The Boy in the Plastic Bubble 1976
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
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.
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.
Videos & Photos
All 1 Videos & 8 Photoscast
Full Cast & Crew... Tod Lubitch
... Gina Biggs
... Johnny Lubitch
... Mickey Lubitch
... Martha Biggs
HP
Howard Platt... Neighbor
User reviews
See All 1 Reviews23 Jun 2021 by Wuchak
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
Release Date:
Nov 12, 1976 (United States)
Run Time:
1hr 36`
MMPA Rating:
PG
Original Language:
English
Production Countries:
United States
Status:
Released
Plot Keywords:
Related Movies To
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
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
Cast & Crew of
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
Directors & Credit Writers
... Director
MM
Mike Moder... Assistant Director
Cast
... Tod Lubitch
... Gina Biggs
... Johnny Lubitch
... Mickey Lubitch
... Martha Biggs
HP
Howard Platt... Neighbor
... Himself
... Dr. Gunther
... Roy Slater
... Tom Shuster
SL
Skip Lowell... Bruce Shuster
... Smith
... Gwen
... Mr. Brister
... Deborah
... Obnoxious Reporter
... TV Installer
HH
Hilda Haynes... The Nurse
... Principal
... Neighbor