TV MovieDrama

The Boy in the Plastic Bubble

- A lifetime of loneliness...Or one day of love

Tod Lubitch is born with a deficient immune system. As such, he must spend the rest of his life in a completely sterile environment. His room is completely hermetically sealed against bacteria and virus, his food is specially prepared, and his only human contact comes in the form of gloved hands. The movie follows his life into a teenager.

Release Date : 1976-11-12

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Spelling-Goldberg Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Tod Lubitch

Original Name : John Travolta

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gina Biggs

Original Name : Glynnis O'Connor

Gender : Female

Character Name : Johnny Lubitch

Original Name : Robert Reed

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mickey Lubitch

Original Name : Diana Hyland

Gender : Female

Character Name : Martha Biggs

Original Name : Karen Morrow

Gender : Female

Character Name : Neighbor

Original Name : Howard Platt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Buzz Aldrin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Gunther

Original Name : Ralph Bellamy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roy Slater

Original Name : John Friedrich

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tom Shuster

Original Name : Kelly Ward

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bruce Shuster

Original Name : Skip Lowell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Smith

Original Name : John Megna

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gwen

Original Name : Vernee Watson-Johnson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr. Brister

Original Name : Darrell Zwerling

Gender : Male

Character Name : Deborah

Original Name : P. J. Soles

Gender : Female

Character Name : Obnoxious Reporter

Original Name : Timothy Himes

Gender : Male

Character Name : TV Installer

Original Name : Victor Brandt

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Nurse

Original Name : Hilda Haynes

Gender : Female

Character Name : Principal

Original Name : Jack McLaughlin-Gray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Neighbor

Original Name : Erna Foxworth

Gender : Female

Character Name : Gina at 3 Years Old

Original Name : Karri Kirsch

Gender : Female

Character Name : Gina at 3 Years Old

Original Name : Kimberly Kirsch

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tod at 3 Years Old

Original Name : Seth Wagerman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rachel

Original Name : Anne Ramsey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Graduation Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Len Felber

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

Travolta coming of age… in a germ-free zone; plus charming Glynnis O’Connor RELEASED TO TV IN 1976 and directed by Randal Kleiser, "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble" is a youth drama inspired by the true-life stories of David Vetter and Ted DeVita, both of whom lacked effective immune systems. John Travolta plays Tod Lubitch, a teen born with immune deficiencies in Southern Cal while Glynnis O'Connor is the girl next door with whom he slowly develops a relationship and inspires him to crave freedom from his germ-free ‘prison.’ Robert Reed & Diana Hyland are on hand as his parents. The opening act is relatively dull, but it’s necessary because it establishes Tod’s situation. Thankfully, the story perks up with the star power of Travolta and O’Connor. The former was 21 during shooting and is quite good as the protagonist while O’Connor is winsome as ever. She was almost 20 during filming and has a bikini sequence for those interested. At its heart, this is a coming-of-age movie but with a unique twist (the bubble boy). There are several well-done high school sequences, like the football field scene where the kids sneak away to smoke pot. Unrealistic? Not at all. The best part is the ending where we share in Tod’s joy and sense of wonder at the most simplest things that normal people take for granted. I can relate because when I was his age I fell off a cliff and ended up in traction and a body cast for four months. While in the cast, I was laid-up at home on a lake, just like in the movie. When the cast was removed I walked with crutches to the woods & lake with sheer delight. The real-life bubble boys David Vetter and Ted DeVita were still alive when the movie was released. The former died in 1984 at the age of 12 & a half while the latter died in 1980 at the age of 18. THE FILM RUNS 1 hour, 36 minutes and was shot in Malibu Lake and Century City, California. WRITERS: Douglas Day Stewart and Joe Morgenstern. GRADE: B