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Survival of Dana

  • TV Movie
  • 1979
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
64
YOUR RATING
Melissa Sue Anderson in Survival of Dana (1979)
CrimeDrama

High-school transfer student Dana moves from North Dakota to Los Angeles' suburban Valley district after her parents get divorced.High-school transfer student Dana moves from North Dakota to Los Angeles' suburban Valley district after her parents get divorced.High-school transfer student Dana moves from North Dakota to Los Angeles' suburban Valley district after her parents get divorced.

  • Director
    • Jack Starrett
  • Writers
    • Frank Norwood
    • Tom Lazarus
  • Stars
    • Melissa Sue Anderson
    • Robert Carradine
    • Marion Ross
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    64
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jack Starrett
    • Writers
      • Frank Norwood
      • Tom Lazarus
    • Stars
      • Melissa Sue Anderson
      • Robert Carradine
      • Marion Ross
    • 1User review
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Melissa Sue Anderson in Survival of Dana (1979)
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    Top cast

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    Melissa Sue Anderson
    Melissa Sue Anderson
    • Dana Lee
    Robert Carradine
    Robert Carradine
    • Donny Davis
    Marion Ross
    Marion Ross
    • Madeline
    Talia Balsam
    Talia Balsam
    • Rona
    Michael Pataki
    Michael Pataki
    • Arnold
    Kevin Breslin
    Kevin Breslin
    • Skates
    Judge Reinhold
    Judge Reinhold
    • Bear
    Dan Spector
    Dan Spector
    • Anthony
    Barbara Babcock
    Barbara Babcock
    • Lorna Sims
    Shelby Leverington
    • Mrs. Blake
    Dawn Jeffory
    Dawn Jeffory
    • Joanie
    Trent Dolan
    • Coach Tanner
    Scott McGinnis
    Scott McGinnis
    • Paul
    Gary Carlos Cervantes
    Gary Carlos Cervantes
    • Big
    • (as Gary Cervantes)
    Paul Hampton
    Paul Hampton
    • Bill Snyder
    Ellen Blake
    • Mrs. Honfi
    Howard Vann
    • Mr. Honfi
    Joshua Gallegos
    • Little Big
    • Director
      • Jack Starrett
    • Writers
      • Frank Norwood
      • Tom Lazarus
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Judge Reinhold's first role ever.

    User reviews1

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    4/10
    Potentially good teenage drama is a shamingly wasted effort.
    I get the feeling now and then of having to stay up wide awake late at night, watching these forgotten little movies. SURVIVAL OF DANA is noted for Judge "VICE VERSA" Reinhold's first movie appearance. That doesn't mean anything, because what this little lost made-for-TV movie tells is the story of a girl named Dana, who wants to make the figure skating team. Things suddenly go downhill for Dana, and the movie to go along with it. Without keeping up with the point of the story, it becomes ordinary juvenile delinquent fodder. I'm sitting through some events deemed too unnecessary, just to find an ending that would solve all of its problems. It may call for some reliable entertainment during the sleepless hours, but all it needed was some sticking to the point on Dana. A reasonable acting job is a crying shame for a potentially good effort thrown into the wastebasket. I can't blame a single soul who is looking for late-night matinees on a tight budget, but this'll do. Any movie with a well-known actor's debut is right on the money during a clearance sale. After that, you wished you hadn't felt so disappointed.
    helpful•5
    7
    • emm
    • Apr 3, 1999

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • May 29, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • On the Edge: The Survival of Dana
    • Filming locations
      • Sepulveda Dam, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA(night time drag race scene)
    • Production company
      • EMI Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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