It's a pretty hard assignment to make an entertaining 110-minute film about a college for debating societies, but Columbia almost pulls it off in this passionately well-acted film. By pretending that debating is a life-or-death occupation (and 'a road straight into law school and politics') and plucking relentlessly at the heartstrings, director Stewart, aided by patriotic music swelling vaguely in the background, will draw a tear from the easily moved as junior debaters Gertz and Cameron take on the mighty Harvard in the final. Rocky with words instead of fists. Gertz doesn't miss out on her big chance towards the end, Scheider goes over the top for the team as their professor, and Tim Quill, a huskier version of Audie Murphy, is an interesting new face as the rich kid who seems to have it all, but . . .

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