thejcowboy22 Review of The Loneliest Runner

The Loneliest Runner (1976 TV Movie)

Your child has a condition called Nocturnal Enuresis.

[5/10 · 2 February 2021]

As I attempt to write about this poignant story, so many memories of my personal past come into play. First of all my younger Sister was a bed wetter into her early teens. I also witnessed the frustration and humiliation while attending sleep-away camp in the Catskill Mountains. Sharing a cabin with bed wetting bunk mates who were harassed to no end by their peers. This condition of bed wetting is referred to as Nocturnal Enuresis. A deep sleep pattern by the child who without him or her knowing the release of bodily fluids while at rest. My Dear Mother without complaining would take the soiled sheets and bedding off my sister's bed. Put her in the shower and then wash her linens and make her bed. My Mom instilled the family secret to my siblings and yours truly never to tell anyone about my sisters misfortune. We were all very respectful of each other's disorders and never used it against her in family quarrels. The loneliest Runner (Made for TV movie), which was written and directed by Bonanza star Michael Landon shows our creator in the beginning being interview by another Olympic champion and Basketball star Rafer Johnson. Basically Mr. Johnson asked a humble John Curtis (Michael Landon) how he became a marathon runner? Our story flashes back to his youth. Everything appears normal until you see soiled bed sheets hanging out of the top story window of John's home. The Mother (DeAnn Mears) had no tolerance for the boy's lack of control and assumed he was just lazy. Her acting perfectly played as the cold and self assuring parent who will handle the problem without professional advice. Telling the boy no fluids before bed playing Doctor. Brian Keith who plays the father counteracts as the warm understanding parent who tells his wife, "He'll grow out of it." The school bell rings 3:00 and Young John tired of being embarrassed, races home as soon as possible runs upstairs and pulls out the bed sheets before his girlfriend next door Nancy (Melissa Sue Anderson can spot them. Young John has a plan to stop the sheets from being displayed by his twisted minded Mother. But plans have a way of falling apart. So many Memories hit me personally from watching this film. Some parents seem to know what's best for the child and take steps which intern re-enforce negative reactions i.e. easting disorders, drug use, depression low self esteem and even running way. I personally was moved watching the frustration of a talented impressionable boy Lance Kerwin who wants to do the right thing by not wetting nightly but has no clue to stop. The Mother on the other hand takes matters into her own hands hoping the boy will succumb to his problem. No communications. A favorite line of post war parents in America about addressing a child's problem is, "There lazy! A little discipline will do them some good!" in some humiliating form. Michael Landon's script was basically his personal experiences with his unhinged and unstable Mother. Anyone who had problems communicating with their parents, (which is probably a huge percentage), will relate to this quick moving story . In some ways this is a prelude to Landon's future creations for Television, Little House on The Prairie and Highway To Heaven. As a youth I had learning issues and problems focusing on conversation and listening deficiencies. My parents felt without asking professionals, I was undisciplined. There are no quick fixes in life whether it's a one hour movie or half hour television program but real communication between child and parent is essential. I'm glad this particular problem was displayed.