Yes, I remember this film well back in 1972 when I was just 23. I had long wanted to watch it again, so I was pleased when it showed up on Amazon Prime (albeit as a rental). I enjoyed it both times. Admittedly, I have never read the novel, so I can't do a comparison. But I always prefer to look at a film as a stand-alone telling of a story.
I understand that most of the students portrayed were not actors, and were actually students at that prep school. I thought they did fairly well. It was the only film that John Heyl ever appeared in (Finny), and I thought he did a good job; he became an actual teacher. Parker Stevenson has had a long career in Hollywood, although more as a character actor; I thought he did well, too. Oddly enough, I thought the one professor that was portrayed teaching was a little too odd, and not well done.
I think this is a good film, although I note that it seems that people either really like it or really don't like it. I haven't been tempted to watch the 2004 version. It's a good story and a reasonably good film.
I understand that most of the students portrayed were not actors, and were actually students at that prep school. I thought they did fairly well. It was the only film that John Heyl ever appeared in (Finny), and I thought he did a good job; he became an actual teacher. Parker Stevenson has had a long career in Hollywood, although more as a character actor; I thought he did well, too. Oddly enough, I thought the one professor that was portrayed teaching was a little too odd, and not well done.
I think this is a good film, although I note that it seems that people either really like it or really don't like it. I haven't been tempted to watch the 2004 version. It's a good story and a reasonably good film.