# Ode to Billy Joe (1976)

### reviewed by
Brian Koller

    Ode to Billy Joe (1976)

    Grade: 65

Many hit songs (e.g. "American Pie") have been conscripted as movie titles over the years. The title may be somewhat appropriate to the film's subject, but usually the plot of the film has nothing to do with the song. The title has merely served to market the film.

Not so with "Ode to Billy Joe", the story of which is derived from the 1968 hit. And stretched thin as well: the story sags in the final third, with too much made of the unlikely 'shocker' that caused Billy Joe McAllister (Robby Benson) to jump off the Tallahatchie Bridge.

But despite the late-arriving pathos, most of the film is much better than its reputation. Writer Herman Raucher has a knack for dialogue, adding life and dimension to the characters. The rural deep South of the early 1950s is credibly depicted. While folks are not going hungry, luxuries such as electricity and indoor plumbing have generally not been introduced. The sweltering summers must be survived without air conditioning, and the boredom and lack of opportunity leads to periodic rowdiness from the lily-white, working class males.

Bobbie Lee (Glynnis O'Connor) is in her mid-teens and has long since begun thinking of boys. Sheltered by her sympathetic but conservative parents, she longs for lovestruck Billy Joe, who tags after her to her obvious delight. But just as Bobbie Lee wheedles dating concessions from her father, young Billy Joe begins acting even more peculiar than usual. He is racked with guilt over a deed which she cannot get him to reveal.

Benson and O'Connor were earlier teamed in "Jeremy", a film with a different setting but sharing the same theme of puppy love between the leads.

kollers@mpsi.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html

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