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

Director:

Randal Kleiser

Writers:

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

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:

Teenager | Immune System | Mother Son Relationship | Show Off | Marijuana

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations

Cast

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
Timothy Himes	...	Obnoxious Reporter
Victor Brandt	...	TV Installer
Hilda Haynes	...	The Nurse
Jack McLaughlin-Gray	...	Principal (as Jack McLaughlin)
Erna Foxworth	...	Neighbor
Karri Kirsch	...	Gina at 3 Years Old
Kimberly Kirsch	...	Gina at 3 Years Old
Seth Wagerman	...	Tod at 3 Years Old
Anne Ramsey	...	Rachel

Directed by
Randal Kleiser

Writing credits
Douglas Day Stewart		(teleplay)
Joe Morgenstern		(story) (as Joseph Morgenstern) and
Douglas Day Stewart		(story)

Produced by
Cindy Dunne	....	producer
Leonard Goldberg	....	executive producer
Shelley Hull	....	associate producer
Aaron Spelling	....	executive producer
Joel Thurm	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Snow		(music by)

Cinematography by
Archie R. Dalzell		(director of photography) (as Arch Dalzell)

Film Editing by
John McSweeney Jr.		(as John F. McSweeney)

Art Direction by
Paul Sylos

Set Decoration by
Jeff Haley

Costume Design by
Joanne Haas
Michael J. Long

Makeup Department
Judith A. Cory	....	hair stylist (as Judy Alexander Cory)
Stanley Smith	....	makeup artist (as Stan Smith)

Production Management
William A. Calihan Jr.	....	production manager (as William Calihan)
Norman Henry	....	executive production manager
Dick Reilly	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Moder	....	assistant director

Art Department
Ted Cooper	....	property master
John Hollis	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Vic Carpenter	....	sound engineer
Bill Jackson	....	sound editor
Jerry Pirozzi	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
David Dalzell	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Curtis Foster	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Paul Jacobsen	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Edmond L. Koons	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Randall Robinson	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Joe Valdez	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
Rocky Moriana	....	music supervisor
Paul Williams	....	composer: songs
Paul Williams	....	songs: sung by

Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Jann Carver	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
• Spelling-Goldberg Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• 23rd Century (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Better Television Distribution (2006) (worldwide) (TV)
• FilmAnnex (2006) (worldwide) (all media)
• M.I.B. (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Prism Leisure Corporation (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Weton Wesgram (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Ford Motor Company  automobiles furnished by
• Research & Engineering Consultants Inc.  technical advice
• Sci-Med Inc.  technical advice

Also Known As:

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)

Trivia:

During filming, John Travolta and 40-year-old Diana Hyland began dating and eventually fell in love, despite the fact that Hyland was nearly 18 years older than Travolta. She was still in the process of getting divorced from Joseph Goodson when she passed away on March 27, 1977, four months after their TV movie's broadcast, and while Travolta was filming "Saturday Night Fever."

Goofs:

Plot holes: A boy slips an unsterilized ten-dollar bill into Tod's bubble.

Quotes:

Dr. Ernest Gunther:May we have the air conditioning ducts and heat vents closed, please. And no movement while the air settles down. Anybody down there planning on having an itch, please scratch it now. Not later, please.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Space Travellers (#5.1)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

What Would They Say

"What Would They Say?" (Paul Williams song from movie).

Indeed,what would they say? That is,the cast of this film if they could see how time has only served to treat this above par TV movie,like it's some sort of 1970's retro-joke?!

I'm sure if Robert Reed were alive today he'd be outraged! My main thought though,does Travolta know about this? ...and if he does,why hasn't he done something about it? If I were an actor I'd certainly find a way!

I bought this on VHS in 1997 after having not seen it for over 18 years. On the cover of mine is a fairly young Travolta wearing a white turtleneck. (Ick!) It was a mere $2 at Montgomery Wards and here's why...it was a cheap knock-off recorded off FOX Channel 32 in Chicago! The stations logo briefly appearing during the scene of Todd's fist day in High School.

Okay,enough of the tirade! My opinion of the movie itself? I think it's one of the finest "movies of the week" ever made at the time and in some cases,since. I saw this in it's initial airing on Nov. 12th,1976 and never forgot it. Travolta gives us a waterfall of emotions in this film:Joy,Sadness,Anger,Fear,etc. Films about medical conditions usually would have been preachy or maudlin. This treats Todd's condition like it should be,not "oh poor Todd,he's an outcast!"

Like Robert Reed says to the reporters,"My son's not a freak!" He turns in a very good performance as well. He doesn't completely do a 360 from Mike Brady but it was a good start. The other young actors do a fine job of being exactly what kids are like when faced with something they don't understand. They talk about Todd behind his back and Gina plays a cruel joke on him at a beach outing. I wont say more about them,I don't want to ruin it for those who haven't seen it.

It's no wonder that Travolta became as big as he did! "Welcome Back Kotter" was a mere stepping stone compared to this. This was his spring- board to "Saturday Night Fever" and beyond,in my view. To all those under 30 who haven't seen this....forget that it's made in the '70s and watch it for the story alone. I know you will not be disappointed.

In closing,one amusing thing I remember. Without giving away anything,when I saw the ending back in '76 at age 8,I thought he was "all better"! (Ha-ha,talk about innocence).