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Robby Benson, Glynnis O'Connor, Joan Hotchkis, Sandy McPeak, James Best ... see more see more... , Terence Goodman , Simpson Hemphill , Rebecca Jernigan , Pat Purcell , James Westerfield , Jack Capelle , Becky Brown , Frannye Capelle , William Hallberg , Will Long , John Roper , Ed Shelnut , Eddie Tair , Ann Martin , Al Scott , Becky Bowen

Bobbie Gentry's hauntingly enigmatic 1967 hit single served as the inspiration of this story of unrequited teenage love. In 1953, Bobbie Lee Hartley (Glynnis O'Connor) is 15 years old and in love with... read more read more... 18-year-old Billy Joe McAllister (Robbie Benson). Unfortunately, Bobbie's father (Sandy McPeak) and mother (Joan Hotchkis) forbid her to date until she's 16, and until then, Billy Joe and Bobbie Lee are supposed to be content with occasional meetings after church on Sunday. The teenage lovers sometimes steal away for meetings on the Tallahatchie Bridge, but while the other local boys are able to slake their frustrations with the prostitutes imported for the occasional town dances, a booze-addled Billy Joe succumbs to another sort of temptation, and his guilt first destroys his relationship with Bobbie Lee, and then leads to his self-destruction. Ode to Billy Joe was produced and directed by Max Baer,Jr., best remembered as Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

79% liked it

818 ratings

PG, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Max Baer Jr.

Release Date: June 4, 1976

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Flixster Reviews (63)

  • jjnxn
    January 13, 2011
    jjnxn
    Great song but a dull indifferently acted movie.
  • flixsterman
    July 4, 2009
    flixsterman
    Not the 'manliest' of movies, in fact you could plausibly retitle it Brokeback Bridge, but I never get tired of watching it. I had quite the crush on Glynnis O'Connor back in my youth. She was sorta' the Juliette Lewis of the seventies, all soft and girl-next-doorishly s... read moreexy. Still hard to believe that Robby Benson passed her up for a roll in the hay with James Best. Dude, what were you thinking!?
  • moviegirl50
    October 29, 2011
    moviegirl50
    Such a sad kind of gut wrenching mysterious story, yet there is something so riveting about it...Robbie Benson and Glynnis O'Connor for starters as well as the hit song by Bobbie Gentry which I guess is the premise for this movie? Even though I hate what happens in it, to a confu... read moresed, frustrated, misled boy...I've always liked this movie.

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
February 19, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Very weak plot, acting based on flash hit song of the '70s.

November 27, 2008
Variety

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Richard Eder
May 9, 2005
Richard Eder, New York Times

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Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

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Jake Euker
February 25, 2007
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
June 25, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

January 26, 2006
Time Out

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May 24, 2003
Film4

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Ode to Billy Joe Trivia

  • Who directed 'Ode to Billy Joe" ?  Answer »
  • Who is Billyjies love interest in Ode To Billy Joe ?  Answer »
  • Billy Joe fears he is a homosexual in Ode To Billy Joe ?   Answer »
  • Where does Billy Joe hide in Ode To Billy Joe ?  Answer »
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