Poseidon-3 Review of The Ballad of Andy Crocker

The Ballad of Andy Crocker (1969 TV Movie)

Simple-minded, but somewhat interesting view of a returning vet.

[22 March 2005]

Then-timely, this TV movie examining the plight of a returning Vietnam veteran is now nostalgic (and more than a little trite and clichéd.) In a (thankfully brief) opening sequence, real Vietnam footage is uneasily mixed with indoor studio work as Majors is injured and then sent back to the U.S. He encounters some hippies (including an underutilized Haworth) before heading back to Texas where his small business and his girlfriend await him. Unfortunately, he finds that his business is all but dismantled while his friends have made good without him and his girl (Hetherton) is now married to someone else. The film details his struggles to find a niche for himself following his tour of duty and his desire to make his dream of self-employment come true. However, the world seems to have passed him by and no one is particularly open to helping him reach his goals. Majors, who enjoyed a twenty-year period of nearly uninterrupted TV success, is attractive and appealing, but also rather bland and wooden. He lacks the spark to really sell this story completely. He doesn't quite have the range to take on all the colors of this disappointed and dejected bad boy. Hetherton shows off her trademark pout with regularity (especially in a hilarious cinematic "innovation" in which she and Majors share a phone conversation while soft-focus, dimly-lit versions of themselves appear face-to-face!) Oddly, three music stars make rare appearances here as actors. Dean has the biggest role as Majors' loudmouthed former partner. Hatfield does an adequate job as another former pal who has married for money. Gaye is Majors' old army buddy who tries to help him adjust to civilian life. Moorehead does a cameo as Hetherton's formidable mother, spouting haughty lines in between skeet-shooting! Typical of the type of telefilms that producer Spelling ground out in the late 60's and early 70's, there is both good and bad to be found here. It offers a simple take on what was actually a very complex issue. Note how many cigarettes Majors puts away just within the first 15 minutes and listen in shock as Dean refers to one of his friends as a "pussy"!! It's not always easy to identify with Majors' stubborn and occasionally foolish character, but he exudes a quality of amiability that, along with the varied and solid supporting cast, makes this watchable. The recurring ballad, sung frequently throughout the film may drive some viewers out of their mind. Others who are fans of that style of music may like it. There's also a twist ending, which places the film in almost the same genre as "The Swimmer".