The Star Chamber

"They meet. They judge. They execute."

1983 1h 45m EN

😐

6.0

MID

★6.0TMDB · 190

DramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

As violence escalates in Los Angeles and heinous murders are committed, Steven Hardin, a young judge of the California Supreme Court, must struggle with his tortured conscience and growing despair as he watches helplessly as the ruthless criminals brought before his court go free because clever lawyers find obscure loopholes in the law.

“They meet. They judge. They execute.”

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Cast

Michael Douglas
Steven Hardin
Hal Holbrook
Benjamin Caulfield
Yaphet Kotto
Detective Harry Lowes
Sharon Gless
Emily Hardin
James B. Sikking
Dr. Harold Lewin
Joe Regalbuto
Arthur Cooms
Don Calfa
Lawrence Monk
John DiSanti
Detective James Wickman

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Peter Hyams
Writers: Peter Hyams, Roderick Taylor, Roderick Taylor
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 69% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

43 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Peter Hyams, shot by Richard Hannah. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Michael Small. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor James Mitchell shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Michael Douglas and Hal Holbrook and Yaphet Kotto carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "They meet. They judge. They execute.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0086356 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Peter Hyams directs. Richard Hannah behind the camera. Michael Small scores. James Mitchell cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 69% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
243 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Peter Hyams, shot by Richard Hannah. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Michael Small. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor James Mitchell shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Michael Douglas and Hal Holbrook and Yaphet Kotto carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "They meet. They judge. They execute.".
8IMDB entry: tt0086356 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 16 themes, including "right and justice", "husband wife relationship", "judge", "hitman".