Wednesday, May 26, 2010

The Paper Chase


According to surveys,something like 10% of Americans have graduate degrees. Perhaps that makes it surprising, there are relatively few media representations of that experience. The experience of graduate school, with its single minded focus on one subject taught at a very technical level, is very different than that of college. The Paper Chase demonstrated that it was possible to make compelling drama out of the obsessions with grades and professors who affect not to know your name and the fear of failure or even the fear that your ambitions will go unrealized.

Timothy Bottoms demonstrated great style playing a 1st year law student. Levi's, flannel shirts, shetlands, corduroy sports coats and knit ties. Narrow the labels a bit and put this on today.

3 comments:

Main Line Sportsman said...

When I was in Law School that movie was shown every 1st Semester outside at a keg party on a big outdoor screen...an interesting representation of Law School...suffice it to say I never developed the obsession with study that the main character portrays...
Linday Wagner is pretty hot as the love interest...and John Hausman was terrific ans the nasty Contratcts Peof.

Quiet American said...

That must have led to some good drinking games.

Roodone said...

Definitely one of my favorites. THe TV show was a little "corny", but I like Houseman as Kingslied in anything.