Academic

The Return of Professor Kingsfield!

By Tim Zinnecker

Most readers have seen The Paper Chase at least once.  The film, released in 1973, starred Timothy Bottoms (as law student James Hart), Lindsey Wagner (the non-bionic daughter of a certain law professor, and the object of Hart's romantic desires), and Edward Herrmann (who drafted the definitive first-year outline, "Bell on Property").  But it was John Houseman's portrayal of Professor Charles W. Kingsfield, Jr., that captivated our attention and earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.  (Trivia:  Houseman co-founded The Mercury Theatre with Orson Welles in the 1930's and, prior to this film, was best known for producing radio, stage, and film works (he co-wrote the screenplay for the 1944 version of the gothic romance Jane Eyre, starring Welles and Joan Fontaine).  This was his first major acting role, and he was cast as Professor Kingsfield only after Melvyn Douglas, John Gielgud, James Mason, Edward G. Robinson, and Paul Scofield declined the opportunity.)

What many "younger" readers may not know is that The Paper Chase became a television series in 1978.   John Houseman reprised his role as Professor Kingsfield, and James Stephens played Hart (and later portrayed Father Philip Prestwick in the Father Dowling Mysteries).  Notwithstanding its critical acclaim, the series did not enjoy much commercial success and lasted only one year (curse you, Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley!).   PBS rebroadcast some of the original episodes a few years later, and cable network Showtime aired new episodes between 1983 and 1986.

I was in college when The Paper Chase first aired on CBS, and I made sure I was in front of a TV (Thursday nights?) for each and every episode (whether or not I had an accounting exam the next day).  I loved it.  And I'll confess that the television series (together with Scott Turow's One L) first prompted me to seriously consider law school.

For several years, I've hoped and prayed that the television series would be released in a DVD format.  But all of my hopes and prayers have gone unanswered.

Until this year!

In April, the folks at  Shout! Factory released the first season of The Paper Chase on DVD.  In recent weeks I've watched the original 22 episodes (thank you, Netflix!).  The clothing, hair styles, and film quality are a bit dated.  And I notice an absence in the classroom scenes of cell phone interruptions, students madly typing on laptop keyboards, and power point presentations.  But those are minor quibbles.  Most of us in the legal profession can probably still relate to the various story lines (watching Hart recite the "hairy hand" case of Hawkins v. McGee brought back nightmares of my first-day recitation of Pennoyer v. Neff in civil procedure!).  And, as he did in the movie, John Houseman steals the show in every scene in which he appears.

So whether you're thinking about going to law school, are in law school now, or have graduated from law school, add this six-disk set to your rental queue (or Christmas wish list)!  As you're watching the episodes, look for guest appearances by Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City), David Ogden Stiers (M*A*S*H), Pernell Roberts (Trapper John, M.D.), and Susan Howard (Dallas).  In one episode, Alan Napier plays an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.  "Who's Alan Napier?", you ask.  Fans of comic book superheroes will recall that Mr. Napier played butler Alfred, in the Batman series of the 1960's.  Kapow!  Splat!  Holy trivia, Tim!

And in what may have been an "inside joke" or perhaps merely an editing oversight, in an early episode you can see Professor Kingsfield carrying a Gilbert's study aid for con law!  Shocking!

Up next on my DVD wish list?  St. Elsewhere.

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on August 06, 2009 (boomark / email).