A loosely-based autobiography of Michael Landon's teenage years as he struggles with his identity and eventually finds success on the school's track team.A loosely-based autobiography of Michael Landon's teenage years as he struggles with his identity and eventually finds success on the school's track team.A loosely-based autobiography of Michael Landon's teenage years as he struggles with his identity and eventually finds success on the school's track team.
Photos
- Robert Woods
- (as Alan Hayes)
- Mr. Turner
- (as William H. Bassett)
- Police Officer
- (as Gavin H. Mooney)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDue to distribution problems with Utah-based distributor Invictus Entertainment, the movie never got a wide theatrical release and went straight to video in most territories.
- GoofsEugene's hairstyle changes throughout the film.
- Quotes
Gene Orowitz: [after their vehicles collide at the drive-in] Aw, shit. Look at that fender!
Gene Orowitz: Well, look what you did to my car! Why don't you look what you're doing?
Robert Woods: Are you trying to say it was my fault?
[he shoves Gene]
Gene Orowitz: Will you lay off?
Robert Woods: [smiles] Well, lookie here. Little Gene is bad. Come on, what are you going to do about it, huh?
[shoves Gene again]
Gene Orowitz: Lay off!
Robert Woods: [shoves Gene again] What are you going to do about it?
Cathy Stanton: [fearful] Gene, get in the car, please.
Robert Woods: That's right, Gene. You better get in that car before you get another set of bandages.
Bonnie Barnes: [firmly] Robert.
Robert Woods: [annoyed] What?
Bonnie Barnes: Leave him alone.
Robert Woods: I am not doing anything! He's the one looking so mean. In fact, I think he wants to fight. I told you. I'll give you two punches. Come on, give me your best shot.
[Gene just stands there]
Robert Woods: Well, come on, jew boy, give me your best shot, huh?
[Gene still does not move]
Robert Woods: Well, come on!
[after a brief pause, Gene strikes Robert in the face sending him into a series of food trays, much to his and everyone else's shock, and he returns to his car]
Gene Orowitz: [to Cathy] I'm sorry you had to see that.
Cathy Stanton: [smiles] It's perfectly all right with me.
[they drive off while an injured Robert is seen struggling trying to get up]
- Alternate versionsWhen NBC premiered this movie, the network cut out the entire sequence where Eugene and his friends go to a rowdy neighborhood bar and the fight scene that follows it.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Michael Landon: Memories with Laughter and Love (1991)
- SoundtracksDream
By Johnny Mercer
WB Music Corporation & Michael H. Goldsen, Inc.
Performed by The Four Aces
Courtesy of MCA Records
Interestingly, in 1976 Michael Landon wrote and directed the TV movie "The Loneliest Runner," which is remarkably similar to this movie; both are about teenage boys with humiliating personal problems and extremely unfeeling mothers, both main characters have extremely supporting and caring fathers (in "The Loneliest Runner" the mother is so mean that she hangs out her son's wet sheets for all to see, all of which makes the moment when Brian Keith finally tells her to "shut up" even more satisfying... not that it's manipulative or anything, heaven forfend), both characters grow up to be successful athletes, and both are played in their adult years by guess which cast member of "Little House on the Prairie"? (Clue: Not Richard Bull.)
I guess Michael Landon had more baggage in his real life than his famously schmaltzy TV shows let on. Isn't that always the way? (Of course, that won't come as a surprise to anyone who's seen the TV movie about his family...)
- Victor Field
- Apr 7, 2004
- Permalink
Details
- Runtime1 hour 44 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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