Although the film is fictional and not literally autobiographical, it is based on some of Michael Landon's own experiences. He wet the bed as a teenager and lived with an extremely unstable, mentally ill mother and an indifferent father, who had a very volatile marriage. Consequently, he and his sister, had a very difficult and traumatic childhood which affected him his whole life.
An alternate storyline has a darker side. Instead of embarrassing the boy with hanging urine stained bedsheets out the window, the father begins to beat the wife for constantly tormenting the boy.
Melissa Sue Anderson's debut.