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The Betsy

  • 1978
  • R
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
The Betsy (1978)
The aging, retired founder of an auto giant comes out of retirement to try to develop a safe, fuel-efficient car.
Play trailer2:05
1 Video
21 Photos
Drama

The aging, retired founder of an auto giant comes out of retirement to try to develop a safe, fuel-efficient car.The aging, retired founder of an auto giant comes out of retirement to try to develop a safe, fuel-efficient car.The aging, retired founder of an auto giant comes out of retirement to try to develop a safe, fuel-efficient car.

  • Director
    • Daniel Petrie
  • Writers
    • Harold Robbins
    • William Bast
    • Walter Bernstein
  • Stars
    • Laurence Olivier
    • Robert Duvall
    • Katharine Ross
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    1.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Daniel Petrie
    • Writers
      • Harold Robbins
      • William Bast
      • Walter Bernstein
    • Stars
      • Laurence Olivier
      • Robert Duvall
      • Katharine Ross
    • 30User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:05
    Watch Trailer

    Photos21

    The Betsy (1978)
    Laurence Olivier, Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall, Edward Herrmann, and Joseph Wiseman in The Betsy (1978)
    Laurence Olivier, Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall, Lesley-Anne Down, Edward Herrmann, and Joseph Wiseman in The Betsy (1978)
    The Betsy (1978)
    Paul Rudd in The Betsy (1978)
    Laurence Olivier in The Betsy (1978)
    Laurence Olivier in The Betsy (1978)
    Laurence Olivier and Katharine Ross in The Betsy (1978)
    Laurence Olivier in The Betsy (1978)
    Lesley-Anne Down in The Betsy (1978)
    Laurence Olivier and Kathleen Beller in The Betsy (1978)
    Laurence Olivier, Kathleen Beller, and Inga Swenson in The Betsy (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Laurence Olivier
    Laurence Olivier
    • Number One
    Robert Duvall
    Robert Duvall
    • Loren Hardeman III
    Katharine Ross
    Katharine Ross
    • Sally Hardeman
    Tommy Lee Jones
    Tommy Lee Jones
    • Angelo Perino
    Jane Alexander
    Jane Alexander
    • Alicia Hardeman
    Lesley-Anne Down
    Lesley-Anne Down
    • Lady Bobby Ayres
    Joseph Wiseman
    Joseph Wiseman
    • Jake Weinstein
    Kathleen Beller
    Kathleen Beller
    • Betsy Hardeman
    Edward Herrmann
    Edward Herrmann
    • Dan Weyman
    Paul Rudd
    • Loren Hardeman Jr.
    Roy Poole
    Roy Poole
    • John Duncan
    Richard Venture
    Richard Venture
    • Mark Sampson
    Titos Vandis
    Titos Vandis
    • Angelo Luigi Perino
    Clifford David
    Clifford David
    • Joe Warren
    Inga Swenson
    Inga Swenson
    • Mrs. Craddock
    Whitney Blake
    Whitney Blake
    • Elizabeth Hardeman
    Carol Williard
    • Roxanne
    Read Morgan
    Read Morgan
    • Donald
    • Director
      • Daniel Petrie
    • Writers
      • Harold Robbins(novel)
      • William Bast(screenplay)
      • Walter Bernstein(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie was shot entirely on-location without any filming done on studio soundstages.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Loren Hardeman: Don't you worry, son, you got me behind yuh.

      Angelo Perino: What'll I do when you're gone?

      Loren Hardeman: [walking out the door] Oh... oh, yeah...

      [laughs]

      Loren Hardeman: ... yeah. Well...

      [smiling]

      Loren Hardeman: Better learn fast.

    • Connections
      Referenced in The Ecstasy Girls (1979)

    User reviews30

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    So much talent, so little performance
    How can you make a bad movie with Olivier, Duvall, Tommy Lee, Katherine Ross, Jane Alexander, and plenty of other capable people?

    Study this film to find out.

    I felt awful for Olivier. First, let me say that I am a great fan of his, and have worn out my VCR watching him in Wuthering Heights, Rebecca, Spartacus, and other great performances. Having said that, I must now regretfully say that his performance in The Betsy ranks among the worst ever captured on film. He has no clue how to affect an American accent. Worse still, he plays himself in the flashbacks ... and he looks like an old guy on Miami Beach wearing youthful fashions and spray-on hair color. I had to turn away from it at times.

    Oh, I wish I had never seen this movie at all.

    If you have a choice between this and "Manos", plan on a Torgo evening.
    helpful•9
    7
    • Scoopy
    • Nov 8, 1998

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 9, 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Clan
    • Filming locations
      • Detroit, Michigan, USA
    • Production company
      • Harold Robbins International Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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