1970—1980: Ten Golden Years of Teen Films

The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, 1976
John Travolta portrays a teen named Tod who has lived in a bubble his entire life due to a damaged immune system. Brady Dad Robert Reed plays his father, and his mother is played by Diana Hyland. (1) His relationship with his parents is good, but they are understandably very protective. Tod spends a lot of time looking longingly at his beautiful teenage neighbor Gina. At its heart this is a story about a basic human condition: the desire for connection and love. Tod eventually tries an astronaut-type suit for an outdoor excursion with Gina and her friends, but this leads to almost fatal results. Eventually he forms a relationship with Gina and must decide between a solitary life in his “bubble” and venturing into the world unprotected with Gina. What does he choose and to what end? And an equally compelling question is: could anyone have sung the theme song better than Paul Williams?

Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway, 1976
Dawn is often mentioned as a classic made-for-TV movie, but it was actually part one of a two-part movie with Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn. The Brady Bunch‘s moody middle child Jan (Eve Plumb) stars as Dawn who runs away from what doesn’t seem like such a terrible home life to become a hooker for a Hollywood pimp named Swan. Viewers may almost forget they’re watching Jan Brady until she inevitably pronounces the “W” in her words as an “H.” (Hhwatt?) She copes with being a hooker by disassociating during her exploits, and embarks on a friendship and eventual love affair with fellow hustler Alexander. Dawn, seemingly suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, moves in with sleazy Swan despite being offered shelter by Alex. Creepy old guys and funky fun furs litter the streets along with the bodies of a couple of Swan’s girls. Will Dawn survive? Will she leave Swan? Can teen love conquer all? Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn continues the saga from his perspective.

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, 1976
Jodie Foster and Scott Jacoby star in this film about a young girl whose poet father never seems to be home. Foster’s character Rynn is a feminist prototype, an intellectual rebelling against society’s expectations of both females and children. She lives an independent but lonely existence until she meets a magic loving boy named Mario who seems to understand her in a way that only another kid can. The two share secrets and have a sweet love affair. However, the cops, a nosy neighbor, and the neighbor’s son—a creepy older man with questionable intentions played by Martin Sheen—just can’t leave them alone. What’s in the cellar besides those jelly jars?

The Loneliest Runner, 1976
This stars Lance Kerwin (James at 15, The Boy Who Drank Too Much) as John Curtis, a teen with a bed wetting problem. Unfortunately, he has an even bigger mother problem. Mom decides the cure to her son’s malady is to tell people about it and hang his bed sheets out the window for all to see. John decides to use running as an outlet. Michael Landon plays Curtis as an adult. The story was written by Landon and is reportedly based partly upon personal experience. It also features Landon’s Little House On The Prairie co-star Melissa Sue Anderson.

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