R.P.M. stands for (political) revolutions per minute. Anthony Quinn plays a liberal college professor at a west coast college during the hedy days of campus activism in the late 1960s. Radical students take over the college, the president resigns, and Quinn's character, who has always been a champion of student activism, is appointed president. As the students continue to push the envelope of revolution, Quinn's character is faced with the challenge of restoring order or abetting the descent into anarchy.
Acting
Anthony Quinn's slow-burn descent from cool prof to compromised suit.
Direction
Stanley Kramer doing what he does best: yelling about social issues.
Director
Stanley Kramer
Anthony Quinn
Prof. F.W.J. 'Paco' Perez
Ann-Margret
Rhoda
Gary Lockwood
Rossiter
Paul Winfield
Steve Dempsey
Graham Jarvis
Police Chief Henry J. Thatcher
Alan Hewitt
Hewlett
Ramon Bieri
Brown
John McLiam
Rev. Blauvelt
Don Keefer
Dean George Cooper
Donald Moffat
Perry Howard
Norman Burton
Coach McCurdy
John Zaremba
Tyler
Teda Bracci
Student
Linda Meiklejohn
Student
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot during the actual Kent State aftermath, Kramer rushed production to capitalize on headlines—some critics called it exploitative, others urgent.
Paul Winfield's Steve Dempsey was originally written as a white character; his casting adds layers the script barely acknowledges about whose revolution this actually is.
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