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The Paper Chase

The Paper Chase

Drama · 1973

A first-year law student struggles with balancing his coursework and his relationship with the daughter of a stern professor.

Movie details

The Paper Chase

“You may be looking at a future President, Supreme Court Justice, Secretary of State or a dropout.”

1973 Drama 1h 53m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

A first-year law student struggles with balancing his coursework and his relationship with the daughter of a stern professor.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Paper Chase?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

James Bridges

Written by

James Bridges

Timothy Bottoms

Timothy Bottoms

James T. Hart

Lindsay Wagner

Lindsay Wagner

Susan Fields

John Houseman

John Houseman

Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.

Graham Beckel

Graham Beckel

Franklin Ford III

James Naughton

James Naughton

Kevin Brooks

Edward Herrmann

Edward Herrmann

Thomas Craig Anderson

Craig Richard Nelson

Craig Richard Nelson

Willis Bell

Court is in session

Put The Paper Chase on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.