On the Right Track

Richard Moses...one of the writers. I met years ago in Quincy Massachusetts. He has passed away since. He told me a funny story about this movie. He told me so many people were changing the script that they put in the credits ..Avery Buddy as a writer...meaning everybody wrote it. He was a really nice guy.

I've had the pre-recorded video tape for this movie for over 20 years. And it's been about that time frame since I last viewed it. But last night I threw in and watched it.

This is a movie that showed up on cable all the time back around 1982 and 1983. I must have seen this movie 100 times. As a kid I loved it! As an adult... well, I realize how insipid it is. But I still loved it nonetheless.

Gary Coleman stars as an orphan living in Chicago's Union Station - the same place where the famous "baby stroller scene" from "The Untouchables" was filmed. And he has a magical knack for picking horses. Once people find out, they exploit him. Will his friend Jill (the lovely Lisa Eilbacher) come to his rescue? What do you think?

This film is quite nostalgic for me. I was amazed at how many lines of dialogue I could still recite after all these years. If you watched it a lot as a kid, you'll probably still like it today. If you didn't, then maybe you won't. Although I do give it credit. There are a few legitimately funny lines in it.

"Sorry Kid. But my sister needs a nose job."

Great stuff!

I was born in the mid seventies and was fortunate enough to experience Gary Coleman mania first hand. Kids echoed his catch phrases and mannerisms, and I even had a shirt with his grin plastered in the middle. Although he is mostly remembered for Different Strokes and for some of his run-ins with the law I have and always will associate him with the movie On the Right Track. Here he played a young parent-less scamp in New York who lives in a locker at the train station. I will confess that a lot of the details of this film have eluded me over the years but as it was played so many times as a matinée movie on TV (remember how special those were?) a lot of the images are etched in my brain. The fact that a kid your age could survive in the big city alone and could get along seemingly just fine without adults made this the ultimate fantasy movie in my opinion. I would not hesitate to watch this film again or share it with someone young. A very good moral message rings true, there is no profanity or excessive violence, Gary Coleman was memorable and Norman Fell (Three's Company fame) pops up in an all to rare film appearance. All and all a nice time capsule of the period and an enjoyable family film..what I can remember anyway...

It's Gary Coleman. And he's adopted Again... 1 for real life. Different Strokes and On the Right Track. Jeez the kid couldn't catch a break.

About: Lester being able to pick correct horses to bet on without the use of gematria.

Story and production: An ok story. Could of added more dept to Lester's power, development the mobster villians did nothing.

It's a funny, family, mild mature movie.

Basketball God Bill Russell had an appearance in this and his character was wasted. He provided nothing but a towel to Lester.

Overall an Okay production just needed dept.

Highlight: at the end of the movie they mention the date July 31. Guess what? Bill Russell died on that date. Coincidence? Iunno..

Main Intelligence: 6. Side characters acted like the people of 2022. Only Lester was smart everyone else was just derp. They did not impress me.

Unworthiness level: 0

Should you watch this? I guess. Its nothing ground breaking but if you want to witness the acting of young Gary Coleman then sure. This guy had talent.