Linda Manz in ‘Out of the Blue’: the greatest acting performance you’ve never seen
Over time, many great acting performances get lost in the annals of cinematic history. The oversaturation of the market means that many incredible movies have no other fate than to slip through the net, existing only as disregarded DVDs or VHS tapes collecting dust on a shelf. In some cases, these films experience renewed interest decades later, receiving a new restoration before being released to a fresh generation of potential fans. This was certainly the case for Out of the Blue, starring Linda Manz.
You’d expect a movie directed by Dennis Hopper to have earned a more prominent place in the mainstream, considering that he also directed the Oscar-nominated Easy Rider, and starred in the acclaimed Apocalypse Now shortly before the release of Out of the Blue. Yet, the film was received overwhelmingly negatively upon its premiere in 1980, leading it to fade into obscurity for many years.
The film was given a VHS release in the late ‘80s and a DVD release in 1999, but still, it was hard to find online. It wasn’t until the late 2010s that the movie was restored and re-released, giving it a chance to thrive as a long-forgotten, underrated gem from a tumultuous time in Hopper’s life. Out of the Blue was initially shunned because of its bleakness, depicting a teenage girl’s miserable existence as a member of a violent, alcoholic family unit where she is often the victim of abuse (sometimes even incestual).
Bold and unflinching, the movie is a moving film that bravely highlights the awful conditions many adolescents find themselves in when, really, the only things they should be worrying about are passing exams, crushes, and friends. For Cebe, the protagonist of Hopper’s film, her need to be heard, to escape, and to “subvert normality” is not simply a phase of stereotypical teenage disillusionment, it’s the only way she can think to remain sane – and to survive.
Portrayed by Manz, Cebe is one of the most compelling depictions of adolescence ever put to film. When we meet her, she is talking to truck drivers through a radio, where she spouts punk mottos like “Kill all hippies” and “Disco sucks.” She is troublesome and impulsive, running away from home to escape the atmosphere at home: one of unhappiness, poverty, violence, and addiction.
Having narrowly survived a crash when her father drove his truck into a busload of school children – sending him to prison for several years until he is released during the events of the film – Cebe carries a large load of trauma with her. She attempts to distract herself from it by engaging with strangers, which often leads her near danger, and in these moments, Manz strikes the perfect balance between the wannabe-adult, ready to make her own way in the world, and the vulnerable teenager.
Manz was only 19 when the film was released, and she’d only appeared in a handful of films by this point – most notably Days of Heaven – but she imbued her performance as Cebe with the kind of skill most actors take years to perfect. Cebe is certainly a complex character, one who is reckless and enthralled by the destructive, anarchist nature of punk, but also just a girl trying to get away, scared for what the future might bring.
It’s a true shame that the film went under the radar for so long, because Manz’s performance is simply terrific, elevating the movie to even greater heights through her studied use of sensitivity and childlike impulses. Cebe charms you with her outspokenness and bravery, but Manz continually forces us to catch Cebe, allowing us to be there in her most vulnerable and emotional moments. You just want to reach through the screen and be there for her, because at the end of the day, she’s just a kid – one who worships Elvis, experiments with lipstick and clothes, really believes in something, and dreams of a better life.
Manz hardly acted after Out of the Blue, instead prioritising raising a family. Yet, the talent she displays in Hopper’s film is one of a kind, and paired with her performance in Days of Heaven, it helped to establish her as an obscure cult hero. So, if you’ve not had the chance to watch her incredible turn in Out of the Blue, perhaps now is the time.
