The Boy in the Plastic Bubble *** (1976, John Travolta, Glynnis O’Connor, Diana Hyland) – Classic Movie Review 1730

The young John Travolta (aged 22, playing a teenager) lights up director Randal Kleiser’s excellently handled, very affecting 1976 heart-tugging true story drama as Tod Lubitch, the teenage boy forced to live in the Plastic Bubble through suffering a rare immunity-affecting disorder. He was born with a deficient immune system and must live in a sterile environment with his room hermetically sealed against bacteria and viruses, his food specially prepared, and only being touched by gloved hands.

Then he falls for Gina Biggs (played by Glynnis O’Connor). Diana Hyland is also splendid as Travolta’s worried mom, and Robert Reed plays dad. Ralph Bellamy co-stars as Dr Gunther and Buzz Aldrin plays himself.

Travolta and director Kleiser teamed up again for Grease.

During filming, Travolta and his 40-year-old Diana Hyland began dating and fell in love. She was still getting divorced from Joseph Goodson when she died on March 27 1977.

See also the very similar Bubble Boy with Jake Gyllenhaal in 2001.

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com/