If you grew up in the late 70s or early 80s, you probably remember that specific, hazy brand of NBC movie-of-the-week melodrama. They weren't always high art. Sometimes they were just... there. But then there’s the Sooner or Later TV movie, a 1979 release that feels like a fever dream to some and a foundational memory to others. Honestly, if you mention the name "Sky" to a woman of a certain age, watch her eyes light up. We aren't just talking about a flick that filled a Tuesday night slot. We're talking about a cultural artifact that captured the absolute agony of being thirteen and in love with someone who is, quite frankly, way too old for you.
The plot is simple. Maybe too simple. Jessie, played by Denise Miller, is a young teen who falls head over heels for a guitar teacher named Sky. The "problem"—and the engine of the entire movie—is that Sky, played by Rex Smith, thinks she’s much older than she actually is. It’s a classic trope of mistaken identity fueled by the desperate desire to be grown up.
The Rex Smith Factor and Why it Worked
Rex Smith was the heartthrob of the moment. You've gotta understand the context of 1979. He had this mane of feathered hair and a voice that was pure AM radio gold. When he sang "You Take My Breath Away" in the film, it wasn't just a song; it was a tactical strike on the hearts of every teenage girl in America. The song actually became a massive hit, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's one of those rare instances where a made-for-TV movie actually birthed a genuine pop culture phenomenon.
Denise Miller was equally perfect as Jessie. She didn't look like a polished Hollywood starlet; she looked like a kid. She had that awkward, gangly energy that made the lie she tells Sky—that she’s sixteen or seventeen—feel both plausible and utterly terrifying. You’re rooting for her, even though you know the ceiling is eventually going to come crashing down.
The chemistry was weirdly effective. It shouldn't have worked. The age gap between the characters (and the actors) is something that viewers today look at through a much more skeptical lens. In 1979, it was framed as "star-crossed." Today, it's a bit of a "yikes" moment. But that's the thing about the Sooner or Later TV movie; it reflects the era it was born in.
Examining the Cringe and the Charm
Why does this movie stick? It's not the cinematography. It's not a complex script. It's the relatability of the lie. Everyone has tried to act older than they are to impress someone.
Usually, that just involves wearing too much eyeliner or pretending to like a band you've never heard of. Jessie takes it to the extreme. She navigates this world of "older" people, terrified that one wrong word about junior high school will blow her cover.
- The fashion is peak 1979: high-waisted jeans, feathered hair, and lots of denim.
- The music is the glue: Rex Smith's performance is the only reason the movie exists.
- The ending: It doesn't give you the clean, happy "they live happily ever after" wrap-up you might expect from a modern teen rom-com. It's more bittersweet.
Honestly, the movie is a time capsule. It shows a world before cell phones, where a lie could actually be maintained because you couldn't just look someone up on Instagram. If Jessie had a TikTok, Sky would have known she was thirteen in five seconds. Instead, we get ninety minutes of tension based on a girl trying to survive a conversation about life experiences she hasn't had yet.
The Production Reality of Made-for-TV Movies
Director Bruce Hart and writer Judith Hart weren't trying to win Oscars. They were creators who understood the "teen" market before "teen" was even its own massive industry. They were the ones behind Free to Be... You and Me, so they had a pedigree in "youth" content.
They knew exactly how to manipulate the emotions of their audience. They used soft focus. They used lingering shots of Rex Smith's face. They knew that the audience wasn't there for a gritty exploration of suburban life; they were there to see if the cute guy would find out the truth.
A Soundtrack That Outlived the Film
You can't talk about this movie without talking about the music. The album Sooner or Later by Rex Smith went platinum. Think about that. A TV movie soundtrack went platinum. That's a level of engagement that streamers like Netflix can only dream of today.
People didn't just watch the movie once and move on. They bought the record. They played "You Take My Breath Away" on a loop in their bedrooms. They bought the posters. For a brief window in 1979, Rex Smith was the biggest star in the world, and it was all because of a low-budget TV flick.
Why We Still Talk About It in 2026
It’s about nostalgia, sure, but it’s also about the purity of that specific kind of adolescent longing. There’s something deeply human about Jessie’s desperation.
We’ve all been Jessie. Maybe we didn't lie to a 20-something musician, but we’ve all felt that gap between who we are and who we want to be for someone else. The Sooner or Later TV movie captures that transition period where childhood is ending but adulthood is still a scary, foreign country you’re trying to sneak into without a passport.
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Critics at the time were... let's say "mixed." Some found it lightweight. Others found the premise slightly disturbing. But the audience didn't care. They tuned in by the millions. It’s a reminder that sometimes, what resonates with the public isn't what "experts" think is good. It's what feels real in that moment.
The Legacy of Rex Smith
Rex Smith didn't just disappear after this. He went on to do The Pirates of Penzance on Broadway and starred in Street Hawk. But for a whole generation, he will always be Sky. He’s the guy with the guitar who represented every "first crush" ever.
Interestingly, Denise Miller also had a solid career, appearing in Archie Bunker's Place and Fish. But like Smith, this movie remains a primary touchstone of her career. There is something about the lightning-in-a-bottle nature of a TV movie that hits at the exact right cultural moment.
How to Watch It Now
Finding the Sooner or Later TV movie today isn't as easy as hitting a button on Disney+. Because it was a made-for-TV movie from the late 70s, the rights are often tangled. It hasn't seen a major high-definition remaster.
Most people find it on grainy YouTube uploads or old DVDs sold on eBay. There’s something fitting about that. Watching it in 480p with a bit of "tracking" flicker only adds to the nostalgia. It feels like a secret you’re rediscovering.
If you decide to seek it out, don't expect Succession-level writing. Expect a simple story told with a lot of heart and some very catchy 70s pop.
To truly appreciate the impact of this film, look for the original 1979 promotional materials or the Billboard charts from that summer. Seeing the song "You Take My Breath Away" sitting alongside legends like Donna Summer or Earth, Wind & Fire puts the scale of this "little" TV movie into perspective. If you're a collector, hunt down the original vinyl—it's the ultimate artifact of this specific moment in entertainment history.
Check your local retro listings or specialized streaming services like Shout! Factory or Archive.org, where these types of broadcast rarities often surface. Understanding the cultural context of the late 70s "teen idol" phase is the best way to see why this movie became a permanent fixture in the minds of those who saw it.