Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker (1979): Cast & Plot
Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker is a 1979 drama directed by Ted Post, starring Dick Van Patten as Herb Thurston, Katherine Helmond and Charlene Tilton. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 36m (96 min)
- Director
- Ted Post
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- The Shpetner Company
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker About?
The premise of Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Defying her parents, a head‑strong 17‑year‑old girl teams up with friends to become regulars on the local beach‑bound hitchhiking circuit. Their carefree rides take a dark turn when a seemingly ordinary driver reveals himself as a homicidal maniac, leading the group toward a fatal end.
Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- hitchhiking
- dirty old man
- teenage girl
- teen movie
- 17 year old girl
- rape of a hitchhiker
- father and daughter living together
- victim blaming
- teenage girl as protagonist
- reckless driving
- teenage driver
- redhead teenage girl
+38 more Show fewer
- teenage girl wears a bikini
- seeking a job
- skateboarding
- beach
- girl undressing
- father daughter relationship
- hitchiking teenage girl
- lincoln continental
- father daughter kiss
- short shorts
- reference to john travolta
- 14 year old girl
- prelude
- crime statistics
- scene during opening credits
- revving car engine
- chevrolet impala
- running teenage girl
- first day at work
- reference to elvis presley
- oily face
- teenage daughter
- beach bonfire
- teen pregnancy
- moped accident
- hundred dollar bill
- offering money for sex
- hamburger stand
- ford mustang
- sunglasses
- female hitchhiker
- miscarriage
- porsche 911 targa
- man wears a white suit
- older man teenage girl kiss
- stranger danger
- ford granada
- police pursuit
Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker Cast & Characters
Dick Van Patten leads the cast as Herb Thurston, with Katherine Helmond as Elaine Thurston and Charlene Tilton as Julie Thurston. Directed by Ted Post; 27 actors are credited in all.
- Director Ted Post
-
Dick Van Patten as Herb Thurston -
Katherine Helmond as Elaine Thurston - Charlene Tilton as Julie Thurston
- Dominique Dunne as Cathy Robinson
Also Starring in Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker
· 23 more- Karlene Crockett Dana
- Shelly Batt Francine
- Christopher Knight Nick
- Katy Kurtzman Trish Thurston
- James Carroll Jordan Ron Leland
- Julie Wakefield Hitchhiker (uncredited)
- Craig T. Nelson Claims Adjuster
- Jack Rader Sean Burke
- Pat Corley
- Patricia Smith Marion Burke
- Richard Sanders Mr. Fogarty
- Brad David Wayne
- James Jeter
- Alain Patrick Claude
- Noelle North
- Nicolas Beauvy
Show all 27 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Bernie Kuby
- Don McLean
- Art Kassul
- Cheryl Faye Teenager
- R.A. Rondell
- Rick Cirimele Gary (uncredited)
- Cyrus Yavneh
Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker Plot Summary
What happens in Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 6-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the fictional Southern California town of Port Kirby, almost 18-year-old Julie Thurston [Charlene Tilton] joins her tight-knit circle of friends—Cathy [Dominique Dunne], Francine [Shelly Batt], and Dana [Karlene Crockett]—on a summer rite of passage: a hitchhiking circuit that’s popular among the town’s teen girls. It’s the season after their high school graduation, a time when the beach calls and futures feel both close and uncertain. Julie loves sculpting and envisions a future shaped by art, yet her boyfriend Nick [Christopher Knight] seems to have his own plans that don’t quite align with hers. Francine is grounded and focused, chasing beauty college and a steadier path, while Dana lives life in the fast lane, a wild party girl who even hints at spy ambitions.
Full summary
The whole story of Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
What is Julie Thurston's main artistic ambition?
Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker Also Known As
Also known as “Autostop - Einbahnstrasse in den Tod”.
- Also known as
-
- Autostop - Einbahnstrasse in den Tod
Seen Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker?
Movies Like Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Hitcher, Hitchhike to Hell and Hitch Hike.
Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker?
Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker released?
Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker was released on September 21, 1979.
Who directed Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker?
Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker was directed by Ted Post.
More films by Ted Post Who is in the cast of Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker?
Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker stars Dick Van Patten as Herb Thurston, Katherine Helmond as Elaine Thurston and Charlene Tilton as Julie Thurston, among 27 credited actors.
Does Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker have a post-credit scene?
No. Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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