1 / 8
ERA
Did you know
54 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Child's Play
"You only lose once."
1972 1h 40m EN
😐
6.1
MID
★6.1TMDB · 56
DramaMysteryThriller
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
At an exclusive boys' school, a new gym teacher is drawn into a feud between two older instructors, and he discovers that everything at the school is not quite as staid, tranquil and harmless as it seems.
“You only lose once.”
Cast
James Mason
Jerome Malley
Robert Preston
Joseph Dobbs
Beau Bridges
Paul Reis
Ron Weyand
Father Mozian
Charles White
Father Griffin
David Rounds
Father Penny
Kate Harrington
Mrs. Carter
Jamie Alexander
Sheppard
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Sidney Lumet
- Writers
- Leon Prochnik
- 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 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Directed by Sidney Lumet, shot by Gerald Hirschfeld. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 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#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Joanne Burke shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
CAST
Did you know
James Mason and Robert Preston and Beau Bridges carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "You only lose once.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0068369 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
Only 56 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Sidney Lumet directs. Gerald Hirschfeld behind the camera. Michael Small scores. Joanne Burke cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 154 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 2Directed by Sidney Lumet, shot by Gerald Hirschfeld. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 3Original score by Michael Small. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 4Editor Joanne Burke shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 5James Mason and Robert Preston and Beau Bridges carry the top of the cast.
- 6Marketing tagline: "You only lose once.".
- 7IMDB entry: tt0068369 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 8Only 56 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Gerald Hirschfeld
- Original score
- Michael Small
- Editing
- Joanne Burke
- Production design
- Philip Rosenberg
- Costume design
- Ruth Morley
- Makeup / hair
- Saul Meth
- Sound
- Emil Neroda
- Runtime
- 100 min · 1h 40m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Box office
- $44,196,343
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- PG
Also by
Sidney Lumet
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Paramount Pictures
US
Key crew
- ProducerDavid Merrick
- Theatre PlayRobert Marasco
- Associate ProducerHank Moonjean
- EditorJoanne Burke
- EditorEdward Warschilka
- Casting DirectorGeri Windsor
- Production DesignPhilip Rosenberg
- Costume DesignRuth Morley
- Makeup ArtistSaul Meth
- Unit Production ManagerJim Di Gangi
- Assistant DirectorHank Moonjean
- Sound RecordistBill Edmondson
- Sound EditorJack Fitzstephens
- Sound Re-Recording MixerEmil Neroda
- Camera OperatorEnrique Bravo
- Second Assistant CameraRon Zarilla
- Costume SupervisorGeorge Newman
- Music EditorJack Fitzstephens
- ConductorMichael Small
- Script SupervisorNicholas Sgarro
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- boarding school
- school teacher
- boys' school
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1972-12-12PG
