I never caught the name of this movie, but have been looking for the title for at least 25 years. It opens up and this young guy is hitchhiking. A car picks him up, but the driver has stolen the car. They wreck and the driver is killed. Somehow, it appears like the hitchhiker is the car thief and a killer so he goes on the run. He ends up in a children's home where he helps out and learns some life lessons... even becomes a sculptor. I watched this movie on HBO (I THINK) back in July, 1983 or 1984.

80 Steps to Jonah (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063976/)

Thank you! No wonder I could never find it, was looking in the wrong decade!

You're welcome.