Ode to Billy Joe (1976)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Max Baer Jr.

Writer:

Herman Raucher (writer)

Release Date:

4 June 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

What the song didn't tell you, the movie will.

Plot:

Billy Joe confesses his love to the lovely Bobbi Lee only to cover his growing fear that he may, in fact...

Plot Keywords:

Mississippi | Bridge | Barn Dance | First Gay Sexual Experience | Gay Interest

Cast

Robby Benson	...	Billy Joe McAllister
Glynnis O'Connor	...	Bobbie Lee Hartley
Joan Hotchkis	...	Anna 'Mama' Hartley
Sandy McPeak	...	Glenn 'Papa' Hartley
James Best	...	Dewey Barksdale
Terence Goodman	...	James Hartley
Becky Bowen	...	Becky Thompson
Simpson Hemphill	...	Brother Taylor
Ed Shelnut	...	Coleman Stroud, Bus Driver
Eddie Talr	...	Tom Hargitay
William Hallberg	...	Dan McAllister
Frannye Capelle	...	Belinda Wiggs
Rebecca Jernigan	...	Mrs. Thompson
Ann Martin	...	Mrs. Hunicutt
Will Long	...	Trooper Bosh

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Greenwood, Mississippi, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At the dance, one of the band is playing an Ovation guitar. The movie is set in 1960, but the company Ovation Guitars was not founded until 1966.

Quotes:

Billy Joe McAllister: HEY! I've been holding up this here bridge for over an hour so it wouldn't fall on you.
Bobbie Lee Hartley: Right Neiborhly of Mr.McAllister.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#22.32)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

THERE'LL BE TIME

I recall this picture fondly

It has been a long time since I saw this movie. I always read very negative reviews of it, but I always thought that the photography and sound were beautiful. It was my impression that Max Baer Jr. was making a movie about how beautiful the rural South is. Of course a movie based on a rather enigmatic song is doomed to storyline problems, but as a mood piece, I think it was a great success.