The Tenth Level (1976): Cast & Plot
The Tenth Level is a 1976 drama directed by Charles S. Dubin, starring William Shatner as Prof. Stephen Turner, Estelle Parsons and John Travolta. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 42m (102 min)
- Director
- Charles S. Dubin
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- CBS Studios
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Tenth Level About?
The premise of The Tenth Level without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Inspired by Stanley Milgram’s obedience experiments, the TV film follows psychology professor Stephen Turner as he conducts a controversial study on why ordinary people, even Nazis, obey harmful orders. Turner convinces his students they are delivering increasingly painful electric shocks to subjects who err, and watches with alarm as they willingly inflict suffering “in the name of science.”
The Tenth Level Themes & Keywords
· 10 tags- psychology
- psychology professor
- obedience
- milgram experiment
- university
- science experiment
- experiment
- college professor
- based on true story
- independent film
The Tenth Level Cast & Characters
William Shatner leads the cast as Prof. Stephen Turner, with Estelle Parsons as Crossland and John Travolta as Lab Technician (uncredited). Directed by Charles S. Dubin; 22 actors are credited in all.
- Director Charles S. Dubin
-
William Shatner as Prof. Stephen Turner - Estelle Parsons as Crossland
-
John Travolta as Lab Technician (uncredited) -
Ossie Davis as Reed
Also Starring in The Tenth Level
· 18 more- Lindsay Crouse Karen
- Mike Kellin Mancuso
- Viveca Lindfors Mrs. Schnagel
- Tom Quinn Bully in Bar
- Stephen Macht Dahlquist
- Lynn Carlin Barbara
- Richard McKenzie Mr. Dennison
- Robert Burr Mr. Hughes
- Roy Poole Dr. Goodman
- Jeff Pomerantz Professor
- Charles White Harry Vogel
- Fred J. Scollay Dr. McBride
- Michael Howard
- Gregory Abels Lab Technician
- W.T. Martin Mario, the Waiter
- Gary Cookson Lab Technician
Show all 22 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Damon Evans
- Billie Lou Watt Mrs. Carol
More from Charles S. Dubin
More films directed by Charles S. Dubin: International Airport, Topper, Moving Violation and The Belle of Amherst.
The Tenth Level Plot Summary
What happens in The Tenth Level from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film reimagines Milgram through the lens of Stephen Turner, an academic psychologist who is a quiet man haunted by images from Nazi concentration camps. This fixation isn’t just a passing interest; it’s presented as a pathological blend of guilt and a fatal need for martyrdom, a dynamic observed by his close associate Ben, a black psychologist who serves as a counterpoint to Turner’s fragile self-image.
Full summary
The whole story of The Tenth Level, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Tenth Level?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor plays psychologist Stephen Turner in The Tenth Level?
The Tenth Level Also Known As
2 alternative titles: “The 10th Level” and “A tizedik szint”.
- Also known as
-
- The 10th Level
- A tizedik szint
Seen The Tenth Level?
Movies Like The Tenth Level
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Experimenter, Obedience and The Stanford Prison Experiment.
The Tenth Level FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Tenth Level, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Tenth Level?
The Tenth Level runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).
When was The Tenth Level released?
The Tenth Level was released on August 26, 1976.
Who directed The Tenth Level?
The Tenth Level was directed by Charles S. Dubin.
More films by Charles S. Dubin Who is in the cast of The Tenth Level?
The Tenth Level stars William Shatner as Prof. Stephen Turner, Estelle Parsons as Crossland and John Travolta as Lab Technician (uncredited), among 22 credited actors.
Does The Tenth Level have a post-credit scene?
No. The Tenth Level has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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