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On the Right Track
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Wikipedia article
'On the Right Track' is a 1981 American romantic comedy film with the feature film debut of Gary Coleman.Blowen, Michael (21 April 1981). [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/684157151.html?dids=684157151:684157151&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+21%2C+1981&author=Michael+Blowen+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=REVIEW+%2F+MOVIE%3B+RIGHT+TRACK%2C%27+WRONG+DIRECTION%3B+ON+THE+RIGHT+TRACK+-+STARRING+GARY+COLEMAN%2C+DIRECTED+BY+LEE+PHILIPS%2C%3B+WRITTEN+BY+TINA+PINE%2C+AVERY+BUDDY+AND+RICHARD+MOSES%2C+COSTARRING+MICHAEL%3B+LEMBECK%2C+LISA+EILBACHER%2C+MAUREEN%3B+STAPLETON%2C+NORMAN+FELL+AND+BILL+RUSSELL%2C+AT+THE+BEACON+HILL+AND+SUBURBS%2C%3B+RATED+PG.&pqatl=google Review - Movie - Right Track, Wrong Direction - On the Right Track], 'The Boston Globe' ("On the Right Track marks Coleman's feature film debut He plays Lester, a 10-year-old orphan who lives in luggage lockers in Chicago's Union Station") It was directed by Lee Philips, produced by Ronald Jacobs, and released to theaters by 20th Century Fox in Spring 1981.
Production
After his first introduction of the NBC sitcom 'Diff'rent Strokes' in November 1978, Gary Coleman quickly gained popularity. Zephyr Productions was created to promote Coleman's star potential, and the year's 'On the Right Track' was the first film developed from that initiative.Parish, James Robert. [https://books.google.com/books?id=CJS5RL7eqdsC&pg=PA10#v=onepage&q&f=false The Hollywood Book of Extravagance], (2007) (27 November 1980)[https://books.google.com/books?id=30EDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54&dq=%22on+the+right+track%22+strokes+gary&hl=en&ei=gj8RTPnYHqSg4QaAi7CCCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFMQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=%22on%20the%20right%20track%22%20strokes%20gary&f=false Blacks on TV], 'Jet (magazine)', p.54 It was filmed in 1980, primarily in Chicago.Coleman Family & Davidson, Bill. [https://books.google.com/books?id=aBjRm98GcrQC&qok_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CD4Q6AEwBA Gary Coleman: Medical Miracle] (1982) ("It was Saturday, June 28, near the end of filming 'On the Right Track', Coleman's first big-screen film for the 20th Century Fox distribution. It was about a young orphan, a horse-race-betting genius, who lives in a baggage locker in...") 'New York Loves Lester' was an early working title for the project, when the film was going to be set in New York City, but moved to Chicago.[https://books.google.com/books?id=7aAwKkz7FPgC&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=%22New+York+Loves+Lester%22&source=bl&ots=1d1x5-QCZL&sig=fmhCCncAEh5DiRLxo74JRRiiANM&hl=en&ei=hQoBTaaHH4KglAeBuJyGCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22New%20York%20Loves%20Lester%22&f=false Ebony Interview: Gary Coleman], 'Ebony (magazine)' (June 1980), p.33, Retrieved December 9, 2010(7 February 1980). [https://books.google.com/books?id=c7YDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61aHH4KglAeBuJyGCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22New%20York%20Loves%20Lester%22&f=false Gary Coleman to do Two Feature Movies], 'Jet (magazine)', p.61 (retrieved December 9, 2010) The subsequent working title was 'A Guy Could Get Killed Out There'.(31 July 1980). [https://books.google.com/books?id=aD4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA41&dq=%22A+Guy+could+get+killed+out+there%22&hl=en&ei=mQ0BTaWgH8L-8Aaew-HUBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22A%20Guy%20could%20get%20killed%20out%20there%22&f=false Making a Film], 'Jet (magazine)', p.41 (retrieved December 9, 2010)[https://books.google.com/books?ei=cAwBTdn2K8L58Ab8nOD0Bw&ct=result&id=iasqAQAAIAAJ&dq=killed+out+there#search_anchor Film Bulletin] (1980), p. 10, 18 ("A Guy Could Get Killed Out There (Gary Coleman): Formerly titled "New York Loves Lester." Zephyr Productions presentation")
