{"id":1820,"date":"2006-11-24T12:14:30","date_gmt":"2006-11-24T19:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1820"},"modified":"2021-01-05T19:03:40","modified_gmt":"2021-01-06T02:03:40","slug":"ode-to-billy-joe-1976","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1820","title":{"rendered":"Ode to Billy Joe (1976)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;It don&#8217;t seem like no good ever come to nobody on this bridge.&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Poster-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-22741\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Poster-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nBilly Joe (Robby Benson) pursues his local sweetheart, Bobbie Lee (Glynnis O&#8217;Connor), while harboring secret fears that he may be homosexual.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Coming of Age<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Deep South<\/a><\/li>\n<li>First Love<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Glynnis O&#8217;Connor Films<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Robby Benson Films<\/li>\n<li>Sexuality<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Small Town America<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nIn her popular country ballad &#8220;Ode to Billy Joe&#8221;, Bobbie Gentry infamously sang about how &#8220;Billy Joe MacAllister&#8217;s jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge&#8221;, yet left the reason for this drastic action a frustrating mystery. This film (starring real-life teen lovers Glynnis O&#8217;Connor and Robby Benson) is a cinematic attempt to fill in the song&#8217;s gaps, yet ultimately isn&#8217;t quite successful &#8212; primarily because Billy Joe&#8217;s &#8220;sudden&#8221; discovery of his homosexual yearnings doesn&#8217;t jive with the intensity of his passion for Bobbie Lee. While his melodramatic reaction to a disturbing liaison at the county fair can easily be excused, Billy Joe (at least as played by Benson) is ultimately too vibrant and hopeful to wantonly throw his life away over this. Despite its narrative flaws, however, <em>Ode to Billy Joe<\/em> remains compelling viewing in many ways, primarily because of the star power of Benson and O&#8217;Connor, who have fine chemistry together. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-OConnor2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-OConnor2-1024x573.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"358\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46689\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-OConnor2-1024x573.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-OConnor2-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-OConnor2-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-OConnor2-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-OConnor2-1536x860.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-OConnor2.png 1731w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>O&#8217;Connor&#8217;s Bobbie Lee &#8212; caught in the throes of adolescent individuation &#8212; is an especially fascinating and complex character; she speaks in risky double entendres (&#8220;The plumbing&#8217;s in &#8212; and you&#8217;re next!&#8221; she says slyly to Benson), and isn&#8217;t afraid to share her frustrations openly with her parents: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;There I am, all primed up to be a woman, only I&#8217;m not allowed to be anything but a child!&#8221; <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>As always, O&#8217;Connor creates a character who you&#8217;d like to know in real life, and who you&#8217;re sorry to say goodbye to once the film is over.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Glynnis O&#8217;Connor in yet another sparkling early role<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Parents.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Parents-1024x566.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"354\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Parents-1024x566.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Parents-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Parents-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Parents-768x425.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Parents-1536x849.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Parents.png 1727w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>O&#8217;Connor&#8217;s interactions with her stern yet loving parents (wonderfully played by Joan Hotchkis and Sandy McPeak)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Mom.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Mom-1024x572.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"358\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46687\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Mom-1024x572.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Mom-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Mom-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Mom-768x429.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Mom-1536x858.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Mom.png 1721w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A genuinely tense scene of foreshadowing on the Tallahatchie Bridge, as O&#8217;Connor&#8217;s proud father refuses to be bullied backwards<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Bridge.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Bridge-1024x565.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"353\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46686\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Bridge-1024x565.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Bridge-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Bridge-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Bridge-768x424.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Bridge-1536x847.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ode-to-Billy-Joe-Bridge.png 1731w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s worth watching. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0074995\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1976\/08\/19\/archives\/billy-joe-leaps-from-southern-romance-to-dirgethe-cast.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;It don&#8217;t seem like no good ever come to nobody on this bridge.&#8221; Synopsis: Billy Joe (Robby Benson) pursues his local sweetheart, Bobbie Lee (Glynnis O&#8217;Connor), while harboring secret fears that he may be homosexual. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Coming of Age Deep South First Love Glynnis O&#8217;Connor Films Robby Benson Films Sexuality Small Town America Review: In her popular country ballad &#8220;Ode to Billy Joe&#8221;, Bobbie Gentry infamously sang about how &#8220;Billy Joe MacAllister&#8217;s jumped off the Tallahatchie&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1820\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1820"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61846,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1820\/revisions\/61846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}