Puberty Blues (1981)

The mating rituals of two teenage surf chicks from the southern suburbs of Sydney.

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writers:

Gabrielle Carey (novel), Margaret Kelly,

Stars:

Nell Schofield, Jad Capelja, Geoff Rhoe

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nell Schofield	...	Debbie Vickers
Jad Capelja	...	Sue Knight
Geoff Rhoe	...	Garry
Tony Hughes	...	Danny
Sandy Paul	...	Tracy
Leander Brett	...	Cheryl
Jay Hackett	...	Bruce
Ned Lander	...	Strach
Joanne Olsen	...	Vicki
Julie Medana	...	Kim
Michael Shearman	...	Glenn
Dean Dunstone	...	Seagull
Tina Robinson Hansen	...	Freda (as Tina Robinson)
Nerida Clark	...	Carol
Kirrily Nolan	...	Mrs. Vickers

Storyline

Meet Sue, a teenage Australian girl in the late 70s, whose life mainly consists of doing what everyone else does - watch the surfing boys and have sex with the same surfing boys. The girls have to follow lots of strange customs, e.g. do not eat or go to the bathroom when a boy is around. Ugly girls have two choices - being bitches and hate boys, or being generally cheap and looked down upon by everyone. The afternoons are spent on the beaches, in the backseats of car or at home-alone-parties where sex and alcohol are the main ingredients. Parents and teachers are trying to straighten the kids out, but that is not easy.

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Plot Keywords:

sex | surfing | teacher | female nudity | teen angst | 

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Taglines:

The coolest things to do are the things they say we can't do.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 December 1981 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Al diablo la pubertad

Filming Locations:

Sutherland, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Limelight Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Eric Hahn cameos as the kneeboarder who gets dropped-in on by a footsie grom.

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Goofs

Debbie's hair changes length throughout the film.

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Quotes

Debbie Vickers: Oh, god. Do I look alright?
Tracy: Rootable.

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Connections

Features Don's Party (1976)

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Soundtracks

"Lipstick and Leather"
Performed by The Breakers
Written by Kim Fowley and Jim Manzie (as James Manzie)

User Reviews

Absolute goldmine of Aussie Trash one-liners

Yeah, I agree with the previous comment that this film was probably meant as a serious way to reach teenagers at the turn of the 80s, but now is surely filed in the 'cult' section of most video stores and hired out by trash-lovers as a nifty snapshot of suburban middle-class Sydney and surfie-culture in the late 70s. Classic lines include: 'don't hurt him, i'll screw ya, i'll screw the lot of ya's!!', 'aw, she's just a moll', and 'comin' out the back for a root?' Embarrassing-skeletons-in-the-closet awards must go to Tim Finn (Split Enz etc.) for writing the title song, and Les Gock (currently of Popstars fame - you know, he's the one that manages new pop sensation Scandal-us) who was also responsible for some of the music. Fans of Aussie trash such as Prisoner CBH will love this - everyone else, steer clear, you'll just think it's boring and crap.