Sally Field as an older teen named Denise who has run away from her upper-middle class home to be with her hippie boyfriend. This no-holds-barred television movie begins with "Dennie" returning home in the middle of the night: she walks up her block, enters her house while her family is asleep, and climbs into her old childhood bed. Why did she leave in the first place? Her parents and younger sister (drawn as neurotics oblivious to their own family dynamic) are a society-party dream but dysfunctional after the guests have gone home. Despite an odd sequence midway through that has Field running down the street drawing ribbons in the air (she's free!), this is a fairly realistic portrait of life in '70s suburbia. The nature of the relationships is interesting, and the uncompromising ending thoughtful. One of the first films (TV-made or otherwise) to rip the lid off suburban/station-wagon living and its false sense of comfort and security. Field, though overwrought on occasion, is very good, and the well-realized piece has been sharply photographed (by crack cinematographer Russell Metty) and edited. Linda Ronstadt performs two songs on the soundtrack, the title track and "Different Day". *** from ****
