The Chosen (1981)

Director:

Jeremy Kagan

Writers:

Edwin Gordon (writer)
Chaim Potok (novel)

Release Date:

30 April 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Teen | Orthodox Jew | Friendship | 1940s | Hasidim

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Maximilian Schell	...	Professor David Malter
Rod Steiger	...	Reb Saunders
Robby Benson	...	Danny Saunders
Barry Miller	...	Reuven Malter
Hildy Brooks	...	Mrs. Saunders
Kaethe Fine	...	Shaindel Saunders
Ron Rifkin	...	Baseball coach
Robert John Burke	...	Levi Saunders (as Robert Burke)
Lonny Price	...	Davey
Evan Handler	...	Goldberg
Douglas Warhit	...	Sam
Jeff Marcus	...	Schwartzi
Stuart Charno	...	1st Baseman
Richard Lifschutz	...	Hassidic Coach
Clement Fowler	...	Doctor
John Pankow	...	Bully
Richard Ziman	...	Bully
Bruce MacVittie	...	Bully
E.D. Miller	...	Umpire
Jack Hollander	...	Psychology Professor
Elaine Goren	...	V.E. Day Woman
Kathryn Conners	...	V.E. Day Woman
Iva Rifkin	...	V.E. Day Woman (as Iva March)
Val Avery	...	Teacher
Danton Stone	...	Fighting Student
Mark Nelson	...	Fighting Student
Stephen Hanan	...	Man with Leaflets
Naama Potok	...	Party Guest
Laura Delano	...	Party Guest
Carol Levy	...	Party Guest
David Ellin	...	Optometrist
Tony Munafo	...	Watchman
Chaim Potok	...	Talmud Teacher
Eli Webberman	...	Bal Tfilah (as Rabbi Eli Webberman)
Ed Herlihy	...	Newsreel Announcer
Frank Maxwell	...	Radio Announcer
Bob Drew	...	Radio Announcer
Abraham Katz	...	Cantor
Zvee Scooler	...	Bal Koreh
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jerry Winsett	...	Batter-Ball Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Jeremy Kagan		(as Jeremy Paul Kagan)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Edwin Gordon		writer
Chaim Potok		novel

Produced by
Jonathan Bernstein	....	executive producer
Steven Douglas Brown	....	co-producer
Roger Harrison	....	associate producer
Edie Landau	....	producer
Ely A. Landau	....	producer

Original Music by
Elmer Bernstein

Cinematography by
Arthur J. Ornitz

Film Editing by
David Garfield

Production Design by
Stuart Wurtzel

Costume Design by
Ruth Morley

Makeup Department
Joseph Coscia	....	hair designer
Joseph Coscia	....	makeup designer
Allen Weisinger	....	hair designer
Allen Weisinger	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Mort Abrahams	....	executive in charge of production
Barbara De Fina	....	unit manager
Mel Howard	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yudi Bennett	....	first assistant director
Henry Bronchtein	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Jack C. Jacobsen	....	sound mixer
Kim Maitland	....	sound recordist
Tod A. Maitland	....	boom operator
Han Neuman	....	supervising sound editor
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist (uncredited)
James Perdue	....	sound (uncredited)

Stunts
Victor Magnotta	....	stunt coordinator
Konrad Sheehan	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Holly Bower	....	still photographer
Joseph Di Pasquale	....	first assistant camera
Dan Lerner	....	Steadicam operator
Mark Melendez	....	lighting technician
Robert Paone	....	assistant camera
Robert Poame	....	Steadicam operator
Donald Sweeney	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Greg Fauss	....	assistant costumer
Fred Grryb	....	assistant costumer
Jennifer Nichols	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Gina Brown	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Kathy Durning	....	music editor
Dick Hyman	....	musical cues
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Renee Bodner	....	script supervisor
Steven Douglas Brown	....	production associate
Joseph Harris	....	production associate
Roger Harrison	....	production associate
Victor Kempster	....	location coordinator
Tom Miller	....	unit publicist
Tom Razzano	....	location manager
Tom Razzano	....	unit coordinator
Jeffrey Stoleur	....	unit coordinator

Production Companies

• Chosen Film Company

Distributors

• Analysis Film Releasing Corporation (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• Mundial Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:S | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Chosen Film Company

Trivia:

Frank Maxwell's final feature film.

Quotes:

Reb Saunders: There must not be an Israel without the messiah!

Movie Connections:

Features Thrill of a Romance (1945)

educational yet entertaining

I watched this film recently in class (intro to Western Religion) when we were learning about the ethics in Judaism. I was late for class, so I missed the beginning. However, the parts I managed to see were excellent. "The Chosen" might be the most entertaining film I've ever been forced to watch.

I felt that the story was engrossing; I actually cared about the characters and their friendship. I also thought that the acting was superb. However, I kept being distracted by the fact that Robby Benson looked like Hayden Christensen. For a film used as an educational tool, I could not have asked for much better. This is a very well made and interesting movie. It will teach you a lot.