The Lords of Discipline (film)

Infobox Film
name = The Lords of Discipline


image size =
caption =
director = Franc Roddam
producer = Herb Jaffe
Gabriel Katzka
writer = Lloyd Fonvielle
Thomas Pope
from the novel by
Pat Conroy
starring = David Keith
Robert Prosky
G.D. Spradlin
Barbara Babcock
Michael Biehn
music = Howard Blake
cinematography = Brian Tufano
editing =
distributor = Paramount Pictures
released = February 18, 1983
runtime = 103 min.
country = USA
awards =
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
amg_id = 1:30050
imdb_id = 0085867

"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 Story

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 was forced to shoot the film at Wellington College, an English private school, because no American military academy would allow him access due to its subject matter. Ironically, Wellington College is consideredWho an "army school" due to its origins and founding father, the Duke of Wellington.

The Cast

David Keith......Will McLean

Robert Prosky.....Colonel Berrineau aka The Bear

Mark Breland......Pearce

G. D. Spradlin.....Gen. Durrell

Michael Biehn......Alexander

Rick Rossovich.......Dante Pignetti aka Pig

Judge Reinhold......Maccabee

Bill Paxton.....Gilbreath (credited as "Wild Bill" Paxton)

Barbara Bosson......Mrs. Durrell

Mitchell Lichtenstein......Tradd St. Croix

Malcolm Danare......Poteete

Notes on the Film Version

Actors Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Rick Rossovich and William Hope would later star in several films by director James Cameron. Paxton and Rossovitch would have brief appearances in the original "Terminator" film along with Biehn; Biehn, Paxton and Hope starred in "Aliens"; Biehn also appeared in "The Abyss" and the extended version of , while Paxton would show up in "True Lies" and "Titanic".

Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton and Rick Rossovich also worked together again portraying members of an elite Navy Seal team in the 1990 movie, Navy Seals.