Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56699 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-05-14

Amazon.com
A sensitive but confused teenager feels pressure on him from all directions and turns to drugs, which causes problems for him in school and at home.

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Customer Reviews

A must see based on Thomas Thompson's novel
This is a must see for anyone who knows of someone who struggles to come to terms with addiction. This film was based on Thomas Thompson's critically acclaimed May 1972 Life magazine article and subsequent 1973 novel "Richie".

Thompson's story of the Diener family and their battle with oldest son Richie is very accurately displayed in this made-for-TV movie. Benson brings to life the true embodiment of the shy and insecure teen Richie who longs to meet the approval of all of those around him.

The story of Richie Diener was one of the first to highlight the issues families face when dealing with a teen and drug abuse. This was all uncharted waters in the early to mid-70's when drug rehabilitation was very limited and in its infancy.

Robbie Benson always watchable
I saw this years after it's release when the High School teacher ran it for us.
It is a fairly decent account of parents and children drifting apart and never really being able to bridge troubled waters.
I always think of Robbie Benson as an Actor i enjoyed and i know that he is happy doing production work and other things in the movie world,but if he does appear in something and he still does at times,he is an actor that i always felt was sold short with a pretty teen tag for the girls and not much more,this could not be any further from the truth and you can tell he had the skill and ability to have acted in many parts.
It is not something that is always mentioned about this movie,but it was based closely on a true story.
The thing that rings most unreal in the end is Richie's father resorting to shoot him.
He was never very dangerous,just totally numb from drugs.
One of the lines that stayed with me was when Richie's mother asked him to cut out smoking those cigarettes,and he shot back(I cant,i can't do it).
Why he never had medical help is a real mystery.
Ian.

All parents should watch this with there kids!!!!!
I first saw Deathof Richie in 1977 ,my mother made me stay up late to watch it .I had no idea what it was about boy did it blow me away. Very powerful movie. Some people might think it's dated for today standards. But the message is still the same 30 years later.


Vin