Breaking Away

If my mom hadn't recommended I watch this movie when it came on TV for the first time, I never would have seen it. My mother's taste in movies was the only reason I watched it at all. A movie about a bicycle race? No way, Hose. Well, what a treat it was. I do not understand ,however, why they would make a TV show out of it. The role was made for Christopher and he only. Christopher and Paul Dooley made the movie what it was. Out of the four friends I thought Dennis Quaid's was the weakest character. He of course went on to a great career in Hollywood (due mostly to his good looks and being the real life brother of the more talented Randy.) I believe Christopher's career was Sabatoged due to his homosexuality. He never did much of anything after this worth talking about with the exception of playing the father and son role with Paul Dooley 2 other times.Once on Law and Order CI and the other in another movie "The Wedding). Cryil and the Mooch, played by the recently resurrected Jakie Earl Haley and John Stern also were great in this movie. Quaid did a good job with the role of Mike but the other three were all better. Make a TV show out of "Breaking Away" didn't work because it was a dumb idea. The movie ended the way it should have, with Dave having changed his dad's look at life and him going to college instead of being doomed to remain a "cutter". Shaun Cassidy? Come on now. I actually found out that I attended grade school with Christopher for 2 years at St. Philomena's parochial school. He was 5 years ahead of me so he is age is bogus in this site. I was born in 1955 and I will be 53 next month. Sorry David,but as we learned in catholic school, it's a sin to tell a lie. This movie was nominated for best picture and should have won. Cristopher deserved a best actor nomination while we are on the topic but didn't get it.

Little known fact: there were two versions of the pilot. The one that aired on ABC was pretty similar in tone to the other episodes. But when the show was rerun on A&E, the pilot episode was recut: scenes cut, other scenes never seen before added. Plus it was given an opening credits sequence (the other episodes just opened with titles over the opening scene) and a new theme (not used in any of the other episodes). Plus the entire hour was rescored in a manner not consistent with the classical adaptations heard in the other episodes and in the movie. Don't know whose idea it was, but it didn't help matters. It was nice to see some new footage from the pilot, and I even made up a tape combining the footage from both versions for an expanded version.

This was based on a great 1979 movie about four buddies in Bloomington, Indiana (a small town) and their adventures.

They got some of the movie cast to recreate their roles (Barbara Barrie was the standout) and replaced unknown Dennis Christopher with Shaun Cassidy. It was no masterpiece of TV but it was a good TV show that captured teenage life pretty accurately (although all the "teenagers" in the cast were in their 20s). I saw all of the episodes that aired (I think there were 8) and I was surprised at how quickly it was cancelled. It was never even given a chance! Bsd time slot too. But, if you can see it take a look. It's well worth it.

Sad to say that I was involved with work on this show and was and extra in it. And sad to say I never even watched it.

Shaun was a really nice during the production of it. I remember at the time there was some snow on the ground and we had to clear it off for the filming. We had to change some of the signs arou d town where it was being filmed .

It was a windy and cold day.and everyone seemed to work well together. I had forgotten about it I definitely need to watch it.

I have several pictures I had taken during the filming of this film and I actually still have the autograph from Shaun Cassidy and some pictures of him during the movie.

I was glad when TV Guide recently mentioned this show in passing as vastly underrated. I remember that back then it surprised me. I loved the movie and was well aware how TV series adapted movies into pablum. And Shaun Cassidy? You must be joking!

But he was absolutely terrific in the role. The others in the cast were also top-notch. Not only the premise but the earnestness and atmosphere of the movie was uncompromised during the course of the series. It was heart-warming, funny, and inspiring. (The only actor I didn't like was Jack Earl Haley, but I didn't like him in the movie, either -- or anywhere else, if I must tell the truth.) Barbara Barrie was (as usual) so wonderful, never enough air time for her, and Vincent Gardenia was an astonishingly great match to fill Paul Dooley's shoes!

When will this come out on DVD? I'd love to see it again! Magnifico!