Philosophy 4: A Story of Harvard University

Three Harvard sophomores face their philosophy exam in this turn-of-the-century comedy of errors. The ambitious Tom, the world-weary Larrabee, and the perpetually anxious Jim have spent the term dodging their studies, and now philosophy Professor Flint stands between them and summer vacation. As the hours tick down, they scramble through half-digested lectures, stolen notes, and increasingly desperate attempts to divine what Flint actually wants. Wister, better known for his Westerns, reveals a sharp satirical eye for academic pretension and the particular anxiety of young men trying to appear more learned than they are. The humor lands through precise character observation rather than broad slapstick, making these frantic students feel both ridiculous and recognizable. A compact, witty portrait of intellectual ambition meeting its inevitable reckoning.