The Paper Chase (1973)

The Paper Chase earned an Academy Award for John Houseman and his taciturn portrayal of a Harvard Law School professor. A tale nominally about the rigors of study and primarily about the details of life people choose to believe are important, the film mostly works. Elevated by modern editing and a mature script, the story engages the audience intellectually, but not emotionally.

**¾ (out of *****)

©2018 David R. George III

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1973 • 113 MINUTES
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX • THOMPSON-PAUL PRODUCTIONS

STARRING
• TIMOTHY BOTTOMS, LINDSAY WAGNER, JOHN HOUSEMAN

ALSO STARRING
• GRAHAM BECKEL, JAMES NAUGHTON, EDWARD HERRMANN, CRAIG RICHARD NELSON, ROBERT LYDIARD, LENNY BAKER, DAVID CLENNON

WRITTEN BY
• JAMES BRIDGES (SCREENPLAY)
• JOHN JAY OSBORN JR. (BASED UPON THE NOVEL BY)

DIRECTED BY
• JAMES BRIDGES

1973 ACADEMY AWARDS (1)
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: JOHN HOUSEMAN

ADDITIONAL 1973 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS (2)
• BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY (LOST TO THE EXORCIST)
• BEST SOUND (LOST TO THE EXORCIST)