook thoroughly for 4 years. This concept worked better as a TV series than it did as a movie. Though the movie focused more on Hart and Susan, Kingsfields daughter, I found myself wondering more about the other students. Thanks to this well written and acted program, I found out more about o'Connor, and Ford, Bell, and the rest.

    This television show first aired opposite the "Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley" hour, a death knell for any television show of that era. It moved to Friday nights in the grave yard and there it sat until Showtime picked it up and ran with it. Easily my favorite television show of all time. The writing was consistently excellent as was the ensemble acting. My only complaint was that in some ways it was predictable. We all knew that Hart was going to be at the top of his class. The guest players (Connie Lehman, among others) moved in and out with credibility. The message to this show is that no one makes it through school alone. I am in Seminary now and have made use of the "study group" as used in this show.

    The comic relief (from Stots, and Zeiss, and Willis Bell) offset the drama quite nicely. This show just goes to show what a bunch of relative unknowns can do with quality material. (remember cheers, and taxi?.and particularly M*A*S*H?..yes those are comedies, but the rule holds.... ). I hope this show comes out on DVD sometime soon. I recorded most of the first season and some of the outstanding subsequent episodes on Showtime.
    helpful•11
    1
    • thespian57
    • Dec 22, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 9, 1978 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 2, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • 20th Century Fox Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour
      • Color
      • Mono

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