MovieChat Forums > The Earthling (1980) Discussion > Schroder remembering Holden

Schroder remembering Holden

posted 19 years ago by AriesJB4
38 replies | jump to latest

Rick Schroder paid the ultimate homage to the late William Holden, by naming one of his children, Holden Schroder, after him. The time they spent filming on location and lessons learned were not lost on him.

This is an excellent movie, of how a seemingly indifferent, cynical man, content to spend his remaining time as a loner, forges a bond with a youngster who has no one to relate to due to circumstances. The lesson of never being afraid to show feelings and tell someone that you love him/her is universal.

A job well done by all.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] natefishpa 19 years ago

This movie I don't remember much, but I was born in 1975 and saw it on HBO as a small kid. I can't tell you how many hundreds of times I have thought about the camper scene when it went off the cliff and the acting of the kid losing his parents.

I gotta tell you something...as a small kid, I had a lot of problems with that.

I don't think it was a great movie because I don't remember much about the plot, but it was a memorable movie for the impact it had on me as a small kid and the possibility of losing my parents.

As an FYI, I wouldn't show that to someone less than 10 or 11.

[–] ekm2x-1 19 years ago

Completely agreed. I was born in '76 and also saw it on HBO and was equally disturbed by that horrifying scene. Nice family movie, huh?

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] ekm2x-1 19 years ago

Yeah, for recently orphaned children.

[–] pennys_sis 19 years ago

No way! Its a reality that people die! Thats what this movie is all about, reality. My parents have had this movie since before I was brn, and I grew up with it. That scene always horrified me, but thats the point of it. I think this movie is the greatest movie ever, its my favorite thats for sure. I admit, I didnt "get" its message until i was about 14 or so, but I'm so glad I've always known it, because it gives me that "warm fuzzy" feeling when i think about it. That song especially! Who of us fans watch that final sequence and cry? I do, and proud of it!

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[–] pacwarbuff 19 years ago

Well, I'm very happy for you that it had that effect on you, tough guy. Are we through? OK, goodbye.

Curse? What curse?!? Your team just sucked for 86 years...

It's spelled "Definitely".

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] BoSoxRule 18 years ago

Well, you've sucked for 35 years, have you not?

[–] leaphty 18 years ago

Well, gee whillikers it looks like a couple folks got in quite the tizzy with each other over this movie. I had seen this movie once before and my sister's TV had gone on the fritz and we were left visually stimulation impaired for the time being. When I saw that 'The Earthling' was going to be rebroadcast I bought my sister a TV just so I wouldn't miss it!

These days the general public is too far removed from the only inevitability in this life and that is its end. 'Back in the day' death was more widely accepted because the idea of our mortality was literally closer to home in society. The 'parlor' had two uses. Courting and funerals. When someone died the body lay in state within the house and that was an accepted thing. Today our loved ones are shipped off to die in hospitals and rest homes so we don't have to deal with so much as wiping Grandma's butt when she gets too weak to do it on her own.
This movie grabbed that kind of issue by the horns and threw it in our collective face. The many reactions posted here just proves how society has sheltered itself from its own mortality.

Great movie! One of my all-time favorites!

Mike

[–] LTUM 13 years ago

These days the general public is too far removed from the only inevitability in this life and that is its end. 'Back in the day' death was more widely accepted because the idea of our mortality was literally closer to home in society. The 'parlor' had two uses. Courting and funerals. When someone died the body lay in state within the house and that was an accepted thing. Today our loved ones are shipped off to die in hospitals and rest homes so we don't have to deal with so much as wiping Grandma's butt when she gets too weak to do it on her own.
This movie grabbed that kind of issue by the horns and threw it in our collective face. The many reactions posted here just proves how society has sheltered itself from its own mortality.

damn profound post there, mike. i totally agree. people walk around deluded. it's the curse of the times, to be detached from fate that way

drugs...changed...everything..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8MGBn3KawM&feature=related

[–] BoSoxRule 14 years ago

"No way! Its a reality that people die!"

IT IS?!! Surely you jest!

