Strong and Moving!

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Sadly Over-hyped

Good concept, poorly executed.

If you're the type of movie watcher who prefers to be entertained without having to really invest in the film (and that's absolutely fine) then this movie is probably not for you. I'm fortunate in that I enjoy all types of film from juvenile slapstick such as Top Secret to classic epics like The Godfather. This particular film builds very slowly and although there's little "action" in the first third, it's well written and acted and the you can feel the tension build. Without giving too much away, it's brilliant how convincing one of the main protagonists is due to the quality of the lines attributed to him in the screenplay. Although I personally believe this movie deserves a wider audience, I fully understand that it will not appeal to a significant number of viewers. Recommend if you appreciate slow paced, well acted drama.

Sidney Lumet's fascinating, ambiguous fight between good and evil. Robert Preston and James Mason are teachers at a Catholic school for boys fighting for the collective soul of the student body. On the surface, Preston is the angelic one, while Mason is evil incarnate...that shifts as new teacher Beau Bridges slowly unravels what's really going on. The film is slow but never lethargic with terrific performances by Preston and Bridges and an absolutely brilliant turn by Mason (he hasn't been this neurotic and pathetic since LOLITA). Preston was reportedly a last minute replacement for Marlon Brando and, while he seems the least likely choice, he pulls off this dramatic role with ease.

Chances are you will never have an opportunity to see this film as it hasn't been on TV for ages. However, I wouldn't say it is as bad as some of the comments. I thought it was well acted, but the ending left the viewer confused about exactly what had happened with the boys. The fates of two of the three major characters are also left to the viewer's imagination. Robert Preston and James Mason made interesting foils. Mason managed to make his character a man to be despised and pitied. Preston was also quite capable in his role - all sweetness and light with increasingly malevolent undertones.If it had been as dull as described in some of the other comments, I probably wouldn't have been able to stay awake since I watched it in the wee hours of the AM.

I haven't seen this in years but here's what I remember.Dull horror film about the strange behavior of students at an all boys school. James Mason as a teacher thinks Robert Preston (another teacher) is trying to drive him out (or crazy). Beau Bridges tries to figure it all out.You think that a film which has young students attacked (one is blinded, another is tied up and hung from a statue) might at least be disturbing...but it's not. It's dull, slow and it's pretty obvious who the villain is (he's always lit to look evil). Also, for a PG film, this is pretty grim stuff. It all leads to an unsatisfying ending which never truly explains what's going on. Also Preston, Mason and Bridges are at their worst. I caught this on TV years ago and had trouble staying awake! A rightfully forgotten horror film. Skip it.