Like Normal People (1979) (TV)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Harvey Hart

Writers:

Joanna Lee (writer)
Robert Meyers (book)

Release Date:

13 April 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A mentally-challenged man and woman meet, fall in love and are determined to get married, despite the initial objections of their families and friends. Based on a true story. |

Plot Keywords:

Retardation | Marriage | Based On Book

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Shaun Cassidy	...	Roger Meyers
Linda Purl	...	Virginia Rae Hensler
Zalman King	...	Bill Stein
James Keach	...	Robert Meyers Jr.
Michael McGuire	...	Robert Meyers
Hope Lange	...	Roz Meyers
Maureen Arthur	...	Aunt Kate
Jack Murdock	...	Lloyd Davis
Jim Gatherum	...	Roger - age 11 (as Jimmy Gatherum)
Doreen Lang	...	Grandma Teresa
McKee Anderson	...	Dorothy
Miriam Byrd-Nethery	...	Billie
Carmen Zapata	...	License Clerk
Fritzi Burr	...	Mrs. Patterson
Rhea Perlman	...	Jan

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Quotes:

Roger Meyers: Ginny!
Virginia Rae Hensler: No babies Roger, they say we will eat them.

A highly recommended, challenging, touching portrayal of two slightly retarded young people who fall in love and want to marry.

Cassidy and Purl give credible, moving performances as a slightly retarded young couple who fall in love and want to get married--to be "like normal people". Unfortunately, their parents and their friends don't believe they have the ability to do so. Thus the story moves along their struggles to overcome a system which seeks to suppress those "outside the norm"; in a more profound sense, it is a realistic, gritty look at what obstacles true love can overcome. An extremely difficult, challenging role for each to play effectively; but how magnificently they rose to that challenge. It is certainly worth the time to view this film--like rare flowers, the fragrance remains long after the blossoms are gone.