The doctor accuses him of using his condition as an excuse not to grow up, to which John replies “Oh, bull.” Real grown up of you, Tod. When his doctor tells him there may be a chance for a cure, Tod flips out, shouting about how he doesn’t care about the outside world. This level of comfort doesn’t stop Tod from having a hissy fit about his confinement. Nowadays, thanks to high density accommodation, people live their lives in less comfort and space than Tod, and pay fat coin for the privilege. It’s funny to realise that in the 1970s, this kind of living was supposed to be seen as a shocking degree of isolation and quarantine (the film goes so far as to heavy-handedly compare Tod’s living conditions to that of astronauts in Skylab). No more choking hazards and rubber gloves for John, he’s got a fridge, a TV, even a pet mouse. Now a teenager, the dude’s turned his bubble into a pretty swingin’ pad. The filmmakers compensate for this delay by having him appear in a kind of giant woolly golf hat, replete with pompom on the top. Here, he doesn’t show up until 20 mins in. The movie continues the Travoltography’s tradition of a long buildup before Travolta’s first appearance. It’s all played very straight, which made me question why I was laughing. “Hit him harder,” barks Dad as Mom slaps the toddler with a pair of rubber gloves. The tone of the movie is established pretty early on when Tod’s father shrieks at a crowd of reporters keen to get a look at the bubble boy, “My son’s not a FREAK!” This is almost immediately followed by a scene in which the young Tod begins choking on a toy, and his parents are forced to administer the Heimlich manoeuvre through the plastic bubble. Soles (from Carrie) and Kelly Ward and Darryl Zwerling (both in Grease). Other connections include appearances by actors P.J. In fact, this film was directed by Randal Kleiser, who would later direct John in Grease. The film opens in 1959, so it’s a fair assumption that as the Lubitchs learn they’re going to have a baby, Danny and Sandy are out there somewhere on the beach. What better way to showcase him than through a…plastic bubble? Nevertheless, John’s popularity was growing ever higher, particularly with young girls. His hit sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter was still in full force at the time, but as we’ve seen, he hadn’t made much of a splash in the world of theatrical releases. It’s a made-for-TV movie, which makes sense given that at the time, John seemed like he was destined to be a made-for-TV actor. The Boy in the Plastic Bubble was John’s first starring role. As such, he must spend the rest of his life in a completely sterile environment. Synopsis: Based on a true story, Tod Lubitch is born with a deficient immune system (which is unlike being born with AIDS).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |