Product Details

• Actors: Kevin Kline, Emile Hirsch, Joel Gretsch, Embeth Davidtz, Rob Morrow
• Directors: Michael Hoffman
• Writers: Ethan Canin, Neil Tolkin
• Producers: Andrew S. Karsch, Armyan Bernstein, Cooper Layne, Eric Newman, Lisa Bruce
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS 5.1)
• Subtitles: Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: May 6, 2003
• Run Time: 108 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008NFR4
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,092 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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• For more information about "The Emperor's Club (Widescreen Edition)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Comparisons to Dead Poets Society are inevitable, but The Emperor's Club achieves a rich identity all its own. In the honorable tradition of great teacher dramas like Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Kevin Kline is well cast as Mr. Hundert, longtime teacher of classics and assistant headmaster of St. Benedict's Academy for Boys. There he encounters a defiant student and senator's son (Emile Hirsch) who desperately needs--but ultimately rejects--Hundert's lessons on leadership, integrity, and the shaping of character. Adapted from Ethan Canin's short story "The Palace Thief," the film is conventional to a fault, its flashback structure unfolding in Hollywood shorthand. But its noble sentiments remain potently intact, allowing Kline a performance of great emotional nuance while imparting lessons of universal value. "This is a story with no surprises," as Hundert says, but The Emperor's Club may surprise you with its admirable portrait of a life well lived. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

POWERFUL AND INSPIRING STORY ABOUT THE MEANING OF HONOR, THE PRICE OF VIRTUE AND THE BELIEF THAT IN EVERYONE'S LIFE THERE IS THAT ONE PERSON WHO MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding and Genuine Triumph, September 23, 2003

By	Michael Crane (Orland Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I had no idea how much I would end up enjoying this wonderful and awe-inspiring film. I was worried that it was going to try to be another "Dead Poets Society." To my surprise, it isn't. In fact, I'll even go further and say that I thought this was a lot better. "The Emperor's Club" is a powerful and gripping drama about principle, virtue and ethical compromises.

The story revolves around a teacher, William Hundert. He's a passionate man who loves what he does and hopes that he is actually having an impact on his students with his teachings. Things get complicated when he meets a new student, Sedgewick Bell. The kid is a troublemaker who cries out for attention with his actions. However, Hundert is convinced that he can turn him around and help him learn something from his class; not only that, but he hopes that he can learn something about life itself. Hundert believes in him so much that he is even willing to make a great compromise that will have an absolute impact in some way, whether it be positive or negative. The results are surprising and unexpected, but the overall product is an outstanding movie that makes you think twice about your life.

This was really a great film that had me surprised all the way. I had no idea how deep and effective it would end up being. When you see "The Emperor's Club," it actually makes you want to look at your life right then and there. You realize that you do want to live a life of honor, virtue and principle. We tend to live in a society that forgets about these important qualities sometimes; this being dubbed, "The Real World." However, this does not mean that we have to forget or overlook these things. It is possible to still have virtue in one's life.

Everything about this movie is remarkable. It has some great acting, a terrific script, and a genuine and authentic direction. Kevin Klein is amazing as William Hundert. It's a crime that he did not receive an Academy Award for his performance in this underrated film; or at least he should've been nominated for one. He is able to portray a great and wonderful character; also, he is able to play a character with realistic flaws that reminds us that he is a human-being. This is something we rarely see in films; as we are always given the impression that teachers are invincible and flawless when they are usually portrayed in films.

The DVD has some nice extra features to go along with it. The picture and sound quality is great. You can even watch it in DTS if you have the right system for it. The special features included are deleted scenes, commentary from the director, a making-of special and more. A pretty nice package, if you ask me.

"The Emperor's Club" is a wonderful experience that should be enjoyed by all. If you have not seen this yet, do yourself a favor; pick this up the next time you're at a video store. Already becoming a favorite of mine in so little time, "The Emperor's Club" is a unique and gripping film about what it takes to live an honorable life. Don't miss out on this great experience.

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Man's True Worth, October 21, 2002

By	Catherine M. Dorkin "willow100cm" (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Emperor's Club is a movie of man's dedication to oneself, to his family and honour of teacher and school. A distinguished, privated boys boarding school revels in discipline and making sure that young boys turn into great men. One of the teachers, Mr. Herdunt was able to mold his young breed by lecturing them on the Ancient Civilization from Caeser to Socratos...
Revolving around this one teacher...and four students: the exchange student from India, the boy who is to live up to the expectations of his father (Martin), the good boy and lastly, the intolerant, underdisciplined boy. The latter boy, Belle, needs to be worked with and Herdunt is able to do that for him. Encouraging him and assuring him of his smartness he does work and does do well. Each year at this school, a competition is held to find out who can reign for the year as Mr. Julius Caeser. The competition is based on history of the ancient world. Like in a spelling bee, whomever is left over wins the crown of leaves and earns the title of Mr. Julius Caeser. Three of the four boys mentioned above are in the final competition.
25 years after graduation, where Herdunt proclaims he failed Belle as a teacher, there is a reunion. And a rematch of the Julius Caeser competition, with the same three boys.
I admit, this is not a movie I would have gone to if I had only seen a trailer. But, when you have a preview ticket, who would give it up? I assure you, you will not be disappointed. The commrodity of student/teacher and student/student is amazing. It makes you want to wish all schools were like this. A fabulous movie that will live your heart uplifted and a new, wonderful look toward teachers.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HONOR AND DEDICATION, February 8, 2004

