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Cast
Melissa Sue Anderson
as Dana Lee
Robert Carradine
as Donny Davis
Marion Ross
as Madeline Lee
Talia Balsam
as Rona Sims
Michael Pataki
as Arnold Denker
Kevin Breslin
as Roy 'Skates' Snider
Judge Reinhold
as Francis 'Bear' Honfi
Dan Spector
as Anthony Cavachi
Barbara Babcock
as Lorna Sims
Shelby Leverington
as Mrs. Blake
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1979
Runtime1h 36m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresDrama, TV Movie, Crime
Votes1
DirectorJack Starrett
WritersTom Lazarus, Frank Norwood
TypeFeature Film
Rating9.0 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsThe Survival of Dana
About The Survival of Dana
High school student Dana moves to the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles after her North Dakota parents get divorced and falls in with the wrong crowd.
Directed by Jack Starrett, The Survival of Dana leans on a strong ensemble — Melissa Sue Anderson, Robert Carradine, Marion Ross — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1979.
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