Linda Purl plays Jennifer Scott, who is among the first group of women admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. She and the other women can't wait to meet the male cadets, but soon discover that they will not receive special treatment just because they are women. Many of the cadets and faculty resent their presence and go out of their way to make life miserable for them; in particular, J.J. Palfrey, played by Jameson Parker. Every time Jennifer makes a mistake, J.J. is there to scold her. As "plebes" the women are subjected to endless scrutiny, criticism, and the same physical fitness regimen as the men. One hilarious scene is when a cadet conducts a surprise inspection in Jennifer's room and pulls a bra from a drawer. He is momentarily speechless and embarrassed; the women laugh, and he starts yelling at them. The already small group of women begins to dwindle. Jennifer is lonely and succumbs to the advances of an older cadet named Doug Davidson, played by Andrew Stevens. Plebes and cadets are forbidden from being friends or dating, so Jennifer and Doug risk harsh discipline by meeting in secret. Unfortunately, J.J. catches them kissing and turns them in. They are both disciplined but Jennifer gets the worst of it. Her friends feel it's not fair, that Doug was older and knew better. Jennifer and Doug break up and Jennifer feels she cannot complete the academic year. She contemplates leaving, but somehow finds the inner strength to stick it out and complete the extra physical training that is part of her punishment. Just when you think things can't get any worse for Jennifer, the school year ends and she is no longer a plebe. Even J.J. Palfrey seems less of a villain.
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taylorje7 September 2006
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bpatrick-9143325 August 2023I could take roughly the first half of the movie as the new female plebes become acquainted with a whole new environment that is not going to cut them any slack, the upperclassmen Davidson (Andrew Stevens) and Palfrey (Jameson Parker) are no less committed to running out the weakest women than they are to running out the weakest men. The two upperclassmen assume a good cop/bad cop pose; Davidson is downright rooting for the women to make, while Palfrey is determined to run them out and preserve the all-male enviroment.
My problems begin when Jennifer Scott makes an error in announcing the night's menu. Davidson makes her correct herself, and is then impressed enough to wink at her. His flirting with her and their constant meetings, be it at a party or in some seemingly-secluded place in the library, violate regulations concerning plebe-upperclass relations (they're not supposed to converse except in the line of business)--but there is a way around this that is never brought out: Davidson can "recognize" her before June; they would be on a first-name basis even if they couldn't date.
Finally, there's Jennifer's remark in the newspaper that some of the male cadets are more immature than the females. She made a general statement which I expect has an element of truth and Palfrey, again. Goes overboard in his reaction.
What results is an atypical boy-girl relationship and it's not hard to imagine where this is going the following year. But for now, I want to see all the major things that happen over plebe year. -
dmchadwick7717 February 2014This film is quite believable in many ways. As a USMA graduate of 1977, I experienced firsthand the challenges encountered by women that entered as plebes (freshmen) during my "firstie" (senior) year. That there could be love stories among women and men cadets is no fantasy, these romances can, did, and continue to exist. It is a very well-done film that generally is in line with USMA in the late 1970s. Keep in mind that at the time the film was made, (circa 1978 or 1979), women had only been at USMA for 2 years or less. The Academy was still learning how best to integrate women and to position them for success. Although it is true that most of the existing cadets and graduates were generally anti-women with respect to integrating West Point, everyone fell in line in short order and pulled together to make the integration a success. West Point women have performed admirably in the military and in civilian life. Kudos many years ago to the late LTG Sid Berry, the presiding Superintendent back when the first women class entered in July 1976, who pioneered the adoption and adaptation of the academy to make the transition a lasting success.
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orfrlf0197314 November 2005I've seen this movie and thought it was alright. I don't believe it is one of my most favorite films but the casting was good and the plot was OK. There were unbelievable parts to it, sure, but this was not designed to be a comprehensive history of the military academy at West Point. That being said the look back to the lat seventies when women were allowed into the military academies are interesting for those of us who may not have been around to experience it for ourselves. Since the first time that I watched this movie (in my late teens) I have enjoyed it because it showed a side of life that many of us will never get to experience so even if some of it is not believable it does work.
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As a movie, I agree with the previous review that it is a predictable plot.
I was a cadet at West Point from 1978 to 1982. I was there during filming of the movie. That was also the tail end of the academy's transition from an all-male institution. In simple incorrect English, that ain't how it was.
I attended the 'first cut' showing of the movie that was shown to the cast and crew as well as some cadets. To attempt to list the numerous inaccuracies would be futile. I remember sitting in the theatre with my roommate commenting on the many uniform mistakes including an actor walking through a door in one uniform and appear in the room on the other side of the door in another uniform. Then the director (or someone) thanked people in the audience for their work. He thanked the head custom person. It was rather embarrassing that the person was sitting next to us.
Some of these errors were fixed in subsequent editing, but the overall picture is still an unrealistic view of life at West Point. Plebes do not hold conversations in hallways. Upper classmen do not get embarrassed by bras in drawers. The whole 'vibe' is wrong.
Consider this just a movie (and not a very good one at that). Do not consider it a history or a picture of West Point.
BTW, they also filmed "MacArthur" while I was there.