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, Jeffrey Rhoe

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nell Schofield	...	Debbie Vickers
Jad Capelja	...	Sue Knight
Jeffrey Rhoe	...	Garry (as Geoff Rhoe)
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:

watching tv | sex | surfing | teacher | card game | 

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Taglines:

Getting them can be fun!

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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 con la virginidad

Filming Locations:

Sutherland, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,381, 17 July 1983

Gross USA:

$237,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$237,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Limelight Productions (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The tagline for the film's source novel by Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey in at least one edition reads "A Surfie Saga".

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Goofs

Debbie's hair changes length throughout the film.

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Quotes

Debbie Vickers: It stinks.
Sue Knight: What?
Debbie Vickers: Everything.

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Connections

References The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

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Soundtracks

Puberty Blues
Performed by Jenny Morris
Written by Tim Finn

User Reviews

A very eighties look at teenage life by the beach

Puberty Blues is a movie about being a teenager.. unlike it's American, high budget counterparts such as Pretty in Pink or Fast Times at Ridgemont High, it is a very honest look at life as a teenager. It centres around two girls who are trying to fit in with the "surfie chick" crowd and to do so must participate in the usual teenage antics (sex, drinking, cheating on History tests etc.). What the film lacks in plot, budget and acting it makes up for with sheer honesty - there's no ultra happy "feel-good" ending like in the formentioned counterparts, but instead you are left with the impression that life really was like that for them. All in all, one to be seen, but forgotten.