The Paper Chase: Season Three [DVD]

don't know why Shout! couldn't find the masters from Showtime - the DVDs show a warning screen when you play them that "these videos are made from the best video sources found."they should contact me - I have all of season 3 - UNCUT - on VHS tape. I wanted the DVDs so I could get rid of the tapes. Think I'll hang on to them.In the episode "The Big D" - two scenes of Lani Kazan were cut. One where she was on a payphone trying to find change, and swears. The next one they cut was a shame. It was her best scene ever!As Rose, representing herself in her divorce, she is practicing alone how to question her husband in court room terms. And it turns to some heart wrenching questions."Was it happy marriage sir?...oh, it was for your wife. ....When did you find you weren't in love with me anymore?" She breaks down into tears and starts screaming at her invisible opponent "Arnie Samuels, your a (blank) son of a B...!"I suspect Shout got their DVDs from a VHS taped off the old CBN (Christian Broadcasting Networking) that did run the series, but didn't run Season One episode of Anderson's gambling, and in Season Three, censored a lot - and certainly didn't run Season Three's episode where Ford's girlfriend opts for an abortion.I gave this a 3 star review because of the cuts made to the episode. But in my heart - the entire series and the original movie get 10 stars.

John Houseman's Oscar winning performance as Harvard Law Professor Charles W. Kingsfield is the main draw of this film, but it's also a great time capsule of college life in the early seventies. Kingsfield is the kind of superstar professor most well known universities have one or two of, and he's brilliant, aloof, intimidating and authoritative all presented in a personality full of the hauteur of one looking down from Olympus. Timothy Bottoms is a likeable student entering his first year of Law at Harvard, takes his work seriously, and believes Dr. Kingsfield has taken a personal interest in him. Along the way he meets a young woman and begins to have a relationship with her, not knowing that she is Kingsfield's daughter, though this fact does not take he film in the direction one might suspect. His other relationships consist entirely with the fellow students in his study group.In a way that would prevent the film from being made today, the plot moves slowly and not all that much really happens. It's mostly about the student, James Hart (Timothy Bottoms) inner life, his expectations and ability to cope with the pressures of Harvard Law. In one of those fortuitous Hollywood flukes, Houseman, who had primarily been a producer, was cast only after many actors turned down the role, and ended up with a whole second career as an actor even though he was in his seventies. Though it's mainly his show, Timothy Bottoms holds his end up well and creates a winning and sympathetic character as "Mr. Hart". Lindsay Wagner plays Susan, the love interest, a part either undrewritten or written in such a way as to be at odds with herself, does as well as she can with a small part.The film is shot in a naturalistic way that makes much of it seem like a documentary, especially scenes of the classroom and dorm life.For those who went to college during the time shown, all will be familiar. For younger viewers there will be many surprises: the long hair on the male students, the fact they take notes on paper in notebooks, and most of all the dorm, where there is one pay phone for all the students on the floor, who line up to use it.

In the 3rd season we find the find Hart the President of the Law review. But before he was chosen to be the President we hear that his nemesis (rival) on the Law Review Rita Harriman wants to be the Law Review's “first” female President. I found this odd because it was in the first season we learned that a then female President of the Law Review helped Hart (even though he refused her help).Season 3 adds some new cast members. In the 2nd season we saw Wills Bell sue the city over a pothole and gain some experience in court. In the 3rd season we see Ford defending another student who hit a professor. We also see how Ford’s younger brother gave some free advice to someone and how it backfired on him getting him into deep trouble. In another episode Kingsfield is absent from class and is nowhere to be found but that was also a way of teaching the class something important.There were hard hitting episodes about a sitting Supreme Court Judge’s bias and Ford finding out that his girlfriend is pregnant, but the episode that I like the best was the talent show in which Willis Bell pulls of an incredible impression of Kingsfield (because he believed Kingsfield was away on a trip) and when he takes a bow on stage he locks eyes with Kingsfield in the audience who does not appear to be amused. I also liked how the law students rallied around their first year law student who was a mother and going through a divorce.When I found out that there was a 4th season consisting of only 5 episodes I ordered it but in reality it could have been included on this DVD in much the same way that Seasons 1 & 2 of T.J. Hooker appear on one release because there were only 5 episodes in the first season of that show.

This was an accurate depiction of the 70’s, although in state universities the stress level was rather lower. It was inspirational to me I don’t know how law schools renow. The characters were still there then, and the experience was similar for me. As much as some folks hated it, it was by far the best year of my life. Watch the film to make your own judgments; if it intrigues you there may be a wonderful and remunerative career at the end of the rainbow. There’s been for me.

Much cheaper than R2 so if you can play R1 go for this version, also includes audio commentary by the Producer. An excellent, intelligent and thought provoking film, and yes, it will make you smile too. Performances are spot on throughout. Too young to see it when first released but many who did swear it changed their lives. Although made in the 70's it is as relevant today as then, of course time dilutes any films impact when viewed by a new generation but this really does hold up well.Have noticed many reviews are very superficial, this is not just about a boy at law school, a teacher and a girl!! It is a highly complex and symbolic film which is why so many people find it so fascinating, even though many don't know why they are so drawn to it. Read Carl Jung and you'll understand it so much better.

excellent

Must get old DVD out of loft to watch Region 1 diskLooks ok - so shouldn't be a problem

brilliant

OK