 John Houseman was cast as Professor Kingsfield only after director  James Bridges tried and failed to interest James Mason (qv),  Edward G. Robinson (qv), Melvyn Douglas (qv), Sir  John Gielgud (qv), and Paul Scofield . Although Houseman had  appeared in a small but important role in Seven Days in May, he  had previously been known primarily as a radio (The Mercury Theatre  of the Air; 1938s The War of the Worlds), stage (Orson Welles  Mercury Theatre) and film (Julius Caesar) producer, and this was  his first major film role. It won him the 1973 Academy Award as Best  Supporting Actor.