The Return of Professor Kingsfield!

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.

Comments

[Tim Zinnecker]

Courtesy of Michigan law prof Jessica Litman, I am told that the first season of St. Elsewhere is now available on DVD. Netflix, here I come! Oh, my cup runneth over!

[Richard Badger]

The public television station in Chicago, WTTW, was the PBS organizer of the episodes on that network. I was Dean of Students at the University of Chicago Law School at the time and WTTW contacted me about the series. Since they did not have commercials, they needed to fill up that extra time with something else. They decided to arrange discussions between current law students and people who had been involved with the series, including Houseman.

They wanted to film these discussions in the Law School library. Unfortunately, when they came down to look at the library they decided it did not "look" like a law school library. We then spent some time visiting several other locations on campus trying to locate the look they wanted. They evetually selected an older building built in the early 1900's and they brought in their own props!

[Laura]

Since my husband teaches first year contracts, we ordered this last spring and watched the whole first season. So gloriously cheesy! Plus, we noted that kingsfield not only is the uber-prof in teaching, but also chaired all the important committees, litigated cases, wrote books each year, lunched with justices, helped rebuild the university, and had faculty parties at his mansion. Just like the rest of us, right?

[Tim Zinnecker]

Laura -- I bet your husband treats his secretary a bit differently than Kingsfield did Mrs. Nottingham!

[Kelly Anders]

From one law and popular culture buff to another, great post, Tim. I plan to order a copy. Since the post-Generation X's version of "The Paper Chase" is "Legally Blonde," I wonder whether that film will become a television show. Holland Taylor, who played the tough prof who banished Elle from her class on the first day for being unprepared (and who also played a judge on "The Practice"), could reprise her role, and perhaps an episode could be devoted to the infamous "bend and snap" scene. ;-)

[David]

Tim, if I had a secretary, I certainly would treat her with kindness! My secretary from a previous life remains a dear friend.

I will, however, be adding a futile Treasure Hunt to the curriculum this year. Our small liberal arts university would love that.

[Mike Dimino]

Fearing that I'm falling into a deliberately set trap for law-geeks, I'll nevertheless point out that Herrmann wasn't Bell, but rather the "robot pimp" who allocated precisely equal amounts of study time to each of his subjects. He later appeared in several other films and TV shows, as well as commercials (notably ones for Dodge). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Herrmann

[Seretan_Stephen]

I was the composer for the series from CBS to Showtime. I loved working on it.John Houseman was my friend.

Stephen Seretan
[email protected]

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