Plot
A young, homeless shoeshine black boy named Lester is living in a locker at Union Station, Chicago. Already a beloved figure among the staff at the station who look after him, and avoiding attempts to move him to an orphanage, he finds great popularity after it is revealed that he has an amazing talent for picking winning horses at the racetrack.(11 July 1981). [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/631537452.html?dids=631537452:631537452&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+11%2C+1981&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=At+the+movies&pqatl=google At the movies], 'Chicago Tribune' ("Gary Coleman makes his movie debut as a high spirited orphan in "On the Right Track." 20th Century-Fox")[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-53634519.html Movie Review: On the Right Track], 'Cineman Syndicate' (January 1984)
Cast
* Gary Coleman as Lester
* Maureen Stapleton as Mary the Bag Lady
* Norman Fell as the Mayor
* Michael Lembeck as Frank Biscardi
* Lisa Eilbacher as Jill Klein
* Bill Russell as Robert
* Herb Edelman as Sam
* Nathan Davis as Mario
* Fern Persons as Flower Lady
* Mike Genovese as Louis
* Harry Gorsuch as Harry
* Page Hannah as Sally
* Jami Gertz as Big Girl
* Chelcie Ross as Customer
Reception
Though it received a number of reviews concluding that it was overly sappy or simply capitalizing on Coleman's TV following,Labonte, Richard (11 July 1981). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rKMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4u4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3002,165038 Young TV Favorite Stars in Real Movie], 'Ottawa Citizen'Maslin, Janet (18 July 1981). [https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C01E0DF153BF93BA25754C0A967948260 'Track', Vehicle for Middle-Aged Child Star], 'The New York Times' ("'On the Right Track' is a vehicle for Mr. Coleman that depends entirely on the premise that he is lovable. Only his most ardent television fans are likely to accept this.")Freedman, Richard (9 October 1981). [https://archive.org/stream/The_Times_News_Idaho_Newspaper_1981_10_09#page/n15/mode/2up 'On the Right Track' derailed by thin plot that goes nowhere], 'Times-News' (Idaho)(Newhouse News Service copy) Gene Siskel of the 'Chicago Tribune',Siskel, Gene (13 July 1981). [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/631553392.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+13%2C+1981&author=Gene+Siskel&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(1963-Current+file)&edition=&startpage=A4&desc=Tempo 'On the Right Track' is just that--a truly charming Chicago movie], 'Chicago Tribune' Roger Ebert of the 'Chicago Sun-Times',Ebert, Roger. [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19810101/REVIEWS/101010350/1023 On the Right Track], 'Chicago Sun-Times' (1981 review) and Kevin Thomas of the 'Los Angeles Times'Thomas, Kevin (28 August 1981). [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/656610362.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Aug+28%2C+1981&author=KEVIN+THOMAS&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1923-Current+File)&edition=&startpage=G12&desc=%27ON+RIGHT+TRACK%27+IS%2C+GENERALLY "On the Right Track", is Generally], 'Los Angeles Times' gave it somewhat more positive reviews. Gary Coleman earned a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Actor for his performance in the film, but lost to Klinton Spilsbury for 'The Legend of the Lone Ranger'.
The film was released on VHS in the 1980s, but it has never seen an official release on DVD. The movie has not received much attention in latter years, though a short article in 'Entertainment Weekly' in 2004 compared the film to the then newly released Tom Hanks film 'The Terminal', where Hanks' character lives for months in an airport terminal.Katz, Paul (25 June 2004). [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,654556,00.html Planes, Trains, And...], 'Entertainment Weekly'
References
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