The Lords of Discipline

The Lords of Discipline
by Franc Roddam

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DVD details

Actor: Barbara Babcock, David Keith, G.D. Spradlin, Michael Biehn, Robert Prosky
Director: Franc Roddam
Brand: Paramount
Cinematographer: Brian Tufano
Producer: Basil Rayburn
Producer: Gabriel Katzka
Producer: Herb Jaffe
Writer: Lloyd Fonvielle
Writer: Pat Conroy
Writer: Thomas Pope
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 102 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-02-28
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount

DVD Reviews of The Lords of Discipline

DVD Review: Great Movie
Summary: 5 Stars

I found David Keith an excellent actor. The movie followed the book very closely. I was happy to find this video since it was never a theater movie.

DVD Review: Terrible quality
Summary: 1 Stars

The movie started out OK, but grew increasingly fuzzy until midway through the picture, I could only hear sound but no picture whatsoever.

DVD Review: The Lords of Discipline
Summary: 4 Stars

Interesting movie, my son goes to the Citadel, which this is based on. Some similarities, obviously glamorized for the movie.

DVD Review: Great Movie
Summary: 4 Stars

This movie was not exactly like the book, but gave a good representation of life in a military school and the struggle of good vs. evil( the system).

DVD Review: Better than average and worth viewing
Summary: 4 Stars

I guess you could say I was fortunate enough to see this movie before reading the book so I didn't have to make hard comparisons until later. Yes, the book is much more detailed and interesting at certain points but it would be impossible to adapt it all into the movie. Standing on its own, this film still delivers.

Will McClean is in his senior year at the Carolina Military Institute in 1964 in the Deep South. For the first time in the institute's history, they're going to admit a black cadet and this at a time when racial issues are still readily evident. Will is directed by his chain of command to protect this individual and track his progress. What is not known right away is information about a secret society within the institute known as `The 10'. This group recruits the best cadets from within the ranks but prey on the weak and unfortunate who they decide are not worthy of remaining in the institute. And they use whatever methods they deem necessary to force out the undesirables.

As the year progresses, disturbing events begin to happen and Will learns new information about `The 10' regarding just how powerful and influential they are. So much so that it may seriously jeopardize his relationship with his roommates and his career. Forced to question his beliefs in an honorable military system and compelled to make the right decisions no matter the cost, he risks everything in a dramatic and exciting showdown with `The 10'. This leads to a nice conclusion to the movie.

If you have or haven't read the book that this movie is based on, it's really not that bad in and of itself. There are a few weak points now and again but the cast is good, the story holds together, and the acting is pretty solid. Just don't go into watching this while comparing everything to the book because that'll be a let down. I know because I watched it again after reading the book. With that in mind, I recommend this movie to everyone.

Description of The Lords of Discipline

The year is 1964 and Carolina Military Institute has admitted, for the first time, a young black man into its freshman class. Will McClean (Keith) is asked to protect him from The Ten - a secret society of cadets dedicated to eliminating from the school those it deems "unfit."

Many who have vivid memories of this 1982 dramatic thriller about racism, hazing, and heroism at a hallowed Southern military academy will delight in its DVD release. The Lords of Discipline was based on Pat Conroy's semi-autobiographical novel about his days attending the famous Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. The film is set at the fictionalized Carolina Military Institute (and shot on locations in England) in 1964 where freshmen are customarily put through hazing rituals that may have been routine at the time, but seem positively brutal today. During Will McClean's (David Keith) senior year, a black cadet is being admitted for the first time. Will's military faculty mentor (an already grizzled Robert Prosky) charges him with making sure things don't get too out of hand with this new situation and the inevitable initiation rituals. The black cadet certainly has his horrifying tribulations, but there's also a geeky white plebe who may be in bigger trouble. During Will's awakening to the deeper, darker goings on, he discovers a secret society under the hand of the commandant (the great G.D. Spradlin) that carries out more than just hazing rituals when it deems necessary. The suspense, sense of time and place, and array of superb performances are all ample reasons to recommend The Lords of Discipline as a classic keeper or a casual view. David Keith gives a strong performance as the conflicted upper-class cadet. His strong jaw and gentle drawl was coming off a strong supporting role in An Officer and a Gentleman and he went on to several more interesting starring roles before petering out as a leading man. In fact, the cast is pretty great all around, including solid, young-buck turns by Michael Biehn (The Terminator, Aliens) and a familiar face credited as "Wild Bill" Paxton who went on to be not so wild in One False Move, Twister, Titanic, and many others. --Ted Fry

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