The Wave (TV 1981)

An experiment in an American High School where students learn how easy it is to be seduced by the same social forces which led to the horrors of Nazi Germany. Based on a true story.

Director:

Alexander Grasshoff

Writers:

Johnny Dawkins (teleplay), Ron Jones (short story)

Stars:

Bruce Davison, Lori Lethin, John Putch

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Bruce Davison	...	Ben Ross
Lori Lethin	...	Lauree
John Putch	...	David
Johnny Doran	...	Robert
Pasha Gray	...	Amy
Wesley Pfenning	...	Christy Ross (as Wesley Ann Pfenning)
Marc Copage	...	Eric
Robert DeLapp
Matthew Dunn
Frank Lloyd
Danny Marmolejo
Michael Pasternak	...	Peter
Teri Ralston	...	Mrs. Saunders
Jamie Rose	...	Andrea
Larry Keith	...	Mr. Saunders

Storyline

To explain to his students the atmosphere in the 1930's Nazi-Germany, history teacher Burt Ross initiates a daring experiment. He declares himself leader of a new movement, called 'The Wave'. Inspired, he proclaims ideas about Power, Discipline and Superiority. His students are strikingly willing to follow him. Soon the entire school is under the spell of 'The Wave'. Anyone who refuses to be a part of the Movement, faces threats or worse. Ross himself gets carried away by his own experiment. Or has it turned into something more than an experiment? A climax is unavoidable, resulting in a hard lesson for both Ross and his students...

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Plot Keywords:

student | experiment | teacher | game | school | 

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Genres:

Drama | Short | Family

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

A hullám

Company Credits

Production Co:

TAT Communications Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

44 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally produced as an ABC Afterschool Special, the network chose to instead debut this film in prime time as part of its 'ABC Theater for Young Americans' series.

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Quotes

Laurie: David and I have to study.
Student: You know, if you two don't stop acting like hermits, you're gonna end up like Robert over there
[who is mouthing words while reading a comic book]
Student: .

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Connections

Remade as The Wave (2008)

User Reviews

THE BEST AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL EVER!!!

I have so many fond memories of those great Afterschool Specials that ABC used to make. I think they did such a great service to kids becuase they dealt realistically with social issues in a tasteful manner. The Wave is the best special they ever made because it is one of those few tv shows that really required you to think about the message. I think that it is such a shame that people remember Bruce Davidson as the star of Willard because he is outstanding, not to mention chilling, here as a social studies teacher who, to put it mildly, gets carried away when he encourages his students to act like Nazis. It is even more chilling when you think about the Germans during WWII who so blindly ignored what Hitler was doing. We need to remember the Holocaust for this reason and this brilliantly written and superbly acted film should be seen by every decent person who prays that the terrors of Nazi Germany may never happen again!