Buster and Billie (1974)

Director:

Daniel Petrie

Writers:

Ron Bartron (story)
Ron Turbeville (writer)

Release Date:

18 January 1975 (Sweden)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

What took place in that town in 1948 should have been a love story.

Plot:

Dimwitted but sweet high school girl of easy virtue and the most popular boy in the school share an improbable romance...

Plot Keywords:

Killed With Cue Ball | Revenge | Swamp Trash | White Trash | Female Frontal Nudity

Cast

Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Buster Lane
Joan Goodfellow	...	Billie Jo Truluck
Pamela Sue Martin	...	Margie Hooks
Clifton James	...	Jake
Robert Englund	...	Whitey
Jessie Lee Fulton	...	Mrs. Lane
J.B. Joiner	...	Mr. Lane
Dell C. Payne	...	Warren
Mark Pendergraft	...	Mole
David Paul Dean	...	Phil
David Little	...	Smitty
Vernon Beatty	...	Arland
Doris Pearce	...	Mrs. Hooks
Carl Reddick	...	Mr. Hooks
Dale Pearce	...	Sally

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Statesboro, Georgia, USA

Company:

Black Creek Billie

Trivia:

Acting debut of Robert Englund.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Jan-Michael Vincent Is My Muse (2002)

Soundtrack:

Hillbilly Gal

Great, offbeat youth angst movie

For all his faults, JAN MICHAEL VINCENT certainly made some great movies in the seventies (be it, THE BIG Wednesday, HOOPER, THE MECHANIC, VIGILANTE FORCE) including this (little seen) gem. VINCENT plays Buster, a tough, high-school loner, who against the wishes of his (childish, rather ugly) friends, dates the local good-time girl (of whom, most of busters friends have been casually 'involved' with) But these two opposites find love, but as in all classic love tales, their romance is doomed. To give anything else away, would ruin this highly original period piece(set in 1948.) Needless to say, it does continue the ever growing trend of seventies movies, and features a downbeat ending. Long after the viewer shakes off initial images of sexist, drunken teens, several scenes of true beauty, shine through this great movie. The period details are spot-on, and there's not one bad performance (look out for a young ROBERT ENGLUND) but as with most other JMV movies, Hollywood soon moved onto bigger (although, not always better) actors, and he soon became a tragic casualty of cinema. He certainly had the 'look' (predating the 'tom cruise' boyish-good looks) but unfortunately ended up, in bad TV movies or low budget dreck (ENEMY TERRITORY aside) Too bad, because he had the makings of another JAMES DEAN (and gives a similar performance in this movie) Hunt this movie out (if you can, it's quite rare) but you'll be glad you did. Another notable aspect, is the fine (and rather haunting) musical score, including the main theme (sung by HOYT AXTON) which never fails to bring a lump in my throat, and made all the more lyrical, by the movies tragic (yet strangely, touching) ending.

A fine unseen gem, and well worth hunting down piece of 70's obscure 10 out of 10