The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976) (TV)

Director:

Randal Kleiser

Writers:

Douglas Day Stewart (teleplay)
Joe Morgenstern (story) ...

Release Date:

12 November 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Based on a true story, Tod Lubitch is born with a deficient immune system (which is unlike being born with AIDS)...

Plot Keywords:

Caesarean Section | Horseback Riding | Doctor | High School | Hospital

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

John Travolta	...	Tod Lubitch
Glynnis O'Connor	...	Gina Biggs
Robert Reed	...	Johnny Lubitch
Diana Hyland	...	Mickey Lubitch
Karen Morrow	...	Martha Biggs
Howard Platt	...	Neighbor
Buzz Aldrin	...	Buzz Aldrin
Ralph Bellamy	...	Dr. Gunther
John Friedrich	...	Roy Slater
Kelly Ward	...	Tom Shuster
Skip Lowell	...	Bruce Shuster
John Megna	...	Smith
Vernee Watson-Johnson	...	Gwen (as Vernee Watson)
Darrell Zwerling	...	Mr. Brister (as Darryl Zwerling)
P.J. Soles	...	Deborah

Runtime:

USA:96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG | Germany:12 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the very last scene of the film, a person wearing a white sheet is seen walking/floating into the background.

Quotes:

Johnny Lubitch: My son is not a freak!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: John Goodman/Everclear (#21.15)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

What Would They Say

Jump over the bubble with joy at the fun of this dreaful movie!

What a wonderfully God-awful movie. Bears all the hallmarks of a mid 70's tv movie including woeful acting and a dreadful storyline. I'm not sure I've even laughed as much with this movie than I have at comedies.

John Travolta plays a boy born without an immune system back in the days before AIDS - before people said "well, these actors... you have to wonder." Based on a true story? Maybe, but if this were based on *my* true story, I wouldn't spend so long trying to get *out* of the bubble... I'd be trying to find more ways to hide.

The biggest surprise of the movie? The fact that the tv show "Mystery Science Theatre" didn't get their hands on it.

A previous contributor got it right, the DVD release is awful (fitting really, given the quality of the movie itself), bad transfer from a bad video copy. I swear, it looks like someone recorded it off a broken Betamax VCR. They even go so far as to proudly add to the flimsy packaging "This movie DOES NOT feature: scene access, dual dialogue" Still... what do you want for $5?

A great way to spend a Saturday evening with beer and pizza, making fun of the movie. And you can make fun of it over and over again, it never gets tired. Well worth spending $5 on for a lifetime of fun....