Surviving (TV 1985)

Rick is a 17 year old golden boy whose father wants him to became a doctor like himself. Lonnie is a problematic 16 year old girl, who has just come out from a sanatorium after an attempted... See full summary »

Director:

Waris Hussein

Writer:

Joyce Eliason

Stars:

Ellen Burstyn, Len Cariou, Zach Galligan

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ellen Burstyn	...	Tina Brogan
Len Cariou	...	David Brogan
Zach Galligan	...	Rick Brogan
Marsha Mason	...	Lois
Molly Ringwald	...	Lonnie
Paul Sorvino	...	Harvey
River Phoenix	...	Philip Brogan
Heather O'Rourke	...	Sarah Brogan
William Windom	...	Dr. Madsen
Marc Gilpin	...	Bobby
Paddi Edwards	...	Alma
Camila Ashland	...	Mother
Jane Simoneau	...	May
Joe Berryman	...	Sherriff
Lon Coggeshall	...	Jeb

Storyline

Rick is a 17 year old golden boy whose father wants him to became a doctor like himself. Lonnie is a problematic 16 year old girl, who has just come out from a sanatorium after an attempted suicide. The families of both teens are very close friends. Right away, Lonnie and Rick fall strongly in love for each other. Meanwhile Rick becomes aware that his father betrays his mother, so he begins to show his uneasiness at home and do odd things. Thinking Lonnie's the reason of his son's behaviour, Rick's father forbids him to see her anymore. After an unsuccessful getaway the two adolescents realize their love is impossible, therefore they decide to commit suicide. From then onwards both o their families are destroyed, and their friendship as well. It'll be hard to reconstruct the family and retrieve the friendship.

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Plot Keywords:

friendship | suicide | teen | impossible love | father son relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 February 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tragedy

Filming Locations:

Bone and Joint Hospital - 1111 N. Dewey, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Telepictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

143 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Of the four kids in the movie; Zach Galligan, Molly Ringwald, River Phoenix and Heather O'Rourke, it is the two oldest (Galligan and Ringwald) who die young. In real life however, it would be the youngest who would pass early with O'Rourke dying in 1988 at the age of 12 and Phoenix in 1993 at the age of 23.

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Goofs

The word sheriff is misspelled "sherriff" in the closing credits.

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Quotes

Philip Brogan: Oh my goodness, oh my soul! There goes Alice down the hole!

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Soundtracks

"The Heart of Rock 'n' Roll"
by Huey Lewis & The News

User Reviews

a great but depressing film

Everyone in this film gives awesome performances. Ellen Burstyn, Len Cariou, Paul Sorvino and Marsha Mason are all great as the parents who have to face the ultimate tragedy. People have often said Molly Ringwald is a terrible actress, but she gives a fine performance here and it really touched my heart. It made me so angry that these two stupid kids could have been so selfish. Every week in the United States over one thousand kids take their own lives. This is a long film but you are riveted every minute. There is one tragic footnote I wanted to add, the two young actors that played the siblings of the boy in the film who killed himself both met tragic ends in real life. Heather O'Rourke died in 1988 when she was only twelve of stomach cancer and River Phoenix died in 1993 of a drug overdose.