The Death of Richie (TV 1977)

A sensitive but confused teenager feels pressure on him from all directions and turns to drugs, which causes problems for him in school and at home.

Director:

Paul Wendkos

Writers:

John McGreevey (teleplay), Thomas Thompson (book)

Stars:

Ben Gazzara, Eileen Brennan, Robby Benson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Gazzara	...	George Werner
Eileen Brennan	...	Carol Werner
Robby Benson	...	Richie Werner
Lance Kerwin	...	Russell Werner
Shirley O'Hara	...	Mrs. Norlon
Jennifer Rhodes	...	Elaine
John Zaremba	...	Mr. Norlon
Jesse Emmett	...	Eddie
Charles Fleischer	...	Brick
Clint Howard	...	Peanuts
Harry Gold	...	Mark
Cindy Eilbacher	...	Sheila
Susan Pratt	...	Janie
Sean Roche	...	Pat
John Friedrich	...	Kurt

Storyline

A sensitive but confused teenager feels pressure on him from all directions and turns to drugs, which causes problems for him in school and at home.

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Plot Keywords:

courtroom | mother son relationship | father son relationship | drug abuse | based on book

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Richie

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Henry Jaffe Enterprises Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

George Werner: [answering phone at home] Hello?
Principal: Mr. Werner?
George Werner: That's right.
Principal: [sternly] This is Jim Fischer, I'm the principal at the high school. Would you please come over and pick up your son?
George Werner: [concerned] What's the matter, is Richie sick or something?
Principal: So far this morning, he's threatened the study hall supervisor, was very abusive to me, and tried to attack the school nurse!
George Werner: [resignedly] I'll be right over.
[hangs up]

User Reviews

Cautionary tale about teen drug use

I haven't seen this movie since it was on TV and I was a teenager, so that has to be considered in reading my opinion. In brief, the movie follows the trajectory of a bright, handsome teenager, played by teen hearthrob of the time Robbie Benson and his hopeless descent into drug use. He tries to reform but the drug addiction is a powerful enemy indeed. This movie was made in the seventies, and as such, is probably dated, but I do think it had an effect on me, and was a part in building up an impression that heroin, in particular, was a road I didn't want to go down. If I remember correctly, this is mostly a movie about why you don't want to become a junkie, and the frustration of parents in watching their children turn into addicts. Not a happy film, but an excellent cautionary tale. Should be remade in today's context, including meth as a topic.