THE BALLAD OF ANDY CROCKER

US, 1967, 74 minutes, Colour.
Lee Majors, Pat Hingle, Jimmy Dean, Agnes Moorehead, Joey Heatherton, Jill Haworth, Bobby Hatfield.
Directed by George Mc Cowan.

The Ballad Of Andy Crocker is a telemovie star vehicle for Lee Majors. It was made before his success in The Six Million Dollar Man. The film is of interest in its reflection of the Vietnam war, the return of a hero who expected a welcoming return but is faced with alienation and some disillusionment. He seeks refuge by returning to the Army. The film is a comment on the impact of the war on the soldiers themselves, on their inability to settle into American life, and a comment on the way that the American populace treat the war, acclaiming heroes and then ignoring them. The film is geared to a home audience and therefore is not so profound in its treatment of importance themes. These were to be treated later with greater style and popularity for a universal audience in such films as Coming Home, The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now.

1. The scope of the film as a telemovie, impact for an American audience, nonAmericans? Its reflection of the '70s, the Vietnam war? The impact during the war, hindsight? The treatment of the war in films of the late '70s?

2. The film as a star vehicle for Lee Majors, representing the American male? American men at war, the visuals of the prologue, the violence, death, heroics? The medal and acclaim?

3. The title and the use of the word 'ballad'? a song, a story, a ballad tone of a hero? An ironic ballad? The songs during the film and the lyrics?

4. The them of the return of the soldier hero from Vietnam? In comparison with the heroes of the past? American involvement in Vietnam during the '605 and '70s? Change of attitude? Men changing during war?

5. The ballyhoo and the talk about heroes returning - from family, people in hotels, cafes, on the street? The immediate impact of the acclaim? Its surface value?

6. The American soldier facing the facts of life on return - in Los Angeles and the types he encountered, their ridicule, getting of him? Mother and father and their almost veneration, the father on his knees? The bosses in the town and offering opportunities? Andy's partner and his disregard for the war, focus on money? Lisa and her getting married? Lisa's mother and her affluence, disregard? Talk and the facts?

7. Andy's skills, hopes, past experience, money? Opportunities? Andy being used by his associates?

8. The impact of the disregard, his reaction, physical violence, being ousted by his parents, leaving the town?

9. The motor cycle as a symbol, his rising away, the long ride, the pursuit, the destruction of the cycle?

10. The transition to Oakland, meeting his original friend, being taken in, the wife's comments and Andy’s overhearing them, her hard line, her seeming change of heart but his feeling rejected?

11. The wandering of Oakland, going back to the Army and sitting outside waiting for morning?

12. A glimpse of a Vietnam veteran, character study, the judgment on the impact of the war on the soldiers, on the apathy of the American people?