1970—1980: Ten Golden Years of Teen Films

Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker, 1979
Charlene Tilton (Dallas) plays artistic high school graduate Jill and Christopher Knight (Peter Brady) is briefly featured as her boyfriend. Jill is a normal teen who is trying to save money for a car. The problem is, there is no public transportation to any of the available positions. She gets a job at the hamburger stand (there sure were a lot of stands in the 70s). Jill and her friends don’t have cars, but they have jobs and have to “hitch” in this tale about what is clearly the most dangerous town in which to thumb a ride. The movie treads pretty dark territory, including murder and rape. Will Jill suffer the same fate as her friends? Can’t anyone ask his or her parents for a ride?

Over the Edge, 1979
This is the gold standard for the decade’s teen rebellion films. Suburban living was supposed to be the perfect answer for families wanting to escape the drugs and violence of city life. However, in planning the suburban utopia of New Granada, the builders, businessmen, and homeowners forgot to think of the kids, who are definitely not all right. A proposed skating rink is eschewed in favor of more suburban expansion, and there are no movie theaters, much less a mall. So what do the kids do for fun? The answer can be summed up by Matt Dillon’s character as he introduces himself to main character Carl: “Hi, I’m Richie White. I’m on probation.”

Sex, drugs, and rock and roll reign supreme with a little bit of cop hassling and petty vandalism thrown into the mix. The only rule—as told by Richie White—is “A kid who tells on another kid is a dead kid.” When the police close down the town’s only kid-friendly outlet—a low-budget youth center—things escalate rapidly. After a tragic incident, the kids’ anger turns into outright anarchy at the climax of the film. And despite the actions of the adolescents, the film puts the blame squarely on the shoulders of the adults. That’s delicious rebellion.

Sooner Or Later, 1979
If you saw this on TV as a young girl you were likely smitten with Rex Smith and thought the movie was the definition of romance. My, how times have changed. As an adult it’s excruciatingly slow to watch, but fast-forward to the good parts—if you must. The cast features Barbara Feldon (Get Smart) and Judd Hirsch (Taxi) as main character Jessie’s parents, while Lynn Redgrave and Morey Amsterdam have short appearances. The music is cheesy, the shorts are short, and the jeans are yeast-infection-tight (and that’s just Rex). Denise Miller (Fish, Makin’ It) plays Jessie to heartthrob “rocker” Smith’s (Solid Gold, Pirates of Penzance) Michael Skye. She’s Jewish, he’s not, and, oh yeah, did anyone mention she’s 13?

She meets seventeen-year old Michael when she takes guitar lessons from him, but he barely notices her in her ducky embellished overalls. When she gets a makeover and sees him with The Skye Band at the mall, its love at second sight. Or something. They begin dating and Michael writes her a song, singing it in front of everyone at band practice. What will she do about (whisper it) S-E-X? Her best friend is no help, as she’s never been kissed. The Skye Band’s rehearsal scenes with members “grooving,” and guitars crossed in a homoerotic way as they rock out to Bubblegum tunes is pure magic. The film’s song “You Take My Breath Away” became a hit, but the backlighting during “Simply Jesse” is simply dreamy. Ah, little girls discovering love and eye shadow in a much simpler generation.

Quadrophenia, 1979
This cult classic film was inspired by The Who’s album of the same name. Jimmy hates his job and parents and only seems happy when he’s scootering or dancing with his speed-fueled mod clique. His friends are a loud and (literally) riotous bunch who break into a pharmacy and treat sex casually. Ignoring the quiet, infatuated, less-attractive girl nicknamed Monkey (played by Toyah Wilcox), Jimmy pines for the more popular, but seemingly elusive, Steph. He worships The Who, watches Ready Steady Go, and is a dedicated follower of fashion. His highest high comes during the famous Brighton Beach clash of the mods and rockers when he finally scores with his dream girl Steph and spends time in a paddy wagon with the scene’s “ace face” (played by Sting). Only then does he feel he truly belongs. But much as the tide ebbs and flows, the highs ultimately lead to lows, and a disillusioned Jimmy questions not only the meaning of being part of a crowd, but the meaning of life itself.

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