By	Mr D. "Artist/Designer/Kibitzer" (Cave Creek, Az United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I'm writing this review in response to those who deemed this movie not worthy. It is in fact a wonderful story about human nature (both good and bad), honor, decency, ethics, values, leadership and the impact, for good, that dedicated scholars and teachers can have upon our impressionable youngsters. The story takes place in a upscale prep academy in New England named Saint Benedicts School for Boys.

OUR TEACHER
"It is not living that is important but living rightly. How will history judge you?"

Roman and Greek civilization teacher, William Hundert is magnificently played by Kevin Kline. Our teacher is a honorable and principled man, striving to inspire his students to be ethical and moral by being such a model.
Mr Hundert truly enjoys his work. Teaching young boys and trying to influence and mold their character is his lifes work and he is truly in his element.

THE STUDENTS
"Great ambition and conquest without contribution is without significance. What will your contribution be?"

The story centers around Mr Hundert and four students, Martin Blyth, Freddie Masoudi, Deepak Mehta and a troubled young man named Sedgewick Bell. Martin Blyth, whose father is an alum and past winner of The Emperor's Club (A contest not unlike a spelling bee), feels pressure to replicate his fathers achievement. Freddie Masoudi is somewhat of a character and Deepak Mehta is of East Indian descent and academic background. Sedgewick Bell is an unhappy young man, whose father, as a U.S. Senator, has pretty much ignored Sedgewick his whole life. Because of this, Sedgewick has a knack for entertaining himself, usually by methods that get him into trouble.

Sedgewick, though troubled, is a born leader, with charm and charisma and soon the other three boys are drawn like a magnet to pal around with him and by association they also get in trouble.

The Plot
"All of us are forced to look in the mirror and see who we really are."

Mr Hundert is a wonderful teacher, just the kind you would wish for your own children, however, when confronted with a problem child, Sedgewick Bell, son of Senator Hyram Bell, he bends a rule or two which he lives to regret.

Sedgewick is a late addition to Hundert's class and seems to want to test Hundert at every opportunity.

From Mr. Hundert's perspective, Sedgewick for some reason reminds him of himself and therefore he makes every effort to light a fire under Sedgewick.

After numerous incidents involving Sedgewick, which include attempting to skinny dip across the lake at the girls school and likening Hunderts beloved Roman Emperors to the Beatles and the Seven Dwarves, Hundert meets with the boys father, the Senator where he learns firsthand the cause of the problem.

Undaunted, Hunert redoubles his efforts with Sedgewick and then seemingly and inexplicably starts to make progress. Sedgewick ostensibly becomes a model student and Hundert is quite pleased with himself.

But who is influencing whom? It seems Mr. Hundert is making small concession after concession toward or for the benefit of our erstwhile troublesome student

A yearly event at St Benedicts is the Emperor's Club contest, whereas the top three students in Hundert's class get to face off in front of the students and faculty.
Hundert, after just finishing grading the classes, essay type, Finals papers, notices that Sedgewick is in fourth place just behind Martin Blyth. Hundert then makes a dubious decision, which doesn't exactly work out by increasing Sedgewicks grade to place him in the contest.

Though it was within his right to make this adjustment, it is in Hundert's mind, a blemish upon his integrity.

Twenty Five Years Later

Sedgewick now CEO of one of the largest companies in the world recreates the Emperor's Club contest in which he lost earlier and in which Hundert caught but did not expose him cheating. Mr. Hundert and the other students are brought in, all expenses paid toward this purpose. Hundert will again be the M.C. and Masoudi and Metha will again contest Sedgewick and Mr. Hundert will be honored as the great teacher he is.

Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out that way.

Side Stories

Two interesting side stories take place which bear mentioning.

Hundert is obviously in love with a staff member named Elizabeth and she him. However she is married and Hundert's code of honor will not allow him to do anything.

A new teacher, Charles Ellerby a protege of Hundert's is quite the politician and when it's time for the board to name a new headmaster, Hundert, to his total surprise, is passed over in favor of Ellerby. Hundert, noting the slight, resigns on the spot.