1970—1980: Ten Golden Years of Teen Films

Foxes, 1980
With a cast that includes Jodie Foster, Cheri Currie (of Runaways fame), and Scott Baio, this movie earns its place as a cult classic. The main characters are four teen girls who cling together and create their own family due mainly to absent, clueless, or abusive parents. Jeanie (Foster) acts as the surrogate mother to the others who are dealing with issues of drugs, sexuality, and violence. But Annie (Currie) can’t seem to stay out of trouble. This movie has spandex, feathered hair, skateboards (the skinny kind) and superfluous use of Donna Summers’ hit “On the Radio.”

Little Darlings, 1980
Tatum O’Neal plays rich girlie girl Ferris to Christy McNichol’s poor tank-topped tomboy Angel. They meet at summer camp where peer pressure has the two girls engaging in a “who can lose it first” virginity contest. O’Neal picks an older camp counselor (Armand Assante) whom she imagines will be a romantic lover, while McNichol picks a hot, young Matt Dillon in his “tighty whities.” (Their attraction was apparent to all when they shared the same chewed piece of gum). A wacky romp in a stolen bus ensues. The camp divides into Team Ferris and Team Angel, and the rest of the kids egg them on with their allowance money riding on the outcome. The film actually has a pretty good message when all’s told. It’s interesting to note that when this initially aired on television all references to sex were removed, and boy, the kids at school the next day were unhappy.

Times Square, 1980
Nicky and Pam are two teenage girls from different worlds. Nicky is poor and seems weathered and wild, while Pam is wealthy with a politician father. These opposite worlds collide when the two meet as patients in a city mental ward. They become friends quickly and decide to escape together. Dubbing themselves “The Sleez Girls,” they live on the streets gaining a cult following via a local D.J. (Tim Curry) who plays their angsty rants and music. They learn a little about the rough streets of New York City, rock and roll, and rebellion. If nothing else it’s proof that Times Square didn’t always belong to MTV and The Disney Store.

Honorable Mentions:

Go Ask Alice, 1973: Anti-drug movie adapted from the book of the same title. It features William Shatner, Andy Griffith, and a young Mackenzie Phillips (who apparently needs to ask Alice again).

Stoned (2) and The Boy Who Drank Too Much, both 1980: Starring Scott Baio in a few of his most embarrassing performances—unless you count his reality show.

Sarah T. — Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic, 1975: Linda Blair stars as Sara and Larry Hagman and a weeping Mark Hamill also appear.

Dinky Hocker, 1979: This After School Special stars Wendie Jo Sperber and was based upon the book Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack.

Forever, 1978: Stephanie Zimbalist stars in a made-for-TV film based on the Judy Blume novel.

NOTES:
1. Diana Hyland was cast as the Mother for the first season of Eight Is Enough, but only appeared in a few episodes due to illness. She played Travolta’s mom in The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, but soon became his real life love interest. Sadly, she died from breast cancer approximately a year after this film aired. Eight is Enough changed its plot explaining that Tom Bradford was a widower.

2. This movie was made in 1980, but not aired until 1982.

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