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The Wave

  • TV Movie
  • 1981
  • 12
  • 46m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
The Wave (1981)
Drama

An experiment in an American High School where students learn how easy it is to be seduced by the same social forces which led to the horrors of Nazi Germany. Based on a true story.An experiment in an American High School where students learn how easy it is to be seduced by the same social forces which led to the horrors of Nazi Germany. Based on a true story.An experiment in an American High School where students learn how easy it is to be seduced by the same social forces which led to the horrors of Nazi Germany. Based on a true story.

  • Director
    • Alexander Grasshoff
  • Writers
    • Johnny Dawkins
    • Ron Jones
  • Stars
    • Bruce Davison
    • Lori Lethin
    • John Putch
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    3.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alexander Grasshoff
    • Writers
      • Johnny Dawkins
      • Ron Jones
    • Stars
      • Bruce Davison
      • Lori Lethin
      • John Putch
    • 41User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 3 wins & 2 nominations total

    Photos

    The Wave (1981)
    The Wave (1981)
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    Top cast

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    Bruce Davison
    Bruce Davison
    • Ben Ross
    Lori Lethin
    Lori Lethin
    • Lauree
    John Putch
    John Putch
    • David
    Johnny Doran
    • Robert
    Pasha Gray
    • Amy
    Wesley Pfenning
    • Christy Ross
    • (as Wesley Ann Pfenning)
    Marc Copage
    • Eric
    Robert DeLapp
    Matthew Dunn
    Frank Lloyd
    Frank Lloyd
    Danny Marmolejo
    Michael Pasternak
    Michael Pasternak
    • Peter
    Teri Ralston
    • Mrs. Saunders
    Jamie Rose
    Jamie Rose
    • Andrea
    Larry Keith
    • Mr. Saunders
    Tommy Bull
    Tommy Bull
    • Don
    • (uncredited)
    Adolf Hitler
    Adolf Hitler
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alexander Grasshoff
    • Writers
      • Johnny Dawkins
      • Ron Jones
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Based on the real experience of the 10th-grade Cubberley High School history class taught by Ron Jones in Palo Alto, California, in March/April 1967.
    • Quotes

      Ben Ross: Strength through discipline, strength through community, strength through action!

    • Connections
      Edited into Junge Schicksale: The Wave (1983)

    User reviews41

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Most famous After School Special ever. Teacher conducts psych experiment on students.
    Based on a true story (do a Wiki search on "Ron Jones" & "The Third Wave" experiment), a Palo Alto, CA high school teacher in 1967 decides to give his students a lesson in "mob mentality" and it evolves into a psychological experiment on the evolution of fascism.

    The movie was both highly praised for the ground-breaking nature of the subject and widely condemned for glorifying the almost certain devastating emotional distress inflicted upon the unwitting students/subjects.

    Either way, the video is still replayed in high school and college sociology classes across the country to this day... and it must be on third and fourth generation video tape by now since (afaik), it is not yet available on tape or DVD.

    The most memorable ABC After School Special ever made.
    helpful•9
    2
    • ambrosia_1
    • Aug 3, 2006

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • October 4, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Волна
    • Production company
      • TAT Communications Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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