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

[–] LTUM 13 years ago

Its a reality that people die! Thats what this movie is all about, reality. My parents have had this movie since before I was brn, and I grew up with it. That scene always horrified me, but thats the point of it. I think this movie is the greatest movie ever, its my favorite thats for sure. I admit, I didnt "get" its message until i was about 14 or so, but I'm so glad I've always known it, because it gives me that "warm fuzzy" feeling when i think about it. That song especially! Who of us fans watch that final sequence and cry? I do, and proud of it!

well said friend

drugs...changed...everything..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8MGBn3KawM&feature=related

[–] pacwarbuff 19 years ago

This movie I don't remember much, but I was born in 1975 and saw it on HBO as a small kid. I can't tell you how many hundreds of times I have thought about the camper scene when it went off the cliff and the acting of the kid losing his parents.

I gotta tell you something...as a small kid, I had a lot of problems with that.

I don't think it was a great movie because I don't remember much about the plot, but it was a memorable movie for the impact it had on me as a small kid and the possibility of losing my parents.

As an FYI, I wouldn't show that to someone less than 10 or 11.

I could have written the above post, because that camper scene had the same effect on me, and I was about nine when I saw it. The only thing that haunts me more is the fact that William Holden's death was so tragic.

It's spelled "Definitely".

[–] nutmeg1925 19 years ago

I just found out that this was the movie I saw as a kid with my dad on HBO. I was born in 1974 and this movie traumatized me as well. My father passed away when I was 8 and I told my mom that he and I watched a lot of movies that scared me or traumatized me (otherwise he was the perfect dad!). The cliff scene is very vivid to me and just thinking of it makes me tear up. I also remember the boy burying the old man. I just put a request to my local library to borrow the tape. In a way it is opening old wounds to watch again yet I feel like I need to.

[–] jojopuppyfish 18 years ago

This was the first and only movie that every made me cry. That scene with the camper going off the cliff and Ricky running down to them still is pretty brutal.

[–] Polaris01313-1 16 years ago

You're not kidding! That scene definately stuck out in my mind. The other scene that stuck out the most were the old man's final moments. Especially when he pleaded to God not to let him die just yet.

William Holden should have won an Oscar for this role. Let alone, been nominated. This was one of his best movies alongside The Bridges Of Toko-Ri, The Bridge On the River kwai, The Devil's Brigade, The Wild Bunch, The Towering Inferno, and the sequel to The Omen.

[–] BoSoxRule 16 years ago

You don't include Network in that list?

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

[–] Polaris01313-1 16 years ago

OOps! Sorry, about that. Network was also one of Holden's best movies, too.

[–] BoSoxRule 16 years ago

Don't forget Sunset Boulevard.

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

[–] CrabTongs 16 years ago

Holden fans who haven't seen "Breezy" (1973, directed by Clint Eastwood) might want to check it out.

[–] LTUM 13 years ago

dude thanks. i will check that one out. i am also gonna go back and catch others of his i missed. a huge list, i am sure.

didn't he star in one called gulag 14 or something? i heard that it was good

drugs...changed...everything..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8MGBn3KawM&feature=related

[–] quahog_me-1 14 years ago

What about Stalag 17? It's another of William Holden's great films.

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the TV show Hogan's Heroes or not but they got the idea for it from Stalag 17.

Mr. Holden was truly a great actor. I'm not sure what troubles he went through that caused him to become an alcoholic later in life but even still he did not deserve to die in the manner in which he did.

Rest In Peace Mr. Holden

[–] LTUM 13 years ago

William Holden should have won an Oscar for this role.

damn right. he shoulda!!

drugs...changed...everything..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8MGBn3KawM&feature=related

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 10 years ago

This movie I don't remember much, but I was born in 1975 and saw it on HBO as a small kid. I can't tell you how many hundreds of times I have thought about the camper scene when it went off the cliff and the acting of the kid losing his parents.

I gotta tell you something...as a small kid, I had a lot of problems with that.

I don't think it was a great movie because I don't remember much about the plot, but it was a memorable movie for the impact it had on me as a small kid and the possibility of losing my parents.

As an FYI, I wouldn't show that to someone less than 10 or 11.

This closely echoes my own feelings about the film. Interesting, I too was born in the 70s.

[–] kstallings100 14 years ago

Just saw movie this morning and can't believe I missed it when it first came out. Holden was wonderful and I can see how Shroder would remember and highly regard him.