Harvard in the 60's: a time of social upheaval and student unrest. Three students bond together, challenge the system, and begin to lose their ideals.Harvard in the 60's: a time of social upheaval and student unrest. Three students bond together, challenge the system, and begin to lose their ideals.Harvard in the 60's: a time of social upheaval and student unrest. Three students bond together, challenge the system, and begin to lose their ideals.
Daniel Stern
- Crazy Kid: Draft Inductee
- (as Dan Stern)
Nick Cairis
- Army Doctor
- (as Nicholas Cairis)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe original director of this film was to be John Korty. When Korty backed out of the project at the last minute, Rob Cohen pleaded with United Artists for directing rights. Unaware of the 'Heaven's Gate' (1980) financial fiasco ahead of them, the United Artists studio agreed to let Cohen direct.
- GoofsThe characters entered Harvard in 1967 and presumably were to graduate in 1971, and it shows them as apparently the first class involved with the draft lottery, which affected only seniors. However, the first class involved with the lottery was actually that of 1970, and the movie accurately shows the first ball being pulled from the drum with a date of September 14 in the drawing held for the 1970 class.
- SoundtracksChances Are
Performed by Johnny Mathis
Courtesy of CBS Records
Music by Robert Allen (uncredited)
Lyrics by Al Stillman (uncredited)
Featured review
Movie that takes place at Harvard University in Cambridge MA from 1967 to 1971. Three students are starting at Harvard. Nick (Jameson Parker)-tall, handsome, muscular and serious; Leo (Brad Davis) a rebel who lashes out at everything) and Jess (Karen Allen) a sweet, serious and intelligent woman. Both Nick and Leo fall in love with Jess at various times and the film follows them through the four years at school and we see them change--in good ways and bad.
This was filmed in Cambridge back in 1979. I remember because I grew up in Arlington--a town that borders Cambridge. I know what Harvard Square and Harvard University looked like back then and it was really great to see it captured on film. Also we see the great Orson Welles Cinema that was in Cambridge--a wonderful art house theatre that burnt down in 1985. I remember catching in a totally empty movie theatre in Boston back in 1980. The fact that it was locally filmed was advertised to the hilt--but nobody came. I can't see why because I LOVED it. I found it totally believable with interesting characters and situations. Seeing it again now all these years later I'm not as totally impressed with it as before. I found the situations and dialogue clichéd and too many unexplained events--WHY was that building chained shut at Harvard and the lottery wasn't explained either. Also, sadly, Parker is a terrible actor. He's tall, handsome and muscular but says every line with a blank look on his face. I seriously didn't know HOW to take some of his dialogue! Still, I DO like the film and recommend it. Allen and Davis give GREAT performances; it moves quickly (I was never once bored); the scenery is beautiful; the music score was incredible (it includes an instrumental of "Total Eclipse of the Heart") and it all ends in a totally unrealistic but happy ending. A must see for any Massachusetts residents who love Boston and Cambridge. Also future stars Daniel Stern and Shelley Long have small roles.
This was filmed in Cambridge back in 1979. I remember because I grew up in Arlington--a town that borders Cambridge. I know what Harvard Square and Harvard University looked like back then and it was really great to see it captured on film. Also we see the great Orson Welles Cinema that was in Cambridge--a wonderful art house theatre that burnt down in 1985. I remember catching in a totally empty movie theatre in Boston back in 1980. The fact that it was locally filmed was advertised to the hilt--but nobody came. I can't see why because I LOVED it. I found it totally believable with interesting characters and situations. Seeing it again now all these years later I'm not as totally impressed with it as before. I found the situations and dialogue clichéd and too many unexplained events--WHY was that building chained shut at Harvard and the lottery wasn't explained either. Also, sadly, Parker is a terrible actor. He's tall, handsome and muscular but says every line with a blank look on his face. I seriously didn't know HOW to take some of his dialogue! Still, I DO like the film and recommend it. Allen and Davis give GREAT performances; it moves quickly (I was never once bored); the scenery is beautiful; the music score was incredible (it includes an instrumental of "Total Eclipse of the Heart") and it all ends in a totally unrealistic but happy ending. A must see for any Massachusetts residents who love Boston and Cambridge. Also future stars Daniel Stern and Shelley Long have small roles.
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $6,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $766,760
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $61,109
- Mar 16, 1980
- Gross worldwide
- $766,760
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By what name was A Small Circle of Friends (1980) officially released in India in English?
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