When David Greene receives a football scholarship to a prestigious prep school in the 1950s, he feels pressure to hide the fact that he is Jewish from his classmates and teachers, fearing that they may be anti-Semitic. He quickly becomes the big man on campus thanks to his football skills, but when his Jewish background is discovered, his worst fears are realized and his friends turn on him with violent threats and public ridicule.
Acting
Young Matt Damon's entitled sneer could curdle milk; Fraser's quiet devastation is crushing.
Writing
The slur scene hits like a gut punch — no score, just silence and shame.
Director
Robert Mandel
Brendan Fraser
David Greene
Matt Damon
Charlie Dillon
Chris O'Donnell
Chris Reece
Randall Batinkoff
Rip Van Kelt
Andrew Lowery
McGivern
Cole Hauser
Jack Connors
Ben Affleck
Chesty Smith
Anthony Rapp
McGoo
Amy Locane
Sally Wheeler
Peter Donat
Headmaster Bartram
Željko Ivanek
Mr. Cleary
Kevin Tighe
Coach McDevitt
Ed Lauter
Alan Greene
Peter McRobbie
Chaplain
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Matt Damon's first major film role; he and Ben Affleck were still struggling actors who'd later write Good Will Hunting about class and Boston.
Based on co-writer Dick Wolf's actual prep school experience — yes, the Law & Order guy lived this.
US
