Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

The Death of Richie Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 30, 2023

1977’s “The Death of Richie” is based on the true story of George Diener, who went to extremes to stop his son, Richie, when the teenager fell into a drug-induced panic. It’s a tale of misery and madness that’s handed some understanding by the production, with the picture caught between the sensitivity of parental pain and the needs of television drama, with a few dips into extended hysterical behavior threatening to overwhelm the stillness that works so well here. “The Death of Richie” doesn’t have a subtle appreciation for the ways of addiction, but the endeavor taps into the frustrations that go with this journey, working with a talented cast to do so.

Richie (Robby Benson) is hooked on drugs, with bad influence friends, such as Brick (Charles Fleischer), keeping him tempted, losing himself to a comforting chemical fog. His parents, George (Ben Gazzara) and Carol (Eileen Brennan), are lost, unable to help their child, who resists all attention and support. Growing angrier and more violent, Richie is out of control, while George struggles to make sense of the situation, fearing the boy will hurt his family worse than he’s hurting himself.

“The Death of Richie” mostly deals with the death of a dream, with George losing the teenage son experience he’s looked forward to since Richie was a boy. And the teen can’t picture a future for himself, stuck with behavioral issues he can’t identify, turning to drugs to help him cope with a world he believes is too tough for him to manage. This being the 1970s, little medical assistance is provided, but “The Death of Richie” tracks parental efforts to contain the wayward kid, with Carol learning more about group support, and George turns to legal channels to take control of Richie. “The Death of Richie” follows the roller coaster ways of life with an addict, hitting some powerful points of resignation and resentment with the parents, while Richie battles with insecurity and awareness, at times making a choice to live in a fog of barbiturates and marijuana.

The Death of Richie Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

An information card is presented for "The Death of Richie," with Fun City Editions noting that that 16mm print was the only surviving film element for the AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation, and it wasn't in good shape. Instead of going into restoration overkill, FCE goes as far as possible with the viewing experience, which still deals with print damage, including jumpy/missing frames and scratches. It's a much softer look at "The Death of Richie," with fine detail not possible to acquire, but a general sense of character particulars is present. Interiors are also passably dimensional. Color has fade, but primaries register acceptably, with decent greenery and period decoration/style choices. Delineation struggles at times with evening activity.

The Death of Richie Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix also deals with the limitations of the source, with damage resulting in distorted sound at times. Noticeable processing is used to balance the track, with dialogue exchanges mostly appreciable. Music is also on the muddier side, but rock tunes and dramatic movements are acceptable.

The Death of Richie Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Samm Deighan.

• And a Trailer (1:26, HD) is included.

The Death of Richie Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Gazzara and Brennan manage to infuse their characters with a lived-in sense of pain, making scenes of parental horror compelling, getting beyond television movie acting demands to deliver a slightly more nuanced depiction of disappointment with all that's been lost. Benson has the showier role, and the production asks him to go wild with outbursts, but he manages to capture a developing feeling of defeat as things go from bad to worse for the character. Listen, the feature isn't titled "The Long and Happy Life of Richie," with the viewing experience pretty gloomy, but necessarily so, making points about the prison of addiction and all the collateral damage that comes with it. There's extremity with the true story of the Diener Family, and "The Death of Richie" doesn't avoid it, but the production aims to understand the trials of drug abuse with a more meaningful dramatic journey.