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Silence of the Heart

  • TV Movie
  • 1984
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
426
YOUR RATING
Charlie Sheen, Mariette Hartley, and Howard Hesseman in Silence of the Heart (1984)
Drama

Skip Lewis is a 16 year old, who's been through some stuff. Like he has been having academic problems, and a girl whom he has been pursuing has told him that she has no interest in him. He t... Read allSkip Lewis is a 16 year old, who's been through some stuff. Like he has been having academic problems, and a girl whom he has been pursuing has told him that she has no interest in him. He tries to talk to his parents about this but can't, or thinks that they won't understand. So... Read allSkip Lewis is a 16 year old, who's been through some stuff. Like he has been having academic problems, and a girl whom he has been pursuing has told him that she has no interest in him. He tries to talk to his parents about this but can't, or thinks that they won't understand. So, he goes out and drives off a cliff. Now, his family's in denial saying that the whole th... Read all

  • Director
    • Richard Michaels
  • Writer
    • Phil Penningroth
  • Stars
    • Mariette Hartley
    • Dana Hill
    • Howard Hesseman
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    426
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard Michaels
    • Writer
      • Phil Penningroth
    • Stars
      • Mariette Hartley
      • Dana Hill
      • Howard Hesseman
    • 10User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos8

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    Top cast28

    Edit
    Mariette Hartley
    Mariette Hartley
    • Barbara Lewis
    Dana Hill
    Dana Hill
    • Cindy Lewis
    Howard Hesseman
    Howard Hesseman
    • Carl Lewis
    Chad Lowe
    Chad Lowe
    • Skip Lewis
    Silvana Gallardo
    • Alice Roberti
    Elizabeth Berridge
    Elizabeth Berridge
    • Penny
    Alexandra Powers
    Alexandra Powers
    • Andrea
    Charlie Sheen
    Charlie Sheen
    • Ken
    Ray Girardin
    • Harris
    Jim Boyle
    • Public Worker
    Sherilyn Fenn
    Sherilyn Fenn
    • Monica
    Melissa Hayden
    Melissa Hayden
    • Rachel
    Rad Daly
    • Basketball Player
    Steve Alterman
    Steve Alterman
    • Williams
    Casey Siemaszko
    Casey Siemaszko
    • Jeff
    Sandy Lipton
    • 1st Mourner
    Bill Sorrells
    • 2nd Mourner
    Steve Eastin
    Steve Eastin
    • Ed Rintal
    • Director
      • Richard Michaels
    • Writer
      • Phil Penningroth
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews10

    6.4426
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    Featured reviews

    Willow192

    "Did you ever tell him you loved him? I didn't!"

    That great quote above is a question that was asked by Cindy Lewis, the daughter of Barbara and Carl Lewis.

    Skip Lewis had been having a hard time in school. His grades are slipping and he did below par on his SAT. The most beautiful, popular girl in school just turned him down for a date, and it seems like nothing in his life is going good for him. So he decides that the only way that he can stop his pain is to commit suicide. So Skip gets his car, goes to a large hill just above the ocean, and drives full speed off of the hill without looking back.

    His parents are in denial. They all think that it was an accident, and that Skip was a perfectly happy kid. But his friend Ken, and his sister Cindy know that it wasn't an accident. They saw the signs. Skip asking Ken if he were going to kill himself would he tell anyone. Skip giving Cindy his record collection. All things that they just brushed off without thinking.

    This was a very good movie. I viewed it in Life Management class when we were studying suicide. The acting was very good, especially from Dana Hill. Her essay at the end of the movie titled `Silence of the Heart'. This was a time when everyone looked at suicide being done by a crazy person, which is not true. Cindy and her family had to go through people talking behind their backs, even at Skip's funeral. It shows you the warning signs of suicide, why it happens, and what we can do to prevent it. I would definitely recommend this movie. It's a TV movie true…but it still has a good message that everyone should see.
    7moonspinner55

    Wrenching telefilm about teen suicide

    Not many people watched the teen-suicide TV-movie "Surviving" in 1985, simply because they had already seen this one and felt the subject had been done appropriate justice (in fact, both films are excellent). This tentative effort is cautious but very sincere. It features down-to-earth suburban parents shocked over their son's self-inflicted death, hurt and confused in the aftermath while trying to deal with their mercurial daughter and the boy's troubled best friend (Charlie Sheen, doing solid work). It's heartfelt and well-acted, especially by Mariette Hartley as the mom (she's a crumbling tower of strength, and gives her lines such a realistic spin you may hear your own mother talking). Worth seeking out.
    cooper-29

    If you can find this movie....

    then check it out. I remember seeing this in my early 20s and really being moved by it.Its about the expectations we set for ourselves and when we cant meet them how helpless we feel.Chad Lowe does a great job as a teen who feels hes failing everyone when his grades arent great.He commits suicide and the rest of the story is about the aftermath and how his death effects everyone. Wonderful Movie.If you can find it on VHS or DVD check it out
    8damiweb

    The movie from suicide from a teen

    I liked this film, because friends, family and acquaintances have to come to terms with the suicide of a teenager who thought he had lost everything, who has to repeat another year, who has been rejected by the love of his life and by his family, and in reality many people have unfortunately given up too early and can no longer cope with life, although people like family, friends and acquaintances have stood by their side, but in the end life must go on for the people who are still alive and must also come to terms with the death of a family member, even in this film I still hope the German language, of course it is very sad when you commit suicide in this story, but otherwise I liked it.
    7paulrc3

    Definitely worth the emotional ride.

    Well i was searching on Ebay for 80s movies on VHS that might have slipped under my radar, and recently on a Charlie Sheen tangent I decided to try this film. Was not anything like I thought it was going to be. Very depressing subject matter but I couldn't turn away. Gut wrenching, and raw emotions. This should be a must watch for young high school kids to help with their inner emotions and help see potential warning signs of friends on the edge. I was enamored with the film as it really fit the same style (Sheen as a co-lead) of the great 80s movie The Boys Next Door. As a matter of fact one of the heartthrob girls plays a similar role! And I even saw an actress from Just One Of the Guys in there too. Bit the best hidden gem for me was the inclusion of two audio tracks by the epic 80s band Was Not Was!! I've been a huge fan of their album Born To Laugh At Tornadoes and to hear two tracks from the album in the film really was heartwarming. And I was shocked their was no mention of any songs in the end credits!! Made For TV films weren't required to give copyright credits!?! Solid film 7/10.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Final film with scene actions of Dana Hill.
    • Connections
      Edited into Dear Alexandra (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Jump (For My Love)
      Written by Stephen Mitchell (uncredited), Marti Sharron (uncredited) and Gary Skardina (uncredited)

      Performed by The Pointer Sisters

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 30, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tod eines Teenagers
    • Filming locations
      • Monrovia High School - 845 W. Colorado Boulevard, Monrovia, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • David A. Simons Productions
      • Tisch/Avnet Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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