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IMDbPro

Private School

  • 19831983
  • RR
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
6.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,107
1,540
Phoebe Cates in Private School (1983)
Chris from a girls' boarding school loves Jim from a nearby boys' boarding school. Jordan also wants Jim and plays dirty. Jim and 2 friends visit the girls' school posing as girls.
Play trailer1:19
1 Video
97 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Romance
Chris from a girls' boarding school loves Jim from a nearby boys' boarding school. Jordan also wants Jim and plays dirty. Jim and two friends visit the girls' school posing as girls.Chris from a girls' boarding school loves Jim from a nearby boys' boarding school. Jordan also wants Jim and plays dirty. Jim and two friends visit the girls' school posing as girls.Chris from a girls' boarding school loves Jim from a nearby boys' boarding school. Jordan also wants Jim and plays dirty. Jim and two friends visit the girls' school posing as girls.
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
6.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,107
1,540
  • Director
    • Noel Black
  • Writers
    • Dan Greenburg
    • Suzanne O'Malley
  • Stars
    • Phoebe Cates
    • Betsy Russell
    • Matthew Modine
Top credits
  • Director
    • Noel Black
  • Writers
    • Dan Greenburg
    • Suzanne O'Malley
  • Stars
    • Phoebe Cates
    • Betsy Russell
    • Matthew Modine
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 68User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
    • 25Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:19
    Official Trailer

    Photos97

    Phoebe Cates in Private School (1983)
    Phoebe Cates in Private School (1983)
    Phoebe Cates in Private School (1983)
    Matthew Modine, Jonathan Prince, and Michael Zorek in Private School (1983)
    Kathleen Wilhoite in Private School (1983)
    Frank Aletter and Karen Chase in Private School (1983)
    Michael Zorek in Private School (1983)
    Phoebe Cates in Private School (1983)
    Matthew Modine, Jonathan Prince, and Michael Zorek in Private School (1983)
    Kari Lizer and Betsy Russell in Private School (1983)
    Phoebe Cates and Kathleen Wilhoite in Private School (1983)
    Phoebe Cates in Private School (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Phoebe Cates
    Phoebe Cates
    • Christineas Christine
    Betsy Russell
    Betsy Russell
    • Jordanas Jordan
    Matthew Modine
    Matthew Modine
    • Jimas Jim
    Michael Zorek
    Michael Zorek
    • Bubbaas Bubba
    Fran Ryan
    Fran Ryan
    • Miss Dutchbokas Miss Dutchbok
    Kathleen Wilhoite
    Kathleen Wilhoite
    • Betsyas Betsy
    Ray Walston
    Ray Walston
    • Chaunceyas Chauncey
    Sylvia Kristel
    Sylvia Kristel
    • Ms. Copulettaas Ms. Copuletta
    Jonathan Prince
    Jonathan Prince
    • Royas Roy
    Kari Lizer
    Kari Lizer
    • Ritaas Rita
    Richard Stahl
    Richard Stahl
    • Mr. Flugelas Mr. Flugel
    Julie Payne
    • Coach Whelanas Coach Whelan
    Frank Aletter
    Frank Aletter
    • Mr. Leigh-Jensenas Mr. Leigh-Jensen
    Frances Bay
    Frances Bay
    • Birdie Fallmouthas Birdie Fallmouth
    Bill Wray
    • Bandleaderas Bandleader
    Karen Chase
    Karen Chase
    • Bambi Leigh-Jensenas Bambi Leigh-Jensen
    Burke Byrnes
    • Mr. Ramsayas Mr. Ramsay
    Zale Kessler
    • Desk Clerkas Desk Clerk
    • Director
      • Noel Black
    • Writers
      • Dan Greenburg
      • Suzanne O'Malley
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Several of Rick Springfield's band members play the band at the school dance early in the movie.
    • Goofs
      During the beach scene with Jim (Matthew Modine) and Chris (Phoebe Cates), gaffers tape is visible on Phoebe's left breast.
    • Quotes

      Christine Ramsey: Jordan thinks that length is the most important. What do you think?

      Betsy: I think width.

      Christine Ramsey: Why width?

      Betsy: Because Jordan thinks length.

    • 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
      Featured in At the Movies: Teenage Sex Movies (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      You're Breaking My Heart
      Performed by Harry Nilsson

      Composed by Harry Nilsson

      Published by Blackwood Music, Inc.

      Courtesy of RCA Records

    User reviews68

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Predictable but amusing hijinks in this amiable 80s raunch comedy.
    Although "Private School" may be a little slim on story, that won't matter to fans of the genre. Typically, we don't watch this sort of thing for the story. But the main plot points involve Christine (an adorable Phoebe Cates), a nice gal at a girls' school, who is in love with nice guy Jim (Matthew Modine), who goes to a boys' boarding school nearby. She's just about ready to go all the way with Jim, but competing with her for his affections is Jordan (the delectable Betsy Russell), her stuck-up antagonist. Set pieces are derived from the attempts by Jim's sex-crazed friends to ogle as many of the fine female students as possible.

    Director Noel Black and his writers (Dan Greenburg, who'd previously written "Private Lessons", and Suzanne O'Malley), truly let out all the stops, in this scenario in which even distinguished veteran actors have sex on the brain. In fact, the movie has such a high energy level that it's almost TOO much at times. It just moves right along, generating some chuckles and plenty of titillation. Viewers will be very pleased to note that the attractive female cast is disrobed at any and every opportunity. And yet, there *is* an appealing romance between Christine and Jim to give the shenanigans some real heart. The gags come fast and furious, with Jim and his incredibly horny buddy Bubba (Michael Zorek) and pal Roy (Jonathan Prince) dressing in drag (that classic comedy trope) in order to infiltrate the girls' school.

    The cast is enthusiastic and full of familiar faces: Kathleen Wilhoite (as Christine's best friend Betsy), Fran Ryan (as the headmistress), Ray Walston (as a goofy chauffeur), Frances Bay (as a high society woman), sensual cult icon Sylvia Kristel (as the sex education teacher), Richard Stahl (as a drunken, lecherous father), etc. Martin Mull has a hilarious, unbilled cameo as a drugstore clerk; Paula Abdul did the choreography and has a bit as a cheerleader. Russell is irresistible as the "bad girl" (people will love her topless ride on a horse), while Cates displays a winning personality (and sings some of the songs on the soundtrack). Zorek plays such a sleazy sex fiend that he pretty much devours every scene in which he appears.

    Good fun, for any fan of this genre, guaranteed to make the audience feel happy and horny.

    Seven out of 10.
    helpful•4
    0
    • Hey_Sweden
    • Apr 20, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 29, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Private School... for Girls
    • Filming locations
      • Whittier College - 13406 Philadelphia Street, Whittier, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Unity Productions
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,049,540
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,411,861
      • Jul 31, 1983
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,049,540
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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