Ode to Billy Joe (1976)

Billy Joe confesses his love to the lovely Bobbi Lee only to cover his growing fear that he may, in fact, be homosexual. One night, at a barn dance, he gets a little drunk and rather than ... See full summary »

Director:

Max Baer Jr.

Writer:

Herman Raucher

Stars:

Robby Benson, Glynnis O'Connor, Joan Hotchkis

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Eddie Talr	...	Tom Hargitay
William Hallberg	...	Dan McAllister
Frannye Capelle	...	Belinda Wiggs
Rebecca Jernigan	...	Mrs. Thompson
Ann Martin	...	Mrs. Hunicutt
Will Long	...	Trooper Bosh

Storyline

Billy Joe confesses his love to the lovely Bobbi Lee only to cover his growing fear that he may, in fact, be homosexual. One night, at a barn dance, he gets a little drunk and rather than going with the hired whores, gives into his desires and sexual relations with an unnamed man. The guilt causes him to run away, hide in the woods and eventually confess everything to Bobbi Lee who doesn't want to believe him only because she was enjoying the forbidden nature of their love. In the end, he cannot accept his sexuality nor can he hide behind Bobbi Lee and that's why he throws himself off the Tallahachee bridge.

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Plot Keywords:

homosexual | barn dance | bridge | mississippi | gay | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 June 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Ponte do Desejo

Filming Locations:

Greenwood, Mississippi, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Directed by Max Baer, Jr., who portrayed "Jethro Bodine" in the long running comedy "The Beverly Hillbillies".

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Goofs

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.

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #22.32 (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Ode to Billie Joe"
Written and Performed by Bobbie Gentry

User Reviews

A sweet and tragic rural romance.

ODE TO BILLY JOE is a humerous and touching tale of events leading up to why "Billy Joe McAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge", as related in the Bobbie Gentry hit. Director Max Baer Jr. (who would have thought "Jethro" had this kind of talent?) skillfully re-creates an atmosphere of 1950's rural Mississippi. and breathes life into characters only hinted at in the song. Scripted by Herman Raucher, with the same feeling of nostalgia he gave SUMMER OF '42, and beautifully scored by Michel Legrand, ODE TO BILLY JOE is a sweet and touching story of the awkwardness of teenage love, and the consequences of an unfortunate event, which, in today's politically correct times, would probably be scorned or laughed at. Glynnis O'Connor and Robby Benson, are re-teamed after their excellent debut in JEREMY. Another treasured film on VHS, that I hope will someday come out on DVD.