DCSIMG
 
 

The Paper Chase (1973) Reviews

The Paper Chase (1973)
Play Trailer and Clips
Member Rating:  
This filmization of John Jay Osborn Jr.'s novel Paper Chase ended up one of the surprise hits of the 1973-74 movie season. Timothy Bottoms stars as the Minnesotan Hart, a brilliant but naive first-year student at the Harvard Law School. Like most of his fellow aspiring attorneys, Hart is in fearful awe of his demanding, ego-deflating instructor, Professor Kingsfield (John Houseman). He is not so much intimidated by Kingsfield, however, as to resist falling in love with the professor's pretty daughter (Lindsay Wagner). An eminent theatrical and film producer, John Houseman won an Oscar for his first important film role (no, it wasn't his first film role ever; he'd played an unbilled cameo in 1964's Seven Days in May), launching Houseman on a latter-day acting career wherein he spent most of his time playing variations of Kingsfield. Houseman also recreated the role for a Paper Chase TV series, which first ran on CBS, then on public television, then on the Showtime pay cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More


Starring:
Timothy Bottoms, Lindsay Wagner, (more)
Director(s):
James Bridges
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG
Format(s):
DVD
View All Versions to rent and buy
 
 
 
 
 
 

Average Ratings

(17 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

John C.

A nice coming of age picture. The story is excellent, but the ending is a little nebulous. Houseman carries the day. Wagner stretches her acting skills a bit. Bottoms is excellent. I recommend seeing this film, especially if you are going, or have been to law school.

Yes   |   No


Ted D.

The movie has become very dated and the love story is quite hokey but John Houseman as the ultimate, egomaniacal, condescending professor is terrific! The classroom scenes and final scenes of the frantic pressures of students at exam time are well worth the rental price for anyone who can appreciate the pressures of performing at college.

Yes   |   No


Gerald B.

Could not watch. Was broken when we received it. Sent back.

Yes   |   No


John C.

I remember watching this film in a theatre when it was first released. I was in junior high. I thought that this would be what college is like. I was terrified...

Yes   |   No


Gail G.

The no-nonsense part of the professor, played by John Houseman, made this movie most pleasurable. He represented a figure of stability and wisdom. I liked that. It was well worth watching.

Yes   |   No


Judith M.

I remembered the series so fondly, I thought the movie had to be good also. How wrong could I have been. We could not even finish the film. The students were so self-involved, and being that they were men, it was even worse; the only female character was a doormat, adn this was post feminism consciousness. It was nauseating. John Houseman remains powerful, but he was not enough to finish the film

Yes   |   No


Karen G.

Excellent experience of Harvard Law!

Yes   |   No


Bill D.

It has been 30 years since I first saw this movie, which I instantly loved. It was profoundly relevant then as I was fighting valiantly to earn good grades at another reputable institution. I faced Professor Kingsfield in lecture, but instead of Case Law my class was Advanced Thermodynamics. The story and acting have lost some of their charm over the years (like me?) but it is still very worth while. Definitely a coming of age movie that most college grads will readily relate to.

Yes   |   No


Isabel M.

If you're going to law school or have, then you might enjoy it. Otherwise, pass-it was very slow-moving and the emotion of it was without passion; too dry for my taste.

Yes   |   No


Zachary G.

Horrible, horrible, horrible. I went to Law School at the University of San Francisco and took John Jay Osborn Jr.'s (the book author) contracts class, so I was excited about this movie. Boy was I disappointed. I know this movie was shot in the 70s, but it goes no where and makes you want to hate all of the characters. Why am I supposed to care an affluent law professor and his daughter's struggle to find meaning in life. She should get a job and her life might have meaning.

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

BY MAIL

Monthly Subscription
NEW! 7 - Day Rental
No subscription required. Usually ships in 24 hours.
 
Buy New  $6.99
 

IN-STORE

 

ON DEMAND

Blockbuster Instant Video

Watch thousands of movies instantly on your TV, tablet, mobile phone or computer with no monthly subscription. You pay only for what you watch.
 

What's Your Take?

Add to FavoritesIn Favorites  |  Share:     Email to a friendShare on FacebookShare on Twitter
    YOUR REVIEW
    WRITE A REVIEW
     
    1000 
     
    Member Reviews
    Read all (17)
     
    John C.

    A nice coming of age picture. The story is excellent, but the ending is a little nebulous. Houseman carries the day. Wagner stretches her acting skills a bit. Bottoms is excellent. I recommend seeing this film, especially if you are going, or have been to law school.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Ted D.

    The movie has become very dated and the love story is quite hokey but John Houseman as the ultimate, egomaniacal, condescending professor is terrific! The classroom scenes and final scenes of the frantic pressures of students at exam time are well worth the rental price for anyone who can appreciate the pressures of performing at college.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Gerald B.

    Could not watch. Was broken when we received it. Sent back.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 17 Reviews
       

      Rating Systems

       

      Blockbuster

      Find Us Online: BLOCKBUSTER Blog - BLOCKBUSTER Widgets - BLOCKBUSTER RSS FEED - BLOCKBUSTER Facebook Page - BLOCKBUSTER Twitter Page - BLOCKBUSTER Wiki

      Email Exclusives

      BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
        2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.

      Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation.   2013 Rovi Corporation.