Main Cast: David Keith, Robert Prosky, G.D. Spradlin, Barbara Babcock, Michael Biehn
Release Year: 1983
Country: US
Run Time: 103 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Adapted from a long novel by Pat Conroy, the story is shortened to focus on a harrowing account of institutional racism in the 1960s American South. David Keith stars as Will McLean, a senior student at the fictional Carolina Military Institute. When the school admits its first black student, McLean is confidentially charged with making sure that the newcomer's initiation does not get too violent. Yet that is exactly what happens, and McLean becomes alarmed when it seems like someone is out to kill his new charge. McLean's own investigation of the matter uncovers an elusive group of sadistic students who will go to any length to control their school. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
Review
This 1983 motion picture effectively depicts racial prejudice and elitism among a clique of cadets at a fictional southern military academy in the 1960s. The film indicts not only the students, but also the parents and administrators who pass on their intolerance and bigotry from one generation to the next. David Keith adeptly portrays Will McClean, who attends Carolina Military Institute only to please his father. At the request of the commandant of cadets, Col. Thomas "Bear" Berrineau (Robert Prosky), McClean becomes a sort of guardian angel for the school's first black student, Tom Pearce (Mark Breland). It is through McClean's eyes that the audience witnesses the intimidation and cruelty of the racist and elitist clique known as "The Ten." Prosky and the rest of the cast perform competently, but script shortcomings diminish the power of the film. For example, the dialogue generally ignores the burgeoning conflict in Vietnam even though Southeast Asia was perhaps the number one topic of conversation in U.S. military academies in that era. In addition, the brutality of The Ten's tactics -- including a bullying episode that results in a suicide -- seem too extreme even for redneck zealots. Nevertheless, the film does succeed as an exposition of injustice and cruelty in American institutions of a bygone era. Viewers who have read the book on which the film is based, Pat Conroy's The Lords of Discipline, may balk at the scriptwriters' truncation and alteration of the plot. They may also object to British director Franc Roddam's selection of Wellington College in Berkshire, England, as the setting for the film. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
Rick Rossovich - Pig; John LavachieIIi - Mark; Mitchell Lichtenstein - Tradd; Mark Breland - Pearce; Malcom Danare - Poteete; Judge Reinhold - Macabbee; Katharine Levy - Teresa; Ed Bishop - Commerce; Norman Chancer - TAC Captain; Jason Connery - MacKinnon; Michael Fitzpatrick - TAC Officer; Matt Frewer - Senior; William Hope - Senior; Peter Merrill - Senior; Dean Miller - Gooch; Bill Paxton - Gilbreath; Sheridan Earl Russell - Senior; Simon Shepherd - Senior; Tony Sibbald - TAC Major; Kim Thomson - Girlfriend; Ian Tyler - Cadet Colonel; Sophie Ward - Girlfriend; Peter Hutchinson - Senior; Sallyanne Law - Girlfriend; Valerie Colgan - General's Secretary; Ronald Fernee - TAC Officer; Stuart Milligan - McIntyre; Elizabeth Morton - Girlfriend; Richard Oldfield - TAC Officer; Rolf Saxon - Rowland; Helena Stevens - Librarian; Aaron Swartz - Senior; Ellen Chenoweth; Greg Webb - Braselton; Sarah Brackett - Mrs. Durrell; Michael Horton - Bobby Bentley
Credit
Alan Cassie - Art Director, Basil Rayburn - Associate Producer, John Mollo - Costume Designer, Michael Murray - First Assistant Director, Franc Roddam - Director, Michael Ellis - Editor, Howard Blake - Composer (Music Score), Pauline Heys - Makeup, Chic Waterson - Camera Operator, John Graysmark - Production Designer, Brian Tufano - Cinematographer, Herb Jaffe - Producer, Gabriel Katzka - Producer, Peter Howitt - Set Designer, Ted Grumbt - Special Effects, Bruce White - Sound/Sound Designer, Alan Bernard - Sound/Sound Designer, Lloyd Fonvielle - Screenwriter, Thomas Pope - Screenwriter, Pat Conroy - Book Author
The Lords of Discipline is a 1983 film based on the novel by Pat Conroy and directed by Franc Roddam. The film stars David Keith, Robert Prosky, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton and Olympic boxer Mark Breland. It was filmed entirely in England, as none of the American military academies would allow filming on their grounds because of the book's less-than-positive portrayal of life at a military academy.
The year is 1964, and Carolina Military Institute is about to do something it's never done in its entire history—allow a black man to become a member of the Corps of Cadets. Will McLean, a senior private, has been assigned to watch over him to ensure that he makes it through the year. But can Will stand tall against the power of "the Ten," a secret gang within the Corps of Cadets sworn to uphold CMI's highest standards – by any and all means necessary?
Although the book's author, Pat Conroy, claims that the fictional Carolina Military Institute was not based on any particular military academy but was an amalgam of several, Roddam shot the film at Wellington College, an English private school.
Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton and Rick Rossovich also worked together again portraying members of an elite Navy SEAL team in the 1990 action movie, Navy Seals.
