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IMDbPro

The Star Chamber

  • 19831983
  • RR
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
7.3K
YOUR RATING
The Star Chamber (1983)
Frustrated with a legal system gone haywire, a secret society of judges hires hitmen to snuff out criminals who escape courtroom justice - but one young judge questions the ethics of their vigilante system.
Play trailer1:44
1 Video
70 Photos
CrimeDramaMystery
Frustrated with a legal system gone haywire, a secret society of judges hires hitmen to snuff out criminals who escape courtroom justice - but one young judge questions the ethics of their v... Read allFrustrated with a legal system gone haywire, a secret society of judges hires hitmen to snuff out criminals who escape courtroom justice - but one young judge questions the ethics of their vigilante system.Frustrated with a legal system gone haywire, a secret society of judges hires hitmen to snuff out criminals who escape courtroom justice - but one young judge questions the ethics of their vigilante system.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
7.3K
YOUR RATING
    • Peter Hyams
    • Roderick Taylor(screenplay)
    • Peter Hyams(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Hal Holbrook
    • Yaphet Kotto
    • Peter Hyams
    • Roderick Taylor(screenplay)
    • Peter Hyams(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Hal Holbrook
    • Yaphet Kotto
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 56User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:44
    Watch Trailer

    Photos70

    The Star Chamber (1983)
    The Star Chamber (1983)
    1 sheet
    The Star Chamber (1983)
    The Star Chamber (1983)
    The Star Chamber (1983)
    The Star Chamber (1983)
    The Star Chamber (1983)
    Otis Day in The Star Chamber (1983)
    John DiSanti in The Star Chamber (1983)
    John DiSanti in The Star Chamber (1983)
    Otis Day in The Star Chamber (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Douglas
    Michael Douglas
    • Steven Hardin
    Hal Holbrook
    Hal Holbrook
    • Benjamin Caulfield
    Yaphet Kotto
    Yaphet Kotto
    • Detective Harry Lowes
    Sharon Gless
    Sharon Gless
    • Emily Hardin
    James Sikking
    James Sikking
    • Dr. Harold Lewin
    • (as James B. Sikking)
    Joe Regalbuto
    Joe Regalbuto
    • Arthur Cooms
    Don Calfa
    Don Calfa
    • Lawrence Monk
    John DiSanti
    John DiSanti
    • Detective James Wickman
    Otis Day
    Otis Day
    • Stanley Flowers
    • (as DeWayne Jessie)
    Jack Kehoe
    Jack Kehoe
    • Hingle
    Larry Hankin
    Larry Hankin
    • Detective Kenneth Wiggan
    Dick Anthony Williams
    Dick Anthony Williams
    • Detective Paul Mackay
    Margie Impert
    • Louise Rachmil
    Dana Gladstone
    Dana Gladstone
    • Martin Hyatt
    David Proval
    David Proval
    • Officer Nelson
    Robin Gammell
    Robin Gammell
    • Judge Archer
    Matthew Faison
    Matthew Faison
    • Judge Stoner
    Fred McCarren
    Fred McCarren
    • Robert Karras
      • Peter Hyams
      • Roderick Taylor(screenplay) (story)
      • Peter Hyams(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film's title is taken from a controversial English law court called the "Star Chamber" which was founded in 1487 by King Henry VII. This court sat at the Royal Palace of Westminster until 1641. The "Star Chamber" was so-called because the ceiling of the court where the judges met featured gold decorative stars. The court operated as a supplement to local justice processes where other courts of law could not for one reason or another enforce justice. This court took its name from another court also called the "Star Chamber" or "Starred Chamber" from the reign of King Edward II which functioned for meetings of the King's Council.
    • Goofs
      After deciding to correct the mistake the Star Chamber has made, Judge Hardin is seen in his dark office. The lights are off except for the desk lamp he is using. The office door is open showing the adjacent courtroom where Judge Caulfield appears, calling Hardin. When Hardin exits his office, entering the courtroom, his office is brightly lit.
    • Quotes

      Superior Court Judge Steven R. Hardin: The law. Nothing is right or wrong! It's either the law or its not the law. Well, we got a problem here, because it's not working anymore. It turns out that right and wrong count.

    • Crazy credits
      Actress Fritzi Burr's performance as Judge Alice McCardle was accidentally left of the movie's credits. The 10th August 1983 edition of show-business trade paper 'Daily Variety' reports that Peter Hyams, producer Frank Yablans and the 20th Century Fox Film Corporation ran an advertisement apologizing for this mistake and oversight and praising Burr for her acting contribution to the movie.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Blankety Blank: Episode #11.10 (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      New Church
      Performed by The Lords of the New Church

      Written by Brian James (uncredited) and Stiv Bators (uncredited)

      courtesy of IRS Records

    User reviews56

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    An entertaining, if imperfect film
    In this quietly released early eighties film, Michael Douglas plays a young city judge who is sick and tired of being forced to allow obviously guilty criminals off the hook due to technicalities built up by lawyers. He realizes that there may be a way to correct this problem once one of the older, more experienced judges(Hal Holbrook) lets him in on a group of judges that meet privately to set up murders of the guilty criminals that got off the hook.

    For the most part this is a highly entertaining and thought provoking film which always leaves you wondering where its going to turn next. However, there are a few important things that are left unexplained or just plain forgotten about, which was somewhat sloppy. Otherwise, a good film about an interesting topic. Certainly one of Douglas' best. 7/10.
    helpful•20
    2
    • Idocamstuf
    • May 6, 2005

    FAQ1

    • Is "the Star Chamber" inspired by an older French movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 5, 1983 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Dodger Stadium - 1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Chavez Ravine, Elysian Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Frank Yablans Presentations
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 49 minutes
      • Color

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