School Ties (1992)
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A Jewish high school student navigates the social minefields of an elite preparatory school while hiding his identity from his WASP peers.
The story
In September 1955, working-class 17-year-old David Greene receives a scholarship to the exclusive St. Matthew's Academy due to his academic grades and football skills. Upon arrival, David encounters a social hierarchy dominated by well-to-do WASP families. Aware of the school's pervasive antisemitism, David chooses to keep his Jewish identity a secret while becoming a hero on the football team. However, his position is threatened when he attempts to practice his faith privately, leading to a confrontation with his teammates and the eventual exposure of his heritage by a popular student.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1955, David Greene, a Jewish student from a working-class background, earns a scholarship to the elite St. Matthew's Academy. To fit in with the wealthy WASP students, he hides his religion. He becomes a star football player and attracts the attention of Sally Wheeler. However, after a teacher accidentally reveals his identity to a teammate named Charlie, David faces intense harassment and antisemitism from the student body. When a cheating scandal occurs involving Charlie, David is pressured to name the culprit. Despite Charlie's public accusation against him, David eventually confesses to the cheating to protect others, even though Rip had already informed the headmaster that Charlie was the true offender. David is initially absolved by the headmaster, but he remains bitter about the school's treatment of him. The film ends with David leaving the school, encountering Charlie—who was expelled but still headed to Harvard—and exchanging final insults about their respective futures.
- First release year
- 1992
- Runtime (minutes)
- 107
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Robert Mandel
- Writers
- Dick Wolf · screenplay; Darryl Ponicsan · screenplay; Dick Wolf · story
- Cast and characters
- Brendan Fraser · David Greene; Matt Damon; Chris O'Donnell; Randall Batinkoff; Andrew Lowery; Cole Hauser; Ben Affleck; Anthony Rapp
- Genres
- drama; coming-of-age
- Themes
- antisemitism; prejudice; identity; social hierarchy; integrity
- Tone and mood
- heavy-handed; dramatic
- Setting
- St. Matthew's Academy, a preparatory school in 1955.
- Premise and plot tags
- coming-of-age; high school; football; discrimination
- Content notes
- antisemitism; bullying
- Reception
- The film received mixed to favorable reviews, noted for its A+ cast but criticized for its heavy-handed message. It was a commercial failure at the box office but provided significant early roles for its lead actors.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 61% · review count: 41; CinemaScore · score: A- · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film provided some of the first major cinema lead roles for Brendan Fraser, Ben Affleck, Hauser, and Matt Damon.; Most of the movie was filmed on location at Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts.; The scene at the bus depot in Scranton, Pennsylvania, was filmed at a liquor store in Leominster, Massachusetts.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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