The Paper Chase
Twentieth Century Fox | Release Date: October 16, 1973 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
65
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews
Positive:
3
Mixed:
4
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
Time OutStaff (Not Credited)
A muddled and slick youth film. Excellent sequences of his quarrelsome study group tearing one another apart under fierce competitive strain - and a fine performance by Houseman as their olympian, sadistic professor - make the film watchable. Read full review
60
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)
Bottoms is a Minnesota-bred law student who comes to Harvard and the lecture hall of Houseman, an instructor who seemingly takes great pleasure in puncturing his students' egos. Bottoms falls in love with Wagner. Essentially, this is a military school plot with a change of venue. Read full review
50
The New York TimesVincent Canby
It takes a long while for The Paper Chase to disintegrate, and there are some funny, intelligent sequences along the way, but by the end it has melted into a blob of clichés. Read full review
50
The New YorkerPauline Kael
The picture, written and directed by James Bridges, tries to be thoughtful and provocative, but it has nothing to say.
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