Private School (1983)

Christine (Phoebe Cates), a student at an exclusive all-girls private school, is in love with Jim, who attends an academy for boys nearby. Christine's arch rival Jordan also has her eye on ... See full summary »

Director:

Noel Black

Writers:

Dan Greenburg, Suzanne O'Malley

Stars:

Phoebe Cates, Betsy Russell, Matthew Modine

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Phoebe Cates	...	Christine
Betsy Russell	...	Jordan
Matthew Modine	...	Jim
Michael Zorek	...	Bubba
Fran Ryan	...	Miss Dutchbok
Kathleen Wilhoite	...	Betsy
Ray Walston	...	Chauncey
Sylvia Kristel	...	Ms. Copuletta
Jonathan Prince	...	Roy
Kari Lizer	...	Rita
Richard Stahl	...	Mr. Flugel
Julie Payne	...	Coach Whelan
Frank Aletter	...	Mr. Leigh-Jensen
Frances Bay	...	Birdie Fallmouth
Bill Wray	...	Bandleader

Storyline

Christine (Phoebe Cates), a student at an exclusive all-girls private school, is in love with Jim, who attends an academy for boys nearby. Christine's arch rival Jordan also has her eye on Jim, and she is willing to do whatever she can to steal him away. Jim's uber-slob buddy Bubba is going with Betsy, Christine's cynical friend, though he would probably be unfaithful if any other woman were willing to get near him. Bubba and his pals sneak into the girls' school dressed in drag in hopes of reaching the Promised Land (better known as the women's shower room), while Christine and Jim run away together for the weekend, though their escapade isn't as romantic as they had hoped.

---

Plot Keywords:

sex on the beach | car in swimming pool | teen sex comedy | shower | bare breasts | 

---

Taglines:

You won't believe what goes on and what comes off in ... Private School

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 July 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Private School... for Girls

Filming Locations:

4839 Louise Avenue, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,411,861, 31 July 1983

Gross USA:

$14,049,540

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,049,540

Company Credits

Production Co:

Unity Productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The customized Californian license plate of the Rolls Royce vehicle owned by Chauncey (Ray Walston) read "LEI-JEN".

---

Goofs

When the coach yells out "illegal use of the hands" to someone out on the dance floor, she gives the wrong corresponding hand signal. She makes the gesture for "holding" instead.

---

Quotes

Betsy: I'm gonna give Bubba another chance.
Christine Ramsey: After what he did?
Betsy: What the hell. If I'm gonna forgive Bubba you can forgive Jim. Compared to Bubba Jim's a saint.
Christine Ramsey: Compared to Bubba anybody's a saint.

---

Alternate Versions

The TV version adds footage deleted from the theatrical release:

• A scene of Christine and Jim having dinner at the hotel they've come to lose their virginity at.
• Shots of Jim and Christine taking turns jogging from their car into a drugstore to buy condoms.
• The scene at the end where the girls moon Miss Dutchbok is replaced by a shot where the girls moon her wearing their underwear instead.

---

Connections

Referenced in Adjust Your Tracking (2013)

---

Soundtracks

Li'l Red Riding Hood
Performed by Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs
Composed by Ronald Blackwell
Published by Fred Rose Music, Inc.
Courtesy of Polygram Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Another Classic '80s Drive-in Movie!

While a lot of the reviewers for this movie don't seem to like it, I seem to be in the minority. This movie for me has always ranked up there with other great '80s teen flicks like "Making the Grade", "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", "Sixteen Candles" and so on. The storyline is light, and there is a lot of bawdy humour, but the cast is what makes this movie. Everything from Betsy Russell riding horseback topless, to the 'mooning' at the end give this movie it's charm. I was surprised to see it still on video, and it's a treasured addition to my movie collection.