Basically a glossy but empty-headed TV-movie that never should have been made. Since Danny wrote this mess, I wasn't surprised at how self-serving it was. Yet I have to wonder just how much of the Partridge Family he truly remembers...after all, he was only 11 when it started. Did he keep some kind of detailed diary, complete with acid observations about his co-stars? His seeming total recall 30 years later is truly astonishing, especially considering the chronic emotional problems he's had ever since, including heavy drug and alcohol abuse. A far more interesting movie would have been "The Danny Bonaduce Story" written by an uninvolved party, which covers his life from the Partridge Family up to the present. Talk about an expose!
Unlike many posters, I not only watched the Partridge Family TV show both originally and in reruns, but have followed books, articles and interviews on it ever since. It's not surprising that the producers of the original show, men like Bob Claver, Bernie Schwartz, Paul Witt, and Mel Swope, all "steared clear" of this movie, since much of what they've said in interviews over the years seem at odds with Danny's version of events. I think what annoyed me most was the total trashing of poor little Jeremy Gelbwaks, the first actor to portray Chris Partridge. By everyone's admission, Danny and Jeremy simply didn't get along, yet Danny practically portrays him as the anti-Christ! And from what I've heard from the original producers, Danny outright lied in this screenplay about the reasons Jeremy left after one season. The poor kid got a bum-rap back in 1971 with wild and speculative rumors about his leaving; Danny sees fit to re-hash it all for the sake of a fast buck.
P.S. Just to set the record straight, Jeremy WASN'T disliked by the cast and crew (except Danny and David Cassidy), but his MOTHER sure was! She was so annoying and caused so many complaints that Executive Producer Bob Claver was considering not renewing Jeremy's contract, rather than having to deal with her for another season. Fortuitously, right after the end of the 1st season Jeremy's dad got a lucrative offer through his employer to transfer to Virginia, and took it, thus saving them from any embarrassing "showdown" with the producers over Jeremy's future on the show.
Unlike many posters, I not only watched the Partridge Family TV show both originally and in reruns, but have followed books, articles and interviews on it ever since. It's not surprising that the producers of the original show, men like Bob Claver, Bernie Schwartz, Paul Witt, and Mel Swope, all "steared clear" of this movie, since much of what they've said in interviews over the years seem at odds with Danny's version of events. I think what annoyed me most was the total trashing of poor little Jeremy Gelbwaks, the first actor to portray Chris Partridge. By everyone's admission, Danny and Jeremy simply didn't get along, yet Danny practically portrays him as the anti-Christ! And from what I've heard from the original producers, Danny outright lied in this screenplay about the reasons Jeremy left after one season. The poor kid got a bum-rap back in 1971 with wild and speculative rumors about his leaving; Danny sees fit to re-hash it all for the sake of a fast buck.
P.S. Just to set the record straight, Jeremy WASN'T disliked by the cast and crew (except Danny and David Cassidy), but his MOTHER sure was! She was so annoying and caused so many complaints that Executive Producer Bob Claver was considering not renewing Jeremy's contract, rather than having to deal with her for another season. Fortuitously, right after the end of the 1st season Jeremy's dad got a lucrative offer through his employer to transfer to Virginia, and took it, thus saving them from any embarrassing "showdown" with the producers over Jeremy's future on the show.