Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic (1975) (TV)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Richard Donner

Writers:

Esther Shapiro (writer)
Richard Shapiro (writer)

Release Date:

11 February 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Yes, Sarah drinks. Drinks as though she has to, no matter what happens. Big trouble for anybody. And little Sarah is only 15.

Plot:

This movie is a teaching tool about a teenage girl struggling with alcoholism to cope with her feelings of insecurity and usual problems of adolescence.

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Alcoholism | Teenage Girl | Alcoholic | Stepfather

Cast

Linda Blair	...	Sarah Travis
Larry Hagman	...	Jerry Travis
Verna Bloom	...	Jean Hodges
William Daniels	...	Matt Hodges
Michael Lerner	...	Dr. Marvin Kittredge
Mark Hamill	...	Ken Newkirk
Eric Olson	...	Bobby
Laurette Spang	...	Nancy
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Mr. Peterson
Steve Benedict	...	Ray Peterson
Richard Roat	...	Fred Tyler
Marian Collier	...	Mrs. Peterson
Hilda Haynes	...	Margaret
Jessica Rains	...	Mrs. Tyler
Sheila Larken	...	Vice Principal

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Not Rated

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

Director Richard Donner, who later hit pay-dirt with Superman (1978) in 1979, went on the talk show circuit to plug his blockbuster and was asked questions about his early directorial work. However, he couldn't remember the name of this movie. He ended up calling it "Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway", which was directed by Randal Kleiser.

If you are an alcoholic, you will find this movie mesmerizing!

I saw this movie "by accident" as it appeared on TV as "Movie of the Week" back in 1980. I had no intention of watching this particular movie, it was just "on" as I was walking through the room. I was an active alcoholic at the time, and although I was full of denial about my drinking I just couldn't tear myself away. Things went from bad to worse when a friend watching it with me said, "Check it out. She (Sarah T) drinks just like you do", which was of course true but also horrifying as Sarah was clearly an alcoholic.

This movie haunted me for several years, and planted a seed that led me to AA about 4 years later. If you are an alcoholic, or wondering if you might be, see this movie!