Ode to Billy Joe

Ode to Billy Joe

105 mins | Drama, Romance | June 4, 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 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.

Ode to Billy Joe

105 mins | Drama, Romance | June 4, 1976

Ode to Billy Joe
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.
IMDb rating 6.6
Producers Warner Bros. Pictures
Original title Ode to Billy Joe
Directors Max Baer Jr.
Writers Herman Raucher

Cast

Robby Benson

as Billy Joe McAllister

Glynnis O'Connor

as Bobbie Lee Hartley

Joan Hotchkis

as Anna 'Mama' Hartley

Terrance Goodman

as James Hartley

Sandy McPeak

as Glenn 'Papa' Hartley

James Best

as Dewey Barksdale

Becky Bowen

as Becky Thompson

Simpson Hemphill

as Brother Taylor

Rebecca Jernigan

as Mrs. Thompson