You Light Up My Life – 1977
Sometimes when you reach for a dream you have to leave something behind.

Director
Joseph Brooks

Writer
Joseph Brooks

Producers
Joseph Brooks producer
Nicholas Grippo associate producer
Ed Morgan associate producer (as Edwin Morgan)

Cast
Didi Conn – Laurie Robinson
Joe Silver – Sy Robinson
Michael Zaslow – Chris Nolan
Stephen Nathan – Ken Rothenberg
Melanie Mayron – Annie Gerrard
Jerry Keller – Conductor
Lisa Reeves – Carla Wright
John D. Gowans – Charley Nelson (as John Gowans)
Simmy Bow – Mr. Granek
Bernice Nicholson – Mrs. Granek
Ed Morgan – Account Executive
Joseph Brooks – Creative Director (as Joe Brooks)
Amy Letterman – Laurie
Marty Zagon – Mr. Nussbaum
Martin Gish – Harold Nussbaum
Arnold Weiss – Usher
Brian Byers – Singer
Terry Brannon – Usher
Tom Gerrard – Best Man
Barry Godwin – Usher
John Miller – Usher
Stephan Tice – Usher
Eileen Dietz – Bridesmaid
Lindsey Jones – Bridesmaid
Cassie Cisyk – Bridesmaid (as Kasey Cisyk)
Greta Ronnengun – Bridesmaid
Lisa Nicholson – Bridesmaid
Ruth Manning – Mrs. Rothenberg
Rosemary Lovell – Receptionist
Judith Novgrod – Receptionist (as Judy Novgrod)
Jeffrey Kramer – Background Singer
Frank H. Conn – Stage Manager (as Frank Conn)
Mary Kwan – Cousin
Ed Steef – Cousin (as Edward Steefe)
Cynthia Szigeti – Cousin
Sparky Watt – Uncle Fritz (as Sparky Watts)
Robin O’Hara – Aunt Emma
Ken Olfson – 1st Commercial Director
Richmond Shepard – 2nd Commercial Director
Aurora Roland – Gail Gerard
Thelma Pelish – Rachel
John Millerburg – Studio Musician
Nancy Chadwick – Producer
Matthew Hyde – Engineer (as Matt Hyde)
Jerry Barnes – Engineer
Robert L. Manahan – Assistant Engineer (as Bob Manahan)

Review by Gary F Taylor

You Light Up My Life (1977)
One of the Worst Films I Have Ever Seen,

Debbie Boone had a monster hit with her recording of the pop song “You Light Up My Life;” the Didi Conn film of the same name, however, was a horrifically embarrassing flop. Conn plays the stereotypically goofy-homely-vulnerable girl who is in love with Michael Zaslow, who plays the stereotypical yuppie-wannabe guy. They are engaged, but every one knows that Zaslow isn’t going to marry any one that isn’t blonde and built, so only Didi is surprised when he dumps her. Needless to say, Didi is quite embarrassed.

Fortunately, she has been doing a little songwriting in her spare time, and she’s come up with a tune she thinks is pretty nifty. She calls it–can you guess?–“You Light Up My Life.” She hops in the car and drives off to the big city to sell her song and make a new life. Now, I recall sitting in the theatre and watching her hop in the car to drive off to the big city, and thinking “Well thank heavens, we’ve finally got all the exposition out of the way. Now maybe something interesting will happen.” And something interesting did happen. The credits rolled.

Yep, that was it. Not only was the movie badly acted, badly written, and badly filmed, it also ended in the middle. This movie is a really, profoundly bad movie, and we’re not talking cult-movie-bad here. We’re talking unmitigated flop, a real yawner from start to finish. If you liked the Debbie Boone song by all means buy a copy of it. But don’t waste your time or money on this flick. This is one movie you’ll be glad you missed.