The film, shot in New York City and its surroundings, tells the story of Jack, a Vietnam War veteran played by Henry Winkler, who struggles with nightmares and psychological trauma four years after returning from the war. Traveling by bus to California, he meets Carol, played by Sally Field, a woman who left her fiancé just four days before the wedding under the pretext of a short vacation. Jack enthusiastically shares his dream of starting a worm farm with four of his old Vietnam buddies. Despite initial irritation, Carol gradually begins to care for him. As Jack's friends one by one abandon the plan and his optimism fades, Carol becomes the only person keeping him from complete despair. The film reflects the emotional aftermath of the Vietnam War and the personal connections that help people through difficult times.

Filming Locations:

Times Square

In the Movie

The scene where Jack wanders through the noisy and seedy streets of 1970s Times Square, capturing the raw atmosphere of midtown Manhattan during an era when the area was notorious for its grit, adult establishments, and overall urban decay before its subsequent redevelopment.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the iconic intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in midtown Manhattan, one of the most recognizable crossroads in the world. In the late 1970s, when the film was made, Times Square was a rough area with go-go bars, sex shops, and adult theaters, quite unlike the tourist commercial hub it became after the cleanups of the 1990s.

Hospital on First Avenue

In the Movie

The scene where a hospital scene takes place along First Avenue in Manhattan, where characters interact in and around a medical facility, reflecting the institutional and somewhat harsh environment of New York's historic hospital district in the late 1970s.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in the area around Bellevue Hospital Center along First Avenue between East 29th and 30th Streets in Manhattan. This stretch of First Avenue is part of the Kips Bay neighborhood and has long been associated with the city's major medical institutions. Bellevue, the oldest public hospital in the United States, has served as a filming location for numerous movies set in New York.

Roosevelt Island Tramway

In the Movie

The scene where the Roosevelt Island Tramway glides over the East River, offering an aerial view of Manhattan and Roosevelt Island below. This sequence adds a striking visual element to the film, showcasing one of New York's unusual forms of public transportation that was brand new at the time of filming.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on the aerial tramway connecting Roosevelt Island to Manhattan's Upper East Side. Opened in 1976, a year before the film was made, it was originally built as a temporary transportation solution but became permanent. The tramway passes over the East River and offers panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline, making it a visually striking filming location.