The Boy in the Plastic Bubble

source: The Boy in the Plastic Bubble

The Boy in the Plastic Bubble

John Travolta before his Saturday Night Fever and Grease fame, really got to show his acting shops. As a teenager born with a rare immune system. And that he can't even go outside the world. And has to live it in a plastic bubble. As he grows up, he wants to go outside the world. And wants to see it beyond his bubble. But that is hard to do. Due to his rare disease he has. And the overprotection of his parents, played by the late Diana Hyland and the late Robert Reed. He falls in love with pretty Glynnis O Connor who is cruel to him at first due to his condition. But then, after what happened at the beach changes her attitude on him. He must decide either to follow his heart and love meaning impending death. Or stay in a bubble for his health and protection. Travolta was in love with Hyland eighteen years his senior and would later die of breast cancer. He dedicated his Emmy Award to her. Touching and great TV movie!

I caught this movie on HBO late one night recently, after hearing about it for years as "that John Travolta movie about the boy in the bubble." It was bad. No, it was awful. As someone suggested earlier, it's a wonder that MST3K never got a hold of it. But a funny thing happened on the way - the movie went around the circle of quality until it got to bad. It then kept going, getting worse and worse, until it made its way full circle back to great. I'll admit - Citizen Kane this ain't, but it's great for a really, really, bad movie. Just for laughs, imagine Travolta in his Vinnie Barbarino voice saying "Heyyy... I'm in a bubble heah..." It's too bad he couldn't have stayed in that bubble, sparing us the agony of Battleship Earth and the Look Who's Talking series.

I can still remember this movie when it was shown on TV back in 1976. I thought it was a good story. It still is, but I was extremely disappointed in the DVD release of it. It's a really bad transfer & the packaging that it came in is really pitiful. I can't understand why they (Essex Entertainment) would want to cheapen the best format in the world? There was also a huge error on it as well. On the disc they have: "The Boy In The Bubble". It's a shame that this great movie had to be wrecked by a very poor DVD release.

I remember seeing this movie when it first aired and was happy to watch it again, this time with a new perspective. Now I am a mother and grandmother. However the greatest shift in perspective comes from being married to a man who has been in prison for 20 years. At odd moments I am given the opportunity to have a glimpse of what it might be like for him to come home one day. This was such a movie. Another was "The Terminal" with Tom Hanks. I couldn't contain my sobs when he was finally able to step through the doors to freedom. Freedom, perhaps the most taken for granted and wonderful blessing allowed to anyone. As in the story of Todd in "The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" something or someone not understood is easy to discount or hate. When there is an opportunity to understand and feel compassion it doesn't diminish us, it brings growth and maturity.

This film will always be one of many in the long line of disease of the week movies that were, and still are, so prevalent. The only thing that differentiates this film from the others is the fact that it introduced John Travolta to the woman whom many have said was his greatest love, Diana Hyland. Its almost weird to think that Travolta would fall in love with the woman who played his mother. The other crazy thing is looking at him all of a sudden playing a sensitive, almost sympathetic character as opposed to the cool, but dumb, Vinnie Barbarino.

I thought this movie was very good. You must consider that it was made in 1976 and also made for TV. Therefore it is not going to look like the movies we are used to seeing. I feel that it told the story very well. The movie IS based on a true story. It is not a made-up story of Hollywood, like a lot of people think. The only thing I did not like about the movie was the fact that they didn't take the story to the end. The movie leaves you hanging with questions. I feel that it did a good job conveying the emotions that Todd had. The camera positions in some shots really helped the viewer understand Todd's life and struggle. I would recommend this movie to all especially those who like movies based on true stories.

As he was born due to having some kind of immune system and has to live in a plastic bubble and he has to live from germs and diseases and wear a spacesuit as well while eating specific foods. The late Robert Reed and the late Diane Hyland who would die of cancer four months later after the film originally aired while she briefly dated John Travolta there. She posthumously won an Emmy. But he just wants to have a life. And when pretty Glynnis Connor at first is a jerk for trying to fool him there but later feels regret and they really go from being friends to something more. Based on a true story.

Here is a film for the pandemic! This is the story of a boy born with no immunity from disease, meaning he has to spend his life living in a germ-free bubble. This is one of the first starring roles from John Travolta and its one which relies on the goofy, dumb charm he brought to his early appearances. It's a TV movie from Aaron Spelling and it is melodramatic with a requisite romantic sub-plot involving the girl next door but all that basically works and we are rooting for germ-free John the whole way and we hope he gets the girl! Scenes of him wearing a space suit to school or chilling on the beach in a plastic box, are a bit dorky but that's part of the over all charm. Pretty good!