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Desperate Lives

  • TV Movie
  • 1982
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
240
YOUR RATING
Desperate Lives (1982)
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Drama

A brother and sister get caught up in the drug scene in their local high school, with tragic results.A brother and sister get caught up in the drug scene in their local high school, with tragic results.A brother and sister get caught up in the drug scene in their local high school, with tragic results.

  • Director
    • Robert Michael Lewis
  • Writer
    • Lew Hunter
  • Stars
    • Diana Scarwid
    • Doug McKeon
    • Helen Hunt
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    240
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Michael Lewis
    • Writer
      • Lew Hunter
    • Stars
      • Diana Scarwid
      • Doug McKeon
      • Helen Hunt
    • 16User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Desperate Lives Clip
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    Photos4

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    Top cast38

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    Diana Scarwid
    Diana Scarwid
    • Eileen Phillips
    Doug McKeon
    Doug McKeon
    • Scott Cameron
    Helen Hunt
    Helen Hunt
    • Sandy Cameron
    William Windom
    William Windom
    • Dr. Jarvis
    Art Hindle
    Art Hindle
    • Stan
    Tom Atkins
    Tom Atkins
    • John Cameron
    Norman Alden
    Norman Alden
    • Coach
    Tricia Cast
    Tricia Cast
    • Susan Garber
    Sam Bottoms
    Sam Bottoms
    • Ken Baynes
    Diane Ladd
    Diane Ladd
    • Carol Cameron
    Michele Greene
    Michele Greene
    • Julie Jordan
    Terry Alexander
    Terry Alexander
    • Robert Walsh
    Joyce Brothers
    Joyce Brothers
    • Mrs. Watson
    • (as Dr. Joyce Brothers)
    Aggie Terry
    • Cindy
    Katherine Kelly Lang
    Katherine Kelly Lang
    • Mary
    Jane Milmore
    • Jane
    Grant Cramer
    Grant Cramer
    • Steve
    Susan McClung
    • Sarah
    • Director
      • Robert Michael Lewis
    • Writer
      • Lew Hunter
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews16

    5.7240
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    Featured reviews

    sp27343

    A show with a poignant message

    This film, edited down to 54 minutes was shown as an "ABC Afterschool Special". And like many of the specials took a young persons view of a particular issue: AIDS, drugs, teen pregnancy, etc. This one, staring Helen Hunt did the heavy drug thing, and was toned down when it was edited for the After School showing. Not bad acting for Helen, she certainly moved onward and up. Its interesting looking back at these afterschool specials, as many young actors (Scott Baio, Mariel Hemmingway, Hunt, Charlie Sheen..etc) were featured, and many moved up in Hollywood stature. It's unfortunate the specials are no longer (since 1997, I think) being produced.
    DaCritic-2

    Junk

    This movie, a lovely "just-say-no" message wrapped up in a thin plot, contains more unintentional humor than anything else. Things to look for: Kids making PCP in the high school chemistry lab. Helen Hunt diving headfirst out of a second-story window (after her boyfriend convinces her to try his homemade PCP). A locker check (in a small-town high school) that turns up more drugs and paraphenalia than the evidence room at a busy LAPD precinct. The entire student body realizing what terrible things drugs are and adding another twenty pounds of assorted stuff to what's been pulled out of the lockers and burned. This movie isn't quite as trashy as "Reefer Madness," but it's in the same ballpark.
    6style-2

    Not nearly that bad...

    This was Diana's first movie after Mommie Dearest, and it was fairly brave, at the time, for a TV movie. Yes, it's a bit of a mess, but it certainly deals with a messy subject -- one that can be dealt with any number of ways. When the students at an assembly, and Diana Scarwid goes around to their lockers with a shopping cart, it is an absolute scream. When she finally confronts the students, she is foaming with righteous anger and chews up the scenery like no other actress before her. When they burn all the contraband and the students begin to add their own stashes to the bonfire, Scarwid is victorious. GREAT performance in a campy movie...
    dtucker86

    powerful and unforgettable

    Television movies about "addictions and diseases of the Week" are a dime a dozen. This one is different. It is the best movie I have ever seen about teenage drug abuse in our schools because it is realistic and unsentimental in its depiction. Not to give it away, but the fact it doesn't have a pleasant ending makes it even more powerful. Diana Scarwid is excellent as the caring young teacher who stands up when no one else will. Her monologue to the students and parents at the end should have gotten her an Emmy. Even though this film was made almost twenty years ago, it hasn't aged and is still as powerful today as it was in 1982. I think all kids who are tempted by drugs need to watch it with their parents.
    10wifenlaw

    Flashes from history

    OK so the whole point was Nancy's Just Say No crap which didn't work any better than todays cigarettes is drugs crap that makes me want to smack the child with the snotty attitude that it's coming from. But my main two images are Helens swan dive and Tricia looking thru the steering wheel.. its SO prettttttyyyyyyyy... to this day still use that line with this movie's image in mind.

    I think of this movie often in life, partly for the guy in my HS who jumped out the second story classroom to spend his remaining days in a wheel chair, and "weeeeeeeee! " Down the side of the cliff...

    The rest of it is classic afterschoolspecial Cheesy drama class acting, shoot my middle schoolers drama performances are way better that those in this movie. .

    I still love this movie. Good try Nancy! It stuck with me, but didn't help me just say no...

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Aggie Terry's debut.
    • Goofs
      The drugs Steve gives Sandy to snort move from his pinkie to his index finger and back between shots.
    • Connections
      Featured in Saturday Night Live: Helen Hunt/Snoop Doggy Dogg (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Desperate Lives (Title Song)
      Written and Sung by Rick Springfield

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 3, 1982 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Angel Dust
    • Filming locations
      • William S. Hart High School - 24825 Newhall Avenue, Newhall, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Fellows-Keegan Company
      • Lorimar